The word addiction itself is derived from a Latin term meaning "bound to", or "enslaved by." Addiction has a powerful influence on the brain that is shown primarily in in three ways: a craving for the object of addiction, loss of control over use, and continuing involvement with the substance despite experiencing a variety of negative consequences. In more recent studies it has become more widely accepted that besides alcohol and drugs, activities such as gambling, shopping, and sex can have similar affects on the brain.
About 1/10 Americans are addicted to a substance, with the top three being: Marijuana, Cocaine, and opioid (narcotic) pain relievers.
Recent research suggests that dopamine interacts with glutamate in the brain, and eventually takes over the brain's system of reward-related learning. This system is imperative to human survival because it pairs activities such as eating and sex with pleasure and reward (prompting us to seek these out, therefore surviving and reproducing).
Being exposed to an addictive substance/behavior causes nerve cells in the nucleus accumbens and the prefrontal cortex to react in a way that pairs up liking something with the desire for seeking it out, and motivates us to go after the source of pleasure/desire. The nucleus accumbens and the prefrontal cortex work with planning and executive tasks, so it is clearly quite problematic when the need for a substance starts to take control of decision making.
Over time, the reward center will react less with the dopamine released by the substance and the user will have to use more to achieve the same high as before. This is the process of developing tolerance and can contribute to overdosing/dying from toxicity.
At a certain point the compulsion to use takes over. The pleasure derived from the substance is not as potent as it once was and in many cases the person has to use the substance to feel normal or avoid feeling ill. The hippocampus and the amygdala store information relating to triggers in the environment that are associated with the substance in an attempt to find the substance again.These triggers help cue an intense craving to use the substance, which leads to the person who is using to do whatever it takes to obtain that substance.
If you or any of your friends/family is struggling with addiction here is a list of local resources for alcohol and drugs in the area:
Alcoholics Anonymous
Call for locations
Phone (850) 224-1818
Apalachee Center, Inc.
In-patient detoxification services for persons recovering from alcohol and chemical dependency
2634 Capital Circle NE
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone (850) 487-0300
Apalacheecenter.org
Chemical Addictions Recovery Effort
4150 Hollis Drive
Marianna, FL 32446
Phone (850) 526-3133
Hotline (850) 769-1633
Cocaine Anonymous
Phone (850) 216-2926
Crack Cocaine Self Help Group
319 Macomb Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone (850) 561-1372
DISC Village
Toll free 1-866-775-4960
http://www.discvillage.com/
Juvenile Assessment Center:
3333 West Pensacola Street, Suite 400
Tallahassee, Florida 32304
Phone ( 850) 575-2851
Juvenile Outpatient/Juvenile Drug Court:
3333 West Pensacola Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32304
Phone (850) 575-4025
DISC Village (Wakulla County)
85 High Drive
Crawfordville, GA 32327
Phone (850) 926-2452
Eckerd Youth Alternatives, Inc.
Residential and outpatient services for children adolescents, who have alcohol, drug and/or behavioral problems
Phone (352) 796-9493
http://www.eckerd.org/
Florida Alcohol & Drug Abuse Association
2868 Mahan Drive, Suite 1
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone (850) 878-2196
http://www.fadaa.org/
Frenchtown Outreach Center
Nightly self-help group and outreach service for substance abuse recovery
527 Brevard Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone (850) 222-5151
Leon County Treatment Center
Outpatient substance abuse clinic treating adults and juveniles
3976 Woodville Hwy
Tallahassee, FL 32305
Phone (850) 878-7776
A Life Recovery Center
Day & Night treatment, outpatient counseling and transitional housing for persons recovering from alcohol and chemical dependency
449 W. Georgia Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone (850) 224-9991
Narcotics Anonymous
Address: Call for locations
Phone (850) 599-2876
Stand Up
1561 Blountstown Street
Tallahassee, FL 32304
Phone (850) 575-1673
Starting Point
329 Ausley Road
Tallahassee, FL 32304
Phone (850) 580-4799
The Recovery Center at Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare
1616 Physicians Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone (850) 431-5910
http://www.tmh.org/RecoveryCenter
Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare Chemical Dependency Program
1616 Physicians Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone (850) 431-5105
http://www.tmh.org/body.cfm?id=42
Turn About Inc. of Tallahassee
Services for children adolescents, and college undergraduates who are at risk for or have alcohol, drug and/or behavioral problems
2771 Miccosukee Rd
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Phone (850) 671-1920
http://www.turnabout.org
Twelve Oaks Alcohols and Drug Recovery
Residential treatment services for adults and juveniles
Phone 1-800-622-1255
www.twelveoaksrecovery.com
Resources:
http://healthimpactsflorida.org/studies/hra/information-for-parentsteens/tallahassee-resources/alcoholdrug-resources-tallahassee/
http://www.helpguide.org/harvard/how-addiction-hijacks-the-brain.htm
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