Drug Rehab Olympia WA

Most drugs affect the brain's "reward circuit," causing euphoria as well as flooding it with the chemical messenger dopamine. A properly functioning reward system motivates a person to repeat behaviors needed to thrive, such as eating and spending time with loved ones. Surges of dopamine in the reward circuit cause the reinforcement of pleasurable but unhealthy behaviors like taking drugs, leading people to repeat the behavior again and again.
As a person continues to use drugs, the brain adapts by reducing the ability of cells in the reward circuit to respond to it. This reduces the high that the person feels compared to the high they felt when first taking the drug—an effect known as tolerance. They might take more of the drug to try and achieve the same high. These brain adaptations often lead to the person becoming less and less able to derive pleasure from other things they once enjoyed, like food, sex, or social activities.
Long-term use also causes changes in other brain chemical systems and circuits as well, affecting functions that include: learning, judgment, decision-making, stress, memory, behavior. Despite being aware of these harmful outcomes, many people who use drugs continue to take them, which is the nature of addiction.
Why do some people become addicted to drugs while others don't? No one factor can predict if a person will become addicted to drugs. A combination of factors influences risk for addiction. The more risk factors a person has, the greater the chance that taking drugs can lead to addiction.

Most drugs change the brain's reward circuit by sending a lot of dopamine to it. Dopamine surges in the reward circuit reinforce activities that are fun but bad for you. This makes people do the same thing over and over again.
Over time, the brain gets used to the extra dopamine, which makes the person feel less high than when they first started taking the drug. This is called tolerance. They might try to get the same dopamine high by taking more of the drug.
No single thing can tell if someone will become addicted to drugs or not. Risk for addiction is affected by a mix of genetic, environmental, and developmental factors. The more risk factors a person has, the greater the chance that taking drugs can lead to addiction.

Persons who relapse will relapse and use drugs again, regardless of how hard they try to quit. Relapse is an indication that additional therapy or a new type of therapy is required.
The brain sends large amounts of dopamine to its reward circuit, which is how most medications work. Dopamine surges in the reward circuit keep people engaged in activities that are not only enjoyable but also harmful to their health. These actions are often repeated by people.
The brain becomes more used to the dopamine and the person feels less high after a while. This is called tolerance. In an effort to feel the same dopamine rush, they may take more medication.

Brain alterations that occur over time due to chronic drug use pose a problem for a person addicted to drugs. It can also make it harder to maintain self-control and hinder their ability to resist their strong cravings. It is also known as drug addiction, which can lead to relapses.
Anyone who relapses from drug use will need to make an effort to quit. Relapse is a sign that further treatment or a more therapeutic approach is necessary.