Why we get addicted

WHY WE GET ADDICTED
WHY WE GET
Discover how our brains can be
tricked into wanting more and more
WORDS SCOTT DUTFIELD
A
ddiction is a biopsychosocial flood the dopamine system and cause it
disorder, meaning that its to release abnormally large amounts of
occurrence is a combination neurotransmitters. They also disrupt the
of a person’s biology, mental cycling of dopamine to make its presence
health and societal factors. last longer. These drugs can trigger the
It’s typically associated with a dependency release of between two and ten times the
on different harmful substances or amount of dopamine that is naturally
behaviours, such as the use of narcotics, produced from normal pleasurable
alcohol or gambling, but can also apply to experiences, such as eating food.
overdoing anything that leads to harm. The point at which we become addicted
What unites addictions is their ability is when our brains adapt to the presence of
to increase the levels of dopamine in the this excess dopamine. When that excess is
body. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter missing, the body craves it. When the body
that’s made in the brain. When it’s released, experiences these false ‘hits’ of dopamine,
it activates the nucleus accumbens, also over time it will begin to start reducing the
known as the pleasure centre of the brain. level of naturally produced dopamine and
Outside of addiction, dopamine is released
during pleasurable experiences, such as
getting food, watching a film or anything
that brings you joy. However, this built-in
reward system can be hijacked by other
substances and damaging behaviours.
Some substances, such as heroin,
marijuana and nicotine, mimic the presence
of a chemical messenger that activates
nerve cells called neurons. When activated,
neurons generate electrical signals to
tell the brain to release dopamine. Other
substances, like cocaine or amphetamines,
we become addicted when

our brains adapt to the
presence of excess dopamine
70 PSYCHOLOGY NOW
WHY WE GET ADDICTED
also reduce the number of dopamine the body experiencing withdrawal,

receptors. With low natural production of symptoms of which include headaches,
dopamine and a decrease in the number fatigue and decreased motivation.
of receptors cycling it, addicted individuals However, unlike other more destructive
will continue to use a substance or engage drugs, studies have shown that quitting
in behaviours that bring the brain to caffeine is much more easily achieved
its newly adapted dopamine levels. than quitting substances like cocaine.
Coffee addicts Infinite scroll

You might be an addict without actually It remains unclear how addictive social
realising it. In the Western world, more than media is, but since the invention of the
80% of humans ingest caffeine on a regular infinite scroll in 2006, social media
basis in amounts that are large enough to platforms are making it harder for you to
affect their brains. Caffeine is a psychoactive quit. The infinite scroll was invented to
stimulant that affects the same part of the allow users of a social media platform to
brain as cocaine, but in a very different scroll down through content seamlessly
way. It mostly enhances concentration and endlessly instead of clicking at the
and improves mood, but it creates a surge bottom of a page for more content. The
in dopamine similar to other addictive switch to infinite scroll means that we’re
drugs, but on a much smaller scale. Caffeine always anticipating the next piece of
drinkers also experience an increase in content, causing dopamine levels to
their tolerance, meaning the more coffee slightly spike and then quickly fall when
they drink, the more they need in order the next piece of content is revealed. This
to receive the same energising results. dopamine system will continue until you
Like any other drug, the removal of make the active choice to shut down social
caffeine-packed coffee will result in media or your phone’s battery runs out.
THE SCIENCE OF SMOKING
A!er just one puff, nicotine can get its claws into you
NICOTINE NEURON FALSE!SIGNAL DOPAMINE

This stimulant Nicotine interacts When nicotine enters the neuron When released, this
alkaloid is found with neurons, which it imitates a neurotransmi#er neurotransmi#er
in the nightshade in turn send signals called acetylcholine, causing the activates part of the
family of plants, to the brain to neuron to create an electrical brain associated with
including tobacco. release dopamine. signal in the brain. experiencing pleasure.
NORMAL!LEVELS NICOTINE!RUSH BURNT!OUT ADDICTION

© Ge!y Images / Malte Mueller
Without the presence of Within the first few seconds Once nicotine has At the point of addiction,
nicotine, neurons operate of inhaling the smoke of a been used up and is neuron receptors wait for the
normally, activated by a cigare#e, nicotine binds to no longer present, arrival of nicotine and the
type of neurotransmi#er neuron receptors that normally receptors return to body craves the resulting rush
called acetylcholine. bind with acetylcholine. normal function. of dopamine.
PSYCHOLOGY NOW 71

Why we get addicted

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Why we get addicted

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WHY WE GET ADDICTED

WORDS SCOTT DUTFIELD

we become addicted when

also reduce the number of dopamine the body experiencing withdrawal,

Coffee addicts Infinite scroll

THE SCIENCE OF SMOKING

NICOTINE NEURON FALSE!SIGNAL DOPAMINE

NORMAL!LEVELS NICOTINE!RUSH BURNT!OUT ADDICTION

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