How Drug Cravings Work
Drug cravings or a compulsion to use drugs even after you’ve made the decision to quit is one of the ways in which medical professionals can accurately identify drug addiction. Both a psychological and physical issue, drug craving feels almost instinctual and taming it can make you feel crazy and powerless. But how, exactly, does it work and why?
When you use a drug on a regular basis, your brain cells begin to adapt to the substance’s presence: they change shape. What is called the “reward system” or “reward pathway” is taken over by the drug and controlled by it. More of the drug results in pleasurable feelings and without it, the pleasure center can’t function. This inability to work is what triggers the craving for the drug, creating the perception that getting high is beyond necessary: it’s vital. The ability to think about anything else is completely wiped out.
The site of addiction in the brain is called the nucleus accumbens. The artificial stimulus of drugs makes it impossible for this area to recognize natural rewards. It actually makes the brain think that the drugs are necessary for survival.
This mechanism that is described as drug craving kills animals in laboratory tests. Without treatment, drug addiction and the compulsion to use can kill humans, too. It’s really important that you fight the compulsion if you can and, if not, get help as soon as possible.
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