The Disease of Addiction Creates and Imbalance Between the Limbic and Frontal Lobes of the Brain

Addiction is a chronic brain disease that often results in some sort of relapse. Addiction is characterized by inability to control drug use which results in problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships. This disease causes compulsive behaviors such as the need to use drugs despite the many harmful consequences that affect the addicted individual and those around him or her. Although for most people, the initial decision to use drugs is a one time lapse in judgement, the brain is easily affected by these drugs if the person decides to use these drugs multiple times. The changes that occur to the brain over time will cause the addicted person’s ability to resist the intense impulses of drugs to be altered causing the addict to often give into the temptation of these drugs. Like other chronic diseases, addiction often involves cycles of relapse and remission. Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death. Drug addiction is an issue that many people deal with whether they are the addict or the addict is their loved one; but with a good source of support anyone can over come the challenges and consequences of addiction.

There are many things one may do to control their addiction. Addiction was derived from a Latin term that means "enslaved by" or "bound to." Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of the brain. Anyone may become addicted to any particular substance, thing, or activity. Some common addictions are food, exercise, gambling, sex, shopping, work, internet, and drugs. A drug is any chemical that has a psychological effect on the brain when consumed. Alcohol, caffeine, aspirin, and nicotine are all examples of drugs commonly used. One can become addicted to anything. From piercings, to music, to even plastic surgery. When a person becomes addicted to something, they cannot control how they use it, and they become dependent on it to cope with daily life. The way we survive is based on a reward system. When we do something that aids our survival as eating, or exercise, our brain releases a chemical called dopamine or "the feel good chemical." Particular drugs, activities, and things release dopamine. When one likes it a lot, the dopamine is released in higher doses. Since it releases high amounts of dopamine, our body builds a tolerance to the amount of dopamine, and it takes more and more to reach the desirable effect. To control addiction, one must change their environment, figure themselves out, and change their way of thinking.

The ponderance that Brain = Behavior and the inherent ramifications of such proves no more fascinating than when addressed in the context of "Addiction and the Brain". Essential to consider is:

Internet addiction has become a huge problem in today’s society. In Greg Beato’s article, he discusses the growing phenomena of internet addiction disorder. The writer explains that more and more people are becoming addicted to the internet. For example, he tells of a teenager in Ohio, who shot and killed his mom and injured his dad because they took away his Xbox. He tells how it is stated that five to ten percent of the 52 million internet users were addicted. The author is telling us that the internet has become very addictive in our everyday society.

Internet addiction is now considered to be a “grave national health crisis”(Dokoupil 2012, 27). Several cases have emerged where people went completely insane due to the abuse of technology. This was to the extreme where two parents were so addicted to taking care of their virtual baby, they forgot about their real child. The infant was neglected to death. Another case is of a son who turns on his own mother when she suggests “he log[s] off”(27). As a response, the young man beats his mother until she eventually dies. These aren’t the only examples of insanity and for this reason, for the first time in history, “Internet Addiction Disorder will be included...in an

Addiction can be separated into three categories: mind (neurological), body (physical), and spirit (psychological). Within in this breakdown addiction can possibly be explained and properly understood.

There is debate over whether compulsive online gaming will eventually be acknowledged as a process addiction (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2016). Currently, Internet gaming disorder is identified as a condition that needs additional study because it displays diagnostic criteria involving addictive criteria, however it does not endorse a diagnosis at this time (Capuzzi & Stauffer, 2016). Internet gaming does acknowledge the following statement,” Internet gaming has been reportedly defined as an addiction by the Chinese government, and a treatment system has been set up” (Capuzzi & Stauffer,2016). There continues to be research that studies Internet gaming addiction, but additional information would help to better understand.

The idea behind the internet was to revolutionize society and with over 3 billion individuals using it, it clearly succeeded (ITU, n.d.). However, individuals started coming online to check their email, watch a video, visit Facebook, or play an online game as a habit, may easily become addicted to these behaviors over time. According to the DSM-V, internet addiction applies to individuals who use the internet excessively, often without realizing how much time has passed, how much more they are using the internet and neglecting their basic needs, as well as, ignoring any negative impacts said internet use has caused (dsm). When not using the internet, the individual may feel withdrawal, angry, tense, and/or depressed; in addition, they may feel the need to have a better computer and more software, which is an internet-addicted individual’s form of tolerance (dsm). Time of use per day in those addicted to the internet is nearly double the time those who are not addicted spend online (Lee,

According to Leshner (1998) at its core, addiction is actually a brain disease. There are many factors that come into consideration with addiction which are specific to each individual such as their physiological state, his or her genetics, environmental and societal situation, and how he or she is embedded into society comes together in the end. Some of these contributing factors can be controlled or modified in order to treat an addiction, while other cannot be modified such as genetics and some psychological states. These two key factors are those that researchers in both the medical and psychology fields have studied, to determine better treatment options as they can present a barrier in creating effective addiction management

Addiction is a Brain Associated Disorder that Allows the Body to Become Dependent on a Substance

Addiction exerts a long and powerful influence on the brain that manifests in three distinct ways: craving for the object of addiction, loss of control over its use, and continuing involvement with it despite adverse consequences. (HelpGuide.org)

In today's society, addiction is not viewed as brain disease. Many believe the act of taking illicit drugs or indulging in addictive behaviors, such as gambling, is a voluntary act. However, studies of the past few decades support the idea of addiction as brain disease. Unfortunately, this concept is still questioned because the behaviors of addiction have not yet been fully linked to neurobiology.

Addiction is like all behaviours “the business of the brain”. Addictions are compulsive physical and psychological needs from habit-forming sustenances like nicotine, alcohol, and drugs. Being occupied with or involved in such activities, leads a person who uses them again and again to become tolerant and dependent eventually experiencing withdrawal. (Molintas, 2006).

It must then be discussed why certain behaviours or substances activate the reward centre resulting in addiction. It has been agreed that, much similar to gambling addiction, Internet addiction functions through a variable ratio reinforcement schedule (Young, 2011). However, it is also is theorised that those who use the Internet or other similar technologies experience various rewards that are unpredictable in nature, depending on the application they are using (such as: video games, emails, social media, pornography, message boards and texting). Paired with the mood altering content of the application the reward activation is increased. Examples of mood altering content include video games (social inclusion, achieving tasks unobtainable in real life), pornography (sexual gratification), and online

There is not a clear stated definition of digital addiction however Shaw and Black (2008) characterize Internet addiction by excessive or poorly preoccupations, urges or behaviours regarding computer use and internet access that lead to impairment or distress. However as the term addict is a strong description DA is seen as a general misuse of the internet in various forms, as no formal definition exists the author sees the disorder as problematic computer usage resulting in negative consequences. According to Young et al DA is a broad term covering a wide variety of behaviours and impulse control problems. K.Young (1999) also categorised DA into five subtypes of DA, they are cybersexual addiction, cyberrelationship addiction; net compulsion (e.g. gambling or shopping on the internet); information overload (e.g. compulsive database searching); and computer addiction (excessive game-playing). This project highlights social network addiction which falls into the category of cyberrelationship addiction but also contemplates all other types.