The Neuroscience of Drug Addiction

Understanding how drug addiction works in the brain New line to generate new content

Before someone uses drugs, neurons communicate normally New line to generate

new content A sending neuron releases neurotransmitters like dopamine from tiny vesicles

New line to generate new content Those neurotransmitters attach to receptors on the receiving

neuron New line to generate new content Transporters then pull the extra dopamine

back in to keep things balanced But when a person uses a drug New line to generate

new content The drug floods the synapse with dopamine New line to generate

new content Or it blocks the transporters so dopamine can’t get cleaned up