The Dark Side of Addiction
The Dark Side of Addiction
The notion that people take drugs to alleviate emotional pain rings intuitively true with patients, treatment providers, and many others. Often referred to as a “self-medication” view of addiction, this notion has had interesting ups and downs through the years. This chapter follows this notion through these cycles to obtain a better understanding of the flaws inherent in a naive, original version of the theory. It also paves the way for a better informed and more useful modern interpretation. The chapter then considers the notion that prolonged drug use triggers long-term changes, or “adaptations,” in brain function. These adaptations would come online when addictive drugs cause excessive activity of brain reward circuitry and would attempt to counter the rewarding drug actions.
Keywords: addiction, self-medication, addictive disorder, human brain, drug use, brain function, adaptation
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