Neurotransmitters/Addiction Why Me

A Neuron is a "nerve cell". The Brain is a Mass of Neurons. Nerves are groupings of neurons. Things that happen to the body are sent to the brain by electrical impulse. The Brain sends signals to the body by electrical impulse. These impulses are carried through the nerves. Each nerve cell or neuron passes the impulse to the next Neuron. Each neuron is an individual cell, but they act together as a nerve. When a nerve is activated by some stimuli (like a finger touching a hot pan) one cell passes the electrical impulse to the next cell and it continues from one to the next, reaching the brain. Being individual cells something has to act like a conductor allowing the electrical impulse to get to the next cell.

Chemicals act as the conductor.

Most of these Chemicals are made in the cell and are called: Neurotransmitters. They move from inside the cell to the area between it & the next cell, this area is called the Synaptic Cleft. Here the neurotransmitter acts as a Conductor (like water does if you stand in it & electricity hits the water, the electricity hits you). Then the "impulse" moves to the next cell. That cell does the same. This is a Synapse" & its like a "switch"!

More & longer use= more Changes!

SIMPLIFIED: Drugs enter the blood & are carried to the brain, and there they affect the chemicals. Causing too much of some and to little of some. They even sort of "imitate" some. All drugs increase, mimic or replace "DOPAMINE". Dopamine produces euphoria or pleasure, a very addictive feeling! Some drugs increase "Adrenalin", E.G.--Speed. Some decrease or inhibit Adrenalin, E.G.--Downers. Some drugs increase or decrease "Seratonin" which is involved in sleep, mood, appetite… E.G.--Meth, Heroin, Cocaine. There are many of these chemicals, thus many things happen that affect the Brain!

The Point Is: The Neurons and thus the Brain, are no longer functioning properly!

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