Health Check: What Makes It So Hard To Quit Drugs?

Associate Professor Nicole Lee from the National Drug Research Institute published an article on "The Conversation" in December titled "Health Check: what makes it so hard to quit drugs?" The article looks at how alcohol and drugs affect neurotransmitters in the brain particularly dopamine which regulates emotion, motivation and pleasure. Withdrawal and tolerance is discussed and how people will continue to use substances to avoid the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms. A number of risk factors for dependence are listed such as trauma, connection to school and community to name a few and whether it is possible to make changes to drug dependence with or without the support of behavioural and cognitive therapies and sometimes medication.

http://theconversation.com/health-check-what-makes-it-so-hard-to-quit-drugs-69896