• Question: What makes drugs addictive?

    Asked by taxidriver to Betul, Bridget, Ceri-Wyn, Laurel, Maria on 18 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Bridget Waller

      Bridget Waller answered on 16 Jun 2010:

      Most illegal (narcotic) drugs change the levels of a neurotransmitter called dopamine, which seems to affect how much we like or need a substance. Lots of legal drugs work in the same way, so the distinction between legal and illegal substances is often difficult to define in a biological sense. Drugs like nicotine can be some of the most addictive drugs, because as well as having an underlying biological process that makes us ‘need’ them, there is also a socially acceptable environment to use it in, so it is even harder to quit!

    • Photo: Ceri-Wyn Thomas

      Ceri-Wyn Thomas answered on 18 Jun 2010:

      Drugs can produce many different feelings and sensations in people: serenity, peace, indifference, numbness, fear, dizziness, an adrenaline rush etc. To some people these feelings can be quite pleasurable to experience and therefore might become addictive especially if they offer a sense of escapism. So the sensations some drugs produce become highly sought after by people and they then may go on to develop a dependancy on a particular drug. I’m not an expert on drugs but I think that makes sense 😉

Comments