How does drug or alcohol addiction affect my brain?

All drugs affect different parts of the brain. Commonly abused drugs are those used to relieve unpleasant sensations (such as pain) and emotions (such as anxiety), or to heighten sensations (such as euphoria). Over time, the receptors in the brain require more and more amounts of the drug in order to achieve the same desired sensation.

Changes in the brain also cause a person to have withdrawal symptoms when the level of the drug or alcohol in their body isn’t maintained.

This tolerance to drugs and alcohol, and the effects and timeline of withdrawal, are different for every drug and every person. The common thread is that once addicted, the person loses the ability to control his drug or alcohol use, and requires treatment.

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Questions:

How do I know if my loved one is addicted? Can’t I just cut back a little? Why can’t my loved one just stop taking drugs on their own? What does addiction do to my body over time? What are the signs of addiction? How does addiction affect my brain? What are the stages leading to addiction? Can I be addicted if I receive my medication from a physician? If alcoholism is a disease, why can’t I just take a pill to cure it? What signs should I look if my teenager is using drugs? My wife is pregnant… how is taking drugs and drinking affecting our baby? How does addiction affect the family? My loved one says he/she is too busy for treatment…what do I say to him/her?