What Causes Addiction?
Doctors say there is a link between the repeated use of an addictive substance and how the human brain experiences pleasure – its use has a nice reward, leading to further and more frequent use.
The addictive substance, be it nicotine, alcohol or some drug actually causes physical changes in some nerve cells in the brain.
After a while, the user of the potentially addictive substance does not get the same pleasure and has to increase the dose – his/her body’s tolerance to it increases.
Eventually, the user no longer experiences pleasure from the substance and takes it simply to prevent withdrawal symptoms – taking the substance just makes them feel normal. At this stage many people seek assistance from a rehabilitation program to begin their recovery journey.
Experts say that when tolerance increases, the risk of addiction is much greater.