Anatomy & Physiology of Addiction and also risk factors of addiction

Anatomy & Physiology of Addiction

Addictive drugs act on brain’s reward neurons. Main component of brain’s reward neurons is dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter which is released from neurons of the brain to perform different activities. Dopamine is released from the brain in response to naturally rewarding experiences like food, sex, drug etc. Majority of the addictive drugs like nicotine, cocaine, amphetamine directly or indirectly cause an increase of dopamine level in the body. Dopamine provides feelings of enjoyment and thereby motivates a person to desire for the rewarding experience like food, sex, drug which cause an increase in dopamine level and thereby gives more pleasurable feelings.

Functions of dopamine:

1. Control of behavior, memory, learning
2. Control of voluntary movement
3. Inhibition of prolactin production
4. All of these must be considere 
   

Risk Factors

•          Family issues

•          Emotional trauma

•          Curiosity or imitation

•          Bad influence of friends

•          Poor self-image

•          Low religiosity

•          Poor school performance or any problem at school

•          Parental rejection

•          Family dysfunction

•          Over or under-controlling by parents

•          Family history

•          Divorce or romantic breakup

•          Abuse