Many people believe that substance abuse is a

problem with someone’s character or morals, and

not a genuine medical condition. This distressingly

common belief is not just harmful to addicts, it also

flies in the face of medical research that explains

just how addiction works.

Addiction is, above all else, a physical condition. When someone is

addicted to a drug, their brain and body have undergone a physical

change that makes them dependent on that substance. Without it,

their brain and body cannot function normally.

Drugs contain chemicals that

disrupt the brain’s

communication ability, usually

by imitating the brain’s chemical

messengers and overstimulating

the brain’s reward centers. As

someone continues to use a

drug, the brain’s chemical

balance changes, making the

user dependent on the drug and

disrupting normal processes in

the brain.

In a brain imaging study,1 scientists found that

people addicted to drugs experienced changes

to the parts of their brain that affect:

• Judgement and decision making

• Learning and memory

• Behavior control

It has long been observed that addiction and

substance abuse run in families, which has led

many to theorize a link between substance abuse

and genetics. Though this is a popular theory,

research has not actually been able to show a

definitive link between the two.

The link between families and addiction

most likely has more to do with certain

personality and behavior types making

people more likely to start abusing

drugs in the first place. While there is

no “addiction gene,” shared risky

personality types among families can

be an indication of a brain makeup

susceptible to substance abuse.

Researchers have found that people with

introverted personalities and those who

suffer from mental health problems are more

susceptible to substance abuse:

• Introverts – Introverts tend to have less

positive feelings than extroverts and are

more attracted to rewards, which can

lead to substance abuse.

• Depression/anxiety – Like introverts,

people with chronic depression or

anxiety are more likely to seek relief in

drugs, heightening their risk of addiction.

Introverts and people with

depression are not the only

ones who have a higher risk

of substance abuse. People

who lack constraint and

impulse control, or who

purposely seek out risky

situations are also at risk.

While no personality type is a

guaranteed sign of substance

abuse, it is important to

understand how some people

can be more likely to feel the

need to use drugs thanks to

brain chemistry.2

Retreat Premier Addiction Treatment Centers is committed to

helping patients move past their addictions to drugs and

alcohol once and for all. To learn more about our staff and

treatment methods, visit www.retreatpb.com.

1. https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/understanding-drug-abuse-addiction

2. http://www.livescience.com/44851-personality-substance-use-disorder-risk.html

Summary

Substance abuse causes physical changes in the brain and body, which can affect the behavior and personality of people who have become addicted to drugs.