Drug addiction treatment programs don’t just help patients rid themselves of addiction. They also explore the connection between drug addiction and the brain’s health and functioning. After all, a person’s brain makes up who they are. It’s the part of the body that allows a person to control their breathing, feeling, movement, speaking, and thinking. While it’s just three pounds of gray-and-white organic matter that rests in a person’s skull, it is their personal version of mission control. Therefore, focusing on brain health should be part of drug addiction treatment.
At Midwest Recovery Center, we understand the connection between addiction and the brain. Consequently, we take the time to tailor our treatment to the individual. Contact Midwest Detox Center by calling 833.647.0392 or reaching out to us online.
What Is the Connection Between Drug Addiction and the Brain?
The brain is an organ that’s always working, even if a person is asleep. Details from a person’s environment make their way to the brain, which recognizes, receives, processes, and integrates the information. A person can survive and function from changing circumstances and then learn from negative experiences. These details may come from outside the body, such as what the skin feels or what the eyes see, or from the inside, like body temperature or heart rate.
The brain has many parts or regions that work together as a team. When drugs enter the brain, they interfere with the regular tasks of specific areas. This can eventually lead to changes in how well the entire brain works. Unfortunately, addiction is a devastating and chronic brain disease. People can’t stop using drugs even when they want to, sometimes because their bodies and brain are dependent on drug doses to function normally.
What Are the Effects of Drug Addiction on the Brain?
Drug addiction normally affects three areas of the brain:
- The brain stem- This part is in charge of all the body’s functions to stay alive, such as breathing, blood circulation, and food digestion. The brain stem also links the brain with the spinal cord, which runs down a person’s back and helps move limbs and muscles. Finally, the brain stem lets the brain know what’s happening in many parts of the body.
- The limbic system- This system connects brain structures that control a person’s emotional responses. These responses include feeling pleasure when we eat a favorite food or when we kiss someone we love. These good feelings motivate us to repeat certain behaviors, which can be good because eating and love are critical to living a good life.
- The cerebral cortex- This is the mushroom-shaped outer part of the brain, otherwise known as the gray matter. The cerebral cortex makes up about three-fourths of the entire brain and is divided into four areas. The latter are called lobes, which control specific functions. Some areas process information from our senses. The front part is known as the frontal cortex or forebrain and is the thinking center. The latter powers our ability to think, plan, and make decisions.
When someone is addicted to drugs, the substances will affect these parts of the brain and how they function. For example, a drug affecting the frontal cortex will result in risky behavior and poor decision-making skills.
What Can Patients Expect From Drug Addiction Treatment Programs?
Most drug addiction treatment programs will begin by having a patient check into its host health care center. Treatment experts will complete an intake interview and comprehensive medical assessment to learn more about a patient’s general health and addictive behaviors. They will use the information from this process to personalize everything from a patient’s detox process and addiction treatment to their rehab aftercare plan.
After the initial assessment, a patient will need to commit to sobriety and go through a detoxification process. This can be difficult for some patients due to specific uncomfortable and distressing drug withdrawal symptoms that may arise. Depending on the details of a patient’s addiction, they may need medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Typical detox processes can take anywhere between three days to two weeks.
Seek Detox Services at Midwest Detox Center
Don’t let drugs or alcohol keep you from being the best version of yourself. Contact Midwest Detox Center by calling 833.647.0392 or reaching out to us online.
