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Stopping addiction stigmatization for quick recovery

November 15, 2016

Stopping addiction stigmatization for quick recovery will go along way in facilitating quick recovery

Stopping addiction stigmatization for quick recovery: Is addiction a brain disease?

Is addiction a brain disease? Ideally in addiction there is nothing like physiological malfunction. Addiction may be defined in many different ways however, for the purpose of this article, addiction is a chronic relapsing brain disease characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite the harmful consequences. Addiction is seen as a brain disease simply because drugs has the power of making changes in the brain. These change then alters the brains structure and how it works. When this happens users may develop certain characters and behaviors that are likely to be viewed negatively in the community. It is this negativity that makes observers within the community to start isolation and pointing fingers. That is why we want to create awareness on stopping addiction stigmatization to give treatment a chance says doctor Dalal Akoury MD and also the founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center.

Stopping addiction stigmatization for quick recovery: Dopamine

All drugs of abuse, whether legal or illegal, cause large surges of dopamine in brain areas crucial for motivating our behavior—both the reward regions (such as the nucleus accumbens) as well as prefrontal regions that control our higher functions like judgment, decision making, and self-control over our actions. These brain circuits adapt to these surges by becoming much less sensitive to dopamine, a process called receptor down regulation. The result is that ordinary healthy things in our lives like all the pleasurable social and physical behaviors necessary for our survival (which are rewarded by small bursts of dopamine throughout the day) no longer are enough to motivate a person; the person will therefore needs a big surge of dopamine from the drug just to feel temporarily okay and they must continually repeat this, in an endless vicious cycle.

Stopping addiction stigmatization for quick recovery: Addiction and suicide

Finally addiction and suicide are closely linked together and if you followed our last posting about the story of this grandfather who committed suicide because he could not control his drinking problem and the daughter who could also not share about the actual cause of his death freely because of shame and stigma, then you will notice that the shame was not just because the father had been an alcoholic, but because he committed suicide, out of hopelessness and helplessness at his inability to control the strong urges to drink. We all have a duty to play in stopping addiction stigmatization so that patients can seek for treatment freely. It pains very painful that something that could be treated caused this great damage simply because of stigma, shame and fear. Dear reader if you’re following this story, let this be the last one, addiction is a treatable condition and stigma or shame are just perceptions that should not result in death. Come quickly for help today and together lets kick out of our lives the problem of drug addiction.

Stopping addiction stigmatization for quick recovery: Is addiction a brain disease?

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Dopamine levels variance and the feelings of satisfaction

October 10, 2016

Dopamine levels variance and dopamine reward master. The neurotransmision and substance abuse needs immediate treatment

Dopamine levels variance: Neurotransmitter role in drug addiction

This is may be due to genetics, environment related or a combination of factors. A study concluded that pathological gamblers most often experienced traumatizing experiences when they were younger. Since most people who became addicted to gambling have low dopamine levels, and also that same group usually has endured a traumatic experience, it was concluded the overall dopamine levels can change due to environmental factors. This supports the opinion that both the mind and the brain can change due to environmental factors. However in yet another study it was established that a gene related to dopamine is sported twice as often in pathological gamblers than non-gamblers. To this effect, doctor Akoury says that this view seems to supports the observation that dopamine levels are genetic. We can therefore come up with two possible observations. Either both genetics and environmental factors affects ones brain anatomy and mind simultaneously, or that environmental factors can affect genes which in turn affect ones brain and mind.

Dopamine levels variance: Why is risk and reward a trigger for the release of dopamine?

It’s scientifically logical that sex and food release dopamine, because they are essential for the life of human beings. Risk and reward are not. It is believed that everything happens for a reason; meaning, there must be a scientific explanation for the increase of dopamine levels as a result of risk and reward. Like for instance the human race is different from other species on this planet not only by its ability to reason, but also its ability to create and be innovative. Therefore nature dictates that humans are creative and innovative, and for this to happen a person should have some level of satisfaction when one accomplishes an innovation. Doctor Akoury agrees that for one to accomplish an innovation he/she must take certain risks. It is risky to try to do something that no other being on earth has ever accomplished. Therefore, there must be a reward other than material that one gets when he or she accomplishes the innovation, otherwise that person would not take the risk. The reward here is the release of dopamine and the feeling of satisfaction. The problem with this process is that not only can one be satisfied after a major risk and accomplishment, but that one can also be satisfied through constant minute risks and accomplishments.

The feeling of satisfaction that dopamine exhibits are so strong that one can often lose his or her ability to reason in order to achieve satisfaction. It is that unconscious state of mind that takes over and begins to make certain decisions. The brain develops neural circuits that unconsciously assess reward. Since dopamine plays an active role in these circuits, people will act in what they think is in their best interest, when in fact the only interest it satisfies is the release of dopamine. This can be exemplified in gambling where one insists on gambling even though he or she knows that the odds are against them. Finally we appreciate that there is a lot of scientific explanations in this topic which may not be very clear to many people and if you are one of them then we are more than ready at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center to listen and help you be on the know. All you have to do is to call doctor Dalal Akoury (MD) who is also the founder of the facility for an appointment and all your concerns will be addressed professionally.

Dopamine levels variance: Neurotransmitter role in drug addiction

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Dopamine influence in substance abuse

July 30, 2016

Dopamine influence in substance abuse and with good treatment, Specific neurotransmitters affected by drugs can be eliminated for a greater freedom.

Dopamine influence in substance abuse: The brain reward center

Drug seeking and craving to the brain is very interesting more so when we consider how the brain functions. It is true that the brain has evolved over time in a way that ensures human survival. And in fact our brain’s reward system is part of that survival system. In many instances we often experience an urgent need for food whenever we are starving and generally have a powerful desire for sex too. According to doctor Dalal Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center, the brain’s reward system rewards food and sex because they ensure our survival. Unfortunately, drugs of abuse operate within these reward systems which leads people to experience an urgent need or powerful desire for drugs or addictive activities.

The brain’s reward system has ensured our species survival. You may have not known but food, water, and sex are some of the elements that activate the reward system. Therefore when the brain’s reward center is activated, it releases dopamine. Dopamine then creates a pleasing, enjoyable sensation which then motivates us into repeating these behaviors which are necessary for our survival. The reason why this is happening is because dopamine has rewarded us with a pleasurable feeling. Doctor Akoury recommends that from an evolutionary standpoint of view, it is very helpful to have a reward system that works. Like for instance, imagine that there is very little food and you’re wandering about looking for food. When you finally find something to eat, this triggers your reward system. This pleasing feeling (dopamine “reward”) will become associated with whatever behavior that led you to that food. This causes you to want to repeat that behavior. Moreover, the reward system is closely tied to emotional and subjective memories. If you were successful and found food in a particular place for instance, in the future you will want to look for food in the same location. This reward system increases the likelihood that you will be successful in finding food there the next time. This is because your brain chemicals are rewarding you with a pleasing sensation. It also helps you to remember how and where this pleasant feeling occurred.

The negatives of reward sensations

It will come to you as a surprise that the element that motives your survival is unfortunately the very same reward system that ensures your survival also rewards drug use. Doctor Akoury says that all addictive substances and activities will trigger the release of dopamine which rewards us with a pleasant sensation thereby succeeding in motivating us to continuously indulge in these harmful behaviors. It is nowadays common knowledge that peoples with addiction problems will do all it takes to get their drug of choice and in the same way, they continue with their addiction despite the harm it causes to themselves or their loved ones.

It is therefore very important to note that all these characteristic of addictive behaviors arise from the brain’s pleasure and rewards centers. Therefore seeking for lasting solutions becomes a must to do for all victims. This may not be a very popular thing owing to the addictiveness of some of these drugs, but nonetheless it is the best option if you want to have a healthy life that is free from all sorts of addiction. You can schedule for an appointment with doctor Dalal Akoury for the commencement of your journey to recovery.

Dopamine influence in substance abuse: The brain reward center

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Dopamine reward master and drug seeking basics

July 30, 2016

Dopamine reward master and drug seeking basics. The neurotransmission and substance abuse needs immediate treatment

Dopamine reward master and drug seeking basics: Mesolimbic pathway

While we were looking at the dopamine influence in substance abuse, it became quite clear that when the brain’s reward center is activated, it releases dopamine which then creates a pleasing, enjoyable sensation primarily to motivate us into repeating these behaviors which are necessary for our survival. The reason why this is happening is because dopamine has rewarded us with a pleasurable feeling. That in itself is a testimony that dopamine reward master is the fueling the human survival. With that understanding of the purpose and functioning of the brains reward system. It would be important that we interrogate its (dopamine reward master) functions a little bit further.

Dopamine reward master and drug seeking basics: Ventral tegmental area (VTA)

The circuit most associated with pleasure and reward is the mesolimbic pathway which is located in the brainstem. The objective of this area of the brain is primarily concerned with basic survival. Within the mesolimbic pathway is an area called the ventral tegmental area (VTA). The VTA projects to the nucleus accumbens (thought to be the reward center). The neurotransmitter most commonly linked with the mesolimbic system is dopamine. Many people consider dopamine to be the driving force behind the human pursuit of pleasure. The release of dopamine is a pleasurable sensation. The release of dopamine motivates us to repeat behaviors or activities that prompted this release. This system’s purpose was to promote survival by rewarding life sustaining behaviors such eating and procreation.

Dopamine reward master and drug seeking basics: Nucleus accumbens

All addictive drugs and activities release varying amounts of dopamine into the nucleus accumbens with stimulant drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine releasing the most. However when it comes to drugs like alcohol or heroin, the brain’s own opiate system (endorphins) also gets involved. Doctor Akoury MD and founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center reiterates that even though different forms of addictions have different effects in the nucleus accumbens, they share one common denominator, that is, they all activate the reward system which in turn motivates us to repeat those behaviors, even though they may be harmful. Besides what we have discussed about the concepts of reward, pleasure, and craving together, it is however very important to appreciate that there is a distinction between pleasure-seeking and drug seeking. Note that pleasure-seeking is all about the pleasurable, rewarding aspect of addiction while drug-seeking refer to the craving aspect of addiction. Dopamine may be more involved in drug-seeking (craving) component of addiction. The opiate (endorphin), GABA, or glutamatergic systems may be more involved in pleasure-seeking aspect of addiction too.

Finally pleasure-seeking and drug-seeking (cravings) are inter-related, yet distinct. Research has established that natural rewards (food, water, sex) typically lessen their influence on the reward system over time. As a behavior occurs more often, dopamine levels tend to decrease in the process. Psychologists call this habituation. This makes sense. Once you’ve eaten enough food, you don’t need to be rewarded for eating more food. Then you would be eating too much, or too much of one type of food. Therefore everyone needs to take heed of keeping the brain free from all attacks be it from substances or otherwise. Talking to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury should be your starting point. Call us today to schedule that very important appointment today for the commencement of your journey to full recovery from your addiction.

Dopamine reward master and drug seeking basics: Mesolimbic pathway

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Neurotransmission and substance abuse

July 12, 2016

Neurotransmission and substance abuse needs immediate treatment

Neurotransmission and substance abuse: Why immediate solution is necessary?

Neurotransmission is a recurring process that emerges in several steps utilizing specialized components of the sending and receiving cells. Through this, it will then identifies the exact step that the specific substance disrupts, and how it does that by providing very vital insight into its effect on the victim. It is also very essential in the identification of medical and behavioral interventions that inhibits, counter, or reverse the disruption. And from the experts point of view at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury, MD so many substances that re being abused today actually imitates the functions of neurotransmitters. Doctor Akoury reiterates that a number of opioid drugs like heroin and OxyContin chemically resembles the brain’s natural opioids sufficiently to engage and stimulate their specialized receptors. And being a strong stimulant, heroin therefore stimulates so many receptors beyond what the brain is able to use in the normal cycle of endorphin. The consequences of that will be a massive amplification of opioid activities.

Neurotransmission and substance abuse: Molecular components

If you are abusing any drug, it is very important that you seek for immediate treatment from the experts. Doctor Akoury and her team of experts will be very helpful to you if only you can schedule for an appointment with her today. Treatment is very important because majority of these drugs normally alters the neurotransmission by interacting with molecular components of the sending and receiving process other than receptors. Like for instance cocaine normally attaches to the dopamine transporter, the molecular conduit that draws free-floating dopamine out of the synapse and back into the sending cell.

Neurotransmission and substance abuse: Cocaine dopamine connection

It must be noted that as long as cocaine still occupies the transporter (neurotransmission), the dopamine cannot re-enter the cell using this route says doctor Akoury. It builds up in the synapse, stimulating receiving cell receptors more abundantly and producing much greater dopamine impact on the receiving cells than occurs naturally. The Cocaine’s Dopamine Connections will then tallies some of cocaine’s interactions with the mechanisms of dopamine signaling, and how they motivate abuse and contribute to dependence and addiction.

Finally, doctor Akoury registers that, under normal circumstances, some drugs will alter the neurotransmission using other means besides increasing or decreasing the quantity of receptors stimulated. Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam or lorazepam, enhance receiving cells’ responses when the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) attaches to their receptors. Benzodiazepines’ relaxation effects result from this increased sensitivity to GABA’s inhibitory impact on cellular activity. Therefore it will not matter how it happens, the best you can do for yourself is to seek for lasting solutions today. The establishment of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center gives you an opportunity of regaining your health today if only you can schedule for an appointment with doctor Akoury today for the commencement of your recovery process.

Neurotransmission and substance abuse: Why immediate solution is necessary?

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Tag Archives: Dopamine and addiction

Dopamine levels variance and the feelings of satisfaction

Dopamine influence in substance abuse

Dopamine reward master and drug seeking basics

Neurotransmission and substance abuse

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