There is an opinion in the society that people who easily fall into anger, states of increased nervousness, states of anxiety and depression – more often turn to alcohol and drugs. According to research, people with mental health problems are three times more likely to become addicted to drugs than people without such disorders. However, according to the same study, as many as 60% of addicted people suffer from other mental illnesses. Scientists do not clearly state whether mental problems lead to addiction or whether addiction causes mental changes.
Common observations show that alcohol and drugs are used by people with mental disorders, because they think they are the only salvation. They believe that in this way they will anesthetize, drown out the tormenting thoughts, and the life problems they are struggling with will solve themselves. According to clinical studies, alcohol and drugs affect the psyche and how such a person perceives the world around him. Stimulants affect the area of the brain affected by mental illness. It is therefore logical that patients suffering from depression are more easily addicted to narcotics, and these, unfortunately, only worsen the problem and the chance to recover from the disease is basically impossible. People with personality disorders also reach for alcohol and drugs. Especially people with “narcissistic” characteristics who find it difficult to cooperate with people and have problems adapting to the environment. For such people, stimulants are a temporary escape from the “bad world”, they give a sense of power and superiority over others. People struggling with too much impulsiveness and aggression easily give themselves to a state of relief and forgetfulness. This is a completely deceptive feeling and does not help to cure uncontrollable anger, in fact it increases it even more.
Can the brain from birth be prone to addiction?
Scientists with their hard work provide us with more and more evidence that mental problems are not the only stimulus affecting the development of addiction. Recent studies confirm the impact of disorders in brain development on the addictions that result from them. It follows that addicted people are mentally constructed differently than non-addicted people. American researchers have analyzed the brain cells of addicts who use heroin, cocaine and alcohol. It has been shown that the brain of addicts has a smaller amount of dopamine receptors than drug-free brain. What exactly was this study about? Well, dopamine is a neurotransmitter informing the brain about a felt need or pleasure. The researchers compared the reaction of addicts and people who did not have such a problem. In the former, a smaller number of dopamine receptors and a positive reaction to alcohol or drugs were observed. The second group reacted negatively to the impulse, which resulted in an increase in the concentration of receptors. Research shows that the brain of addicts is constructed in a specific way that reacts very poorly to moments and emotions that can make them happy. As you know, the lack of positive thinking causes sadness first, and then it can lead to depression. For addicted people, drugs are one source of satisfaction and pleasure.