Many individuals don't comprehend why or how other people become hooked to drugs. They may wrongly assume that persons who use drugs lack moral convictions or willpower and that they could cease their drug usage just by deciding to. In actuality, drug addiction is a complicated condition, and quitting typically needs more than excellent intentions or a strong will. Drugs affect the brain in ways that make quitting challenging, even for those who want to. Fortunately, experts know more than ever about how drugs influence the brain and have identified therapies that can help people recover from drug addiction and enjoy productive lives.
Addiction is a chronic condition defined by substance seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to stop, despite severe effects. The first decision to take drugs is voluntary for most individuals, but repeated drug use can lead to brain changes that test an addicted person’s self-control and interfere with their capacity to resist powerful desires to take drugs. These brain alterations can be lasting, which is why drug addiction is termed a "relapsing" disease—people in recovery from drug use disorders are at higher risk for returning to drug use even after years of not taking the substance.
It's usual for a person to relapse, but recurrence doesn't indicate that therapy doesn’t work. As with other chronic health disorders, therapy should be continuing and should be changed based on how the patient reacts. Treatment plans need to be evaluated periodically and updated to match the patient’s changing needs.
What happens to the brain when a person consumes drugs?