One theory is that the brain’s chemistry is changed through drug use so that the threshold for feeling pleasure is then increased. Thus, everyday activities which most people enjoy are then spurned by the drug user who sees no emotional benefit in them. Rather, the drugs are the main source of happiness and overall well-being, which drives them to use again and again.
When it comes to extended drug use, the changes in an individual’s brain may become permanent, so that it is impossible to get rid of symptoms, such as anhedonia, once they begin. This is most prominent in methamphetamines and amphetamines, where dopamine levels in the brain are altered so drastically that there is no chance of recovery later on. In these cases, prescription drugs may be the only answer, though there is the question of whether this is simply trading one addiction for another.
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