Many people consider addiction to be a problem of personal weakness, initiated for self-gratification and continued because of an unwillingness or lack of sufficient willpower to stop. Because addiction affects so many facets of an individual's functioning—from the ability to tolerate frustration to establishing and maintaining a productive role in society—good treatment focuses on many dimensions of life, including family roles and work skills as well as mental health.

Drugs change the brain in ways that make quitting hard, even for those who want to. Fortunately, researchers know more than ever about how drugs affect the brain and have found treatments that can help people recover from drug addiction and lead productive lives.

Our therapists have been trained in the UK and are registered members of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy brighton recovery center reviews (BACP), the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) or the College of Sexual & Relationship Therapists (COSRT).

The VTA supports learning and sensitization development and releases DA into the forebrain 123 These neurons also project and release DA into the nucleus accumbens, 124 through the mesolimbic pathway Virtually all drugs causing drug addiction increase the dopamine release in the mesolimbic pathway, 125 in addition to their specific effects.

For example, brain-imaging technologies have revealed that our brains respond similarly to different pleasurable experiences, whether derived from ingesting psychoactive substances, such as alcohol and other drugs, or engaging in behaviors, such as gambling, shopping, and sex.

They may mistakenly think that those who use drugs lack moral principles or willpower and that they could stop their drug use simply by choosing to. In reality, drug addiction is a complex disease, and quitting usually takes more than good intentions or a strong will.