What is Addiction and Why Do We Get Addicted to Substances?

Many different models of addiction aim to explain the nature of addiction. We have the disease model and the biopsychosocial model. The disease model views addiction as a “chronic brain disorder.” There is also evidence that there is a genetic component as well. Genes have been identified that are inherited across addiction disorders, regardless of the specific substance. 

The biopsychosocial model of addiction takes into account the biological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to substance use. This model is much more popular among clinicians, and most treatment facilities utilize this model to inform their treatment. The biological component includes the genetic factors previously mentioned. Substances significantly alter brain chemistry, fueling cravings and urges. Mental health also plays an important role in the risk factors for addiction. People frequently use substances as a coping mechanism, which can lead to addiction. For example, if you are experiencing heightened anxiety, you may turn to alcohol to help you relax. It is a quick and immediate solution to a problem you don’t have other tools to solve.

Additionally, if you have significant trauma that is leading to mental health issues, you may take substances to temporarily “forget” or to stop the flashbacks. Trauma strongly correlates with addiction. Experiencing trauma can lead to hypervigilance, hyperarousal, and anxiety, and using substances is a way to ease those emotions. When we don’t know other ways to ease the tension in our bodies, we turn to substances.

Read more about trauma and addiction. 

Social factors are our environment. Those exposed to substances at a young age are more likely to struggle with addiction in the future. We can get exposure to substances at home, school, or work. Substance use being a social norm is a risk factor for addiction. 

The Neurobiology of Addiction

As previously mentioned, drugs alter our brain chemistry. I will briefly explain what happens neurologically when you use substances, using cocaine as an example. When you use cocaine, you get an immediate boost of dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that contributes to our “reward center.” An increase in dopamine creates a pleasurable feeling, as if we’ve been rewarded.  When we do something and our rewarded, it reinforces us to do that thing again, to receive the reward. You can see how this cycle becomes addictive. Dopamine can make you feel good, and you want to continue feeling good. Especially if you are struggling with your mental health and you know there is a drug that will immediately make you feel better, it can be hard to resist the urge to use it.

Cocaine gives you an unnatural amount of dopamine, meaning that you will not receive the same amount of pleasure from natural causes of dopamine release. When you’re addicted, you continue craving a dopamine high you can’t find elsewhere.  “The natural function of this response is to help keep us focused on activities that promote the basic biological goals of survival and reproduction. When a thirsty person drinks or someone has an orgasm, for example, dopaminergic cells flood the NAc with dopamine molecules. The receiving cells’ response makes us feel good and want to repeat the activity and reexperience that pleasure.” 

Addiction and Memory

Our memory centers remember where we were when we experienced the pleasure, so we can continue that behavior in the future. The natural benefits of this are where we find water or where we attract a partner. These memory centers imprint all factors relating to where and how we used the drug. This is why we experience triggers. When we are around something that reminds us of when we used the drug/experienced the pleasure, our dopamine automatically starts to increase, without us even having to use the drug. This creates a desire and motivation to use the drug again. The harm substances do to our brains is very scary. It can lead to memory issues, increased stress, negative moods, and heightened anxiety.