Once is enough

The use of addictive substances generates in the organism a series of changes that impact on behavior, and even more, they can generate tolerance, dependence and withdrawal syndrome leading those who consume them, to develop an addiction.

The brain it is perhaps the organ that receives the most damage from these addictive substances, because it involves biochemical and cellular alterations, which turns drugs into a brain disease since they modify its structure and functioning.

In this respect the doctor Jesús Ramírez Bermúdez, Head of the Neuropsychiatry Unit of the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery , explains that "if we take into account that the brain regulates the basic functions of our body (hunger, sleep, alertness and even breathing), and also gathers and analyzes the data sent by the senses to give instructions in the rest of the body, it is easy to imagine that the use of addictive substances cause a serious problem for health.

Some drugs cause injuries in certain areas of the brain, particularly the so-called white matter, responsible for the transmission of neuronal information.

Once is enough

While it is true that for many people the decision to try drugs for the first time is usually voluntary, the changes they produce in brain structure affect in a short time self-control and the ability to resist the urge to return to consume or repeat a behavior addictive, if it is the case.

According to recent discoveries in the field of neurosciences, Dr. Ramírez Jiménez explains, there are certain genetic predispositions (for example, a deficiency or failure of the dopaminergic system) that increase the likelihood or propensity for a person to develop an addiction.

However, the phenomenon is more complex, so it is necessary to consider other factors, such as the biological equipment available to us, vital experiences, the family or environmental and sociocultural aspects, which also influence the increase or decrease in the risk of consume these addictive substances.

Life experiences, as well as the environment and context in which a man or woman unfolds, partly determine the brain's ability to continually adapt and strengthen or weaken certain synaptic connections.

It is worth mentioning that brain chemistry plays a fundamental role in addiction processes; but in turn, the synaptic structures can be positively reinforced by an environment enriched with healthy experiences and stimuli, and thus make it an excellent ally against addictions. "Prudence empowers words." bojorge@teleton.org.mx

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