Addiction is now recognised as a brain disease rather than a matter of willpower. This short animated video explores how addictive substances hijack the brain’s reward system, particularly the role of dopamine, leading to profound changes in brain function and behaviour. Despite this understanding, stigma persists, hindering access to effective treatment.
Key Concepts:
- Addiction as a Brain Disease:
- Previously viewed as a lack of willpower or moral failing, addiction is now understood as a physiological disease that alters the brain’s structure and function.
- The Role of Dopamine:
- Dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward, plays a central role in addiction by reinforcing addictive behaviours.
- Hijacking of the Reward System:
- Addictive substances trigger an exaggerated release of dopamine, overwhelming the brain’s natural reward pathways.
- Development of Tolerance:
- Chronic substance use leads to tolerance, requiring higher doses to achieve the desired effect as the brain becomes less sensitive to dopamine.
- Impact on Brain Function:
- Addiction disrupts decision-making, memory, learning, and judgment, leading to drug-seeking behaviour driven by habit rather than conscious choice.
- Stigma Surrounding Addiction:
- Stigmatising language and beliefs about addiction as a moral failing create barriers to accessing effective treatment.
- Effective Treatment Approaches:
- Medication-based treatments, combined with counselling, are shown to be the most effective approach for addiction, emphasising the medical nature of the condition.
Do you think understanding addiction as a brain disease rather than a moral failing could help reduce stigma and improve access to treatment? Why or why not?
If you enjoyed that video and want to learn more, here is a lecture video you will find interesting!
Neuroscientist Marc Lewis challenges the conventional view of addiction as a chronic brain disease, arguing for a more nuanced understanding. While acknowledging brain changes associated with addiction, Lewis emphasises that these changes do not necessarily indicate a disease. He discusses the impact of addiction on brain development, the effects of quitting addiction, and similarities between substance and behavioural addictions. Lewis explores the feedback cycle of addiction, delay discounting, and limitations of the disease model, advocating for empowering approaches to addiction treatment.
Key Concepts:
- Dominant Definition of Addiction:
- Addiction commonly defined as a chronic relapsing brain disease influenced by medical and 12-step movements.
- Brain Changes in Addiction:
- Reduced communication between prefrontal cortex and striatum, alterations in gray matter volume, and synaptic densities.
- Brain Development and Addiction:
- Synaptic pruning crucial for efficient functioning; prefrontal cortex pruning occurs last.
- Effects of Quitting Addiction:
- Increase in gray matter volume and synaptic density; addicts generally quit over time.
- Substance vs. Behavioural Addictions:
- Similar brain changes observed in various forms of addiction.
- Feedback Cycle of Addiction:
- Trigger, craving, reinforcement, and habit formation perpetuate addictive behaviour.
- Delay Discounting and Ego Depletion:
- Tendency to prioritise immediate rewards; cognitive fatigue from inhibiting impulses.
- Limitations of Disease Model:
- Many addicts do not identify with chronic brain disease; calls for a more empowering approach.
- Treatment Approaches:
- Psychoanalytic therapy, mindfulness meditation, contingency management, and compassion focus therapy highlighted.
- Dynamic Nature of Recovery:
- Recovery is an ongoing process, emphasising the brain’s constant change.
Do you think the traditional disease model of addiction is effective in addressing the complexities of addiction, or do you believe a more nuanced approach, as suggested by Marc Lewis, would lead to better outcomes? Why or why not?