Addiction as a Brain Disease

Even though scientific advances over the past decades have supported the concept of addiction as a brain disease, skepticism remains. Recent research has aimed to reinforce the link between addiction and brain functions and broaden the understanding of addiction as a brain disease. A team of leading researchers has shown that regular drug use can lead to:

• The weakening of the brain regions involved in decision-making and self-regulation.
• The weakening of brain circuits relating to natural rewards (e.g. food, sex, relationships, etc.). Regular drug use can numb the ability to feel pleasure in everyday activities.
• Increasing strength of conditioned responses and stress activity. Environmental stimuli such as a place where one has taken drugs before or meeting people from one's drug-taking past can increase the craving for alcohol and other drugs and easily trigger relapse. 

They also point out the individual and social factors that can play a role in a person’s susceptibility to drug use. Risk factors involved in addiction may include genetic and biological processes, personality traits, mental health disorders, family neglect and abuse, peer drug usage, drug availability, poor attachment to school and the community and growing up in marginalised and deprived communities. 

The findings should serve as guidelines for the development of more effective methods of prevention and treatment and the implementation of more informed public health policies. Prevention programmes should be designed to enhance social skills and improve self-regulation. Furthermore, early screening for mental disorders and opportunities for personal, educational and emotional development are important.