How Addiction Works

The symptoms of addiction include but aren’t limited to intense cravings for something, the inability to control the use of that thing, and the continuing use despite negative consequences. Addictions alter the brain, first by changing the way it seizes pleasure and then by interfering with normal drives such as motivation and learning. Even though overcoming an addiction is an extremely challenging thing, it can be done.
Addiction has a strong and long lasting influence on the brain, with three directions of action: cravings, loss of control over the use of the object of addiction, and ongoing involvement with it despite its negative effects on the person.
Old Problem, New Insights
Nobody wants to develop an addiction, yet many people fall pray to it. Let’s take a closer look at some official statistics:
Almost 23 million Americans suffer from an alcohol or drug addiction. This means one in 10 people …
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