Addiction Science

Alcohol, cigarettes, and illegal narcotics are usually related with addiction. A variety of factors contribute to drug usage, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (see list below).

Having a good time: a feeling of euphoria

To feel better: to reduce tension

To be more effective, up one's game.

Curiosity

Pressure from other students

Addiction isn't limited to drugs; it also encompasses a wide range of behaviours. An example of an addicted activity is playing video games all day. With more and more studies proving that video game addiction alters brain neurochemistry in the same way as drug usage, it is no longer assumed that a person addicted to games lacks willpower.

There is an area of the limbic system in the brain that is responsible for addictive behaviours. This "feel good" neurotransmitter is released into the brain when it is active.

When compared to healthy activities like eating, drinking, reading, and listening to music, addictive substances or behaviours can release up to ten times as much dopamine, resulting in the "high" that is associated with their usage.

Repetition of the use of addictive medications activates the brain's "reward system," resulting in dependency.

Dopamine surges in the reward circuit promote pleasurable but unhealthy behaviours, encouraging people to repeat the activity again and time again. When a person becomes tolerant to a substance, their brain becomes less responsive to the dopamine rush they had when they first started using it. This is what is known as tolerance. In order to get the same "dopamine high," they may take more of the substance (National Institute on Drug Abuse).

In addition to dopamine, new research suggests that serotonin may play a role in the emergence of addiction. The neurotransmitter serotonin is responsible for making us feel happy and pleased. Addiction to drugs can be exacerbated by low serotonin levels.

Victoria University of Wellington researchers found that serotonin levels during the first time a person takes drugs can influence their likelihood of becoming addicted. The less likely someone is to become addicted, the higher their serotonin levels are. According to the findings, "the anti-addiction impact of serotonin is lowered when drug use climbs and becomes common." Dopamine appears to be a significant predictor of drug addiction throughout this phase of the brain's development.

Dopamine-altering medications have an impact on a person's motivation, motor skills, pleasure perception, and memory of significant life events. A person's ability to learn, remember, sleep, and feel emotions are all affected by medicines that influence serotonin.

An average day for a game addict can range from 10 to 14 hours of gameplay. It's safe to say that many of these individuals suffer from underlying social and psychological issues. If they're feeling down or inhibited, they're looking for a boost of confidence.

In some people, addiction worsens or triggers a mental illness such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessional compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, and depression. Addiction is more likely to strike such people.

A new "Internet Gaming Disorder" has been added to the International Classification of Diseases by the World Health Organization (WHO) (ICD-11). A "habit of persistent or recurrent gaming behaviour" that "takes precedence over other life activities" was described as the root of the problem.