Addictive drugs and the normal brain
Addictive drugs are addictive because they work like brainsubstances (neurotransmitters) that play a
central role in everybody’s life. Opiates, cocaine and amphetamines work in the most emotional systems. Alcohol acts like a combination of these substances.
The addictive drugs 1. opiates (heroin, opium, morphine, methadone), 2. cocaine, 3. amphetamines, 4. nicotine and 5. benzodiazepines are addictive in different ways. They differ because they belong to different important motivational systems of brain and body.
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Addictive drug
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System
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opiates (heroin, opium, morphine, methadone)
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procreation, sexuality, bonding, love
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cocaine
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fighting as answer to stress, danger
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amphetamines
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flight as answer to stress, danger
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nicotine
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food-system
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benzodiazepines, sleepingpills
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sleep-system
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These drugs are addictive because they work within natural systems that are important for the survival. The systems are strongly repetitive by itselves. Think for example about the wish to go to sleep every night or about the repetitiveness of wanting to eat because one is hungry. The tendency to fight or flight when there is danger has become a character trait. This explains the element of repetition of addiction.
Genes, age and sex can influence the type of drug for which one is most susceptible. Stress in different phases of life can provoke susceptibility for addictions. On this page an english summary of the thesis. For more background-information go to the other english and dutch pages of this site.
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