Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center in Lake Stickney
A person who continues to use drugs will see a decrease in their reward circuit's capacity to respond to the drug. This will happen for as long the person continues to take drugs. This phenomenon is known as tolerance. It causes the person to feel less high than the initial high they experienced when they took the drug. They may try to get the same high but with a higher dose of the drug. People often find that their brains are affected and they can't enjoy the same pleasures they used to have, like eating, drinking, or engaging in sexual activity.
Long-term abuse can also lead to changes in brain chemical systems and circuits. This can impact cognitive and behavioral processes like learning, judgement and decision-making, stress, memory and behaviour. Many people who use drugs are unaware of the negative consequences and continue to use them.
Why does one person develop a tolerance to drugs while another can avoid it? It is not possible to predict if someone will develop a dependence on drugs. Many factors influence the likelihood of developing an addictive behavior. The higher the chance that a person will develop an addiction to drugs, the more predisposed characteristics they have.
Biology. Biology. About half of the person's susceptibility to addiction is determined in part by their genetic heritage. Other factors that can increase your chances of addiction and drug abuse include gender, race, and mental illness.