Drugs, Brains, and Behavior:

The Science of Addiction

Image from the ABCD Study

Courtesy of Richard Watts, PhD
University of Vermont and Fair Neuroimaging Lab
Oregon Health and Science University
 PREFACE
How Science Has Revolutionized the Understanding of Drug Addiction
For much of the past century, scientists studying drugs and drug use labored in the shadows of
powerful myths and misconceptions about the people with an addiction. When scientists began
TABLE OF CONTENTS to study addictive behavior in the 1930s, people with an addiction were thought to be morally
flawed and lacking in willpower. Those views shaped society’s responses to drug use, treating
it as a moral failing rather than a health problem, which led to an emphasis on punishment
Preface.........................................................2
rather than prevention and treatment.
Introduction................................................3 Today, thanks to science, our views and our responses to addiction and the broader spectrum of
substance use disorders have changed dramatically. Groundbreaking discoveries about the brain
Drug Misuse and Addiction.......................4
have revolutionized our understanding of compulsive drug use, enabling us to respond effectively
Preventing Drug Misuse and to the problem.
Addiction: The Best Strategy...................11 As a result of scientific research, we know that addiction is a medical disorder that affects the
brain and changes behavior. We have identified many of the biological and environmental risk
Drugs and the Brain...................................14 factors and are beginning to search for the genetic variations that contribute to the development
and progression of the disorder. Scientists use this knowledge to develop effective prevention
Addiction and Health.................................19
and treatment approaches that reduce the toll drug use takes on individuals, families,
Treatment and Recovery...........................22 and communities.
Despite these advances, we still do not fully understand why some people develop an addiction
Advancing Addiction
to drugs or how drugs change the brain to foster compulsive drug use. This booklet aims to
Science and Practical Solutions..............26 fill that knowledge gap by providing scientific information about the disorder of drug addiction,
including the many harmful consequences of drug use and the basic approaches that have been
Citations......................................................29
developed to prevent and treat substance use disorders.
At the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), we believe that increased understanding of
the basics of addiction will empower people to make informed choices in their own lives, adopt
science-based policies and programs that reduce drug use and addiction in their communities,
and support scientific research that improves the Nation’s well-being.

Nora D. Volkow, M.D.

Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse
INTRODUCTION
Why study

DRUG USE AND ADDICTION?

Use and misuse of alcohol, nicotine, and illicit drugs, and misuse of prescription drugs cost Americans
more than $700 billion a year in increased health care costs, crime, and lost productivity.1,2,3 Every year,
illicit and prescription drug overdoses cause tens of thousands of deaths (nearly 70,000 in 2018), alcohol Medical
contributes to the death of more than 90,000 Americans, while tobacco is linked to an estimated 480,000
deaths per year.4,5 (Hereafter, unless otherwise specified, drugs refers to all of these substances.)
People of all ages suffer the harmful consequences of drug use and addiction:
• Teens who use drugs may act out and may do poorly in school or drop out.6 Using drugs when
the brain is still developing may cause lasting brain changes and put the user at increased risk
of dependence.7
Social
• Adults who use drugs can have problems thinking clearly, remembering, and paying attention.
They may develop poor social behaviors as a result of their drug use, and their work performance
and personal relationships suffer.
• Parents’ drug use can mean chaotic, stress-filled homes, as well as child abuse and neglect.8 Such
conditions harm the well-being and development of children in the home and may set the stage
for drug use in the next generation.9
• Babies exposed to drugs in the womb may be born premature and underweight. This exposure can
Economic
slow the child’s ability to learn and affect behavior later in life.10 They may also become dependent on
opioids or other drugs used by the mother during pregnancy, a condition called neonatal abstinence
syndrome (NAS).

How does science provide solutions for drug use and addiction?
Scientists study the effects drugs have on the brain and behavior. They use this information to develop
programs for preventing drug use and for helping people recover from addiction. Further research helps Criminal Justice
transfer these ideas into practice in the community.
The consequences of drug use are vast and varied and affect people of all ages.
 SCIENCE OF
ADDICTION

Drug Misuse and Addiction

What is

DRUG ADDICTION?
Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse
consequences.† It is considered a brain disorder, because it involves functional changes to brain circuits involved in reward,
stress, and self-control. Those changes may last a long time after a person has stopped taking drugs.11
Addiction is a lot like other diseases, such as heart disease. Both disrupt the normal, healthy functioning of an organ in
the body, both have serious harmful effects, and both are, in many cases, preventable and treatable. If left untreated, they
can last a lifetime and may lead to death.

Comparison Subject 1 Month After Last Cocaine Use 4 Months After Last Cocaine Use
Source: Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon
General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health
Modified with permission from Volkow et al. 1993
Note: These PET scans compare the brain of an
individual with a history of cocaine use disorder
(middle and right) to the brain of an individual
DRUG MISUSE AND ADDICTION

without a history of cocaine use (left). The person

who has had a cocaine use disorder has lower levels
of the D2 dopamine receptor (depicted in red) in
the striatum one month (middle) and four months
(right) after stopping cocaine use compared to the
non-user. The level of dopamine receptors in the
brain of the cocaine user are higher at the 4-month
mark (right), but have not returned to the levels
observed in the non-user (left).

Low dopamine D2 receptors may contribute to the loss of control in cocaine users.

†
The term addiction as used in this booklet is equivalent to a severe substance use disorder as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,
Fifth Edition (DSM-5, 2013).

4
Why do If taking drugs makes people feel good or better,

PEOPLE TAKE DRUGS? WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?

In general, people take drugs for a few reasons: When they first use a drug, people may perceive what seem to be positive
• To feel good. Drugs can produce intense feelings of pleasure. This effects. They also may believe they can control their use. But drugs can
initial euphoria is followed by other effects, which differ with the quickly take over a person’s life. Over time, if drug use continues, other
type of drug used. For example, with stimulants such as cocaine, the pleasurable activities become less pleasurable, and the person has to take
high is followed by feelings of power, self-confidence, and increased the drug just to feel “normal.” They have a hard time controlling their need
energy. In contrast, the euphoria caused by opioids such as heroin is to take drugs even though it causes many problems for themselves and
followed by feelings of relaxation and satisfaction. their loved ones. Some people may start to feel the need to take more of a
drug or take it more often, even in the early stages of their drug use. These
• To feel better. Some people who suffer from social anxiety, stress, are the signs of an addiction.
and depression start using drugs to try to feel less anxious. Stress Even relatively moderate drug use poses dangers. Consider how
can play a major role in starting and continuing drug use as well as a social drinker can become intoxicated, get behind the wheel of a
relapse (return to drug use) in patients recovering from addiction. car, and quickly turn a pleasurable activity into a tragedy that affects
• To do better. Some people feel pressure to improve their focus in many lives. Occasional drug use, such as misusing an opioid to get
school or at work or their abilities in sports. This can play a role in high, can have similarly disastrous effects, including impaired driving
trying or continuing to use drugs, such as prescription stimulants and overdose.
or cocaine.

• Curiosity and social pressure. In this respect, teens are

particularly at risk because peer pressure can be very strong.
Adolescence is a developmental period during which the
presence of risk factors, such as peers who use drugs, may
lead to substance use.
 SCIENCE OF
ADDICTION

Do people choose to

KEEP USING DRUGS?

The initial decision to take drugs is typically voluntary. But with continued use, a person’s ability to exert self-control
can become seriously impaired. This impairment in self-control is the hallmark of addiction.
Brain imaging studies of people with addiction show physical changes in areas of the brain that are critical to judgment,
decision-making, learning and memory, and behavior control.12 These changes help explain the compulsive nature
of addiction.

Why do some people become addicted to drugs,

WHILE OTHERS DO NOT?

As with other diseases and disorders, the likelihood of developing an addiction differs from person to person, and no
single factor determines whether a person will become addicted to drugs. In general, the more risk factors a person has,
the greater the chance that taking drugs will lead to drug use and addiction. Protective factors, on the other hand, reduce
a person’s risk. Risk and protective factors may be either environmental or biological.
DRUG MISUSE AND ADDICTION

No single factor determines whether a person will become addicted

to drugs.

6
 Risk and Protective Factors for Drug Use, Misuse, and Addiction

RISK FACTORS PROTECTIVE FACTORS

Aggressive behavior in childhood 13, 14 Self-efficacy (belief in self-control)15

Lack of parental supervision 14, 16 Parental monitoring and support 16 – 18

Low peer refusal skills 13, 17, 18 Positive relationships 17, 19

Drug experimentation 14, 20, 21 Extracurricular Activities17, 22

Availability of drugs at school 21, 23 School anti-drug policies 17

Community poverty 24, 25 Neighborhood resources 26

 SCIENCE OF
ADDICTION

Biology/Genes Environment
Genetics Chaotic home and abuse
Gender Parent’s use and attitudes
Mental disorders Peer influences
Community attitudes
Low academic achievement

Children’s earliest
interactions within
the family are crucial
Route of administration • Effect of drug • Early use • Availability • Cost to their healthy
development and risk
for drug use.

Brain Mechanisms
DRUG MISUSE AND ADDICTION

Addiction

8
WHAT BIOLOGICAL FACTORS What other factors increase the

increase the risk of addiction? RISK OF ADDICTION?

Biological factors that can affect a person’s risk of addiction include their • Early use. Although taking drugs at any age can lead to
genes, stage of development, and even gender or ethnicity. Scientists estimate addiction, research shows that the earlier people begin to use
that genes, including the effects environmental factors have on a person’s drugs, the more likely they are to develop serious problems.31
gene expression, called epigenetics, account for between 40 and 60 percent This may be due to the harmful effect that drugs can have on
of a person’s risk of addiction.27 Also, teens and people with mental disorders the developing brain.32 It also may result from a mix of early
are at greater risk of drug use and addiction than others.28 social and biological risk factors, including lack of a stable
home or family, exposure to physical or sexual abuse, genes,
WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS or mental illness. Still, the fact remains that early use is a
increase the risk of addiction? strong indicator of problems ahead, including addiction.
• How the drug is taken. Smoking a drug or injecting it into
Environmental factors are those related to the family, school, and
a vein increases its addictive potential.33,34 Both smoked and
neighborhood. Factors that can increase a person’s risk include
injected drugs enter the brain within seconds, producing a
the following:
powerful rush of pleasure. However, this intense high can
• Home and family. The home environment, especially during fade within a few minutes. Scientists believe this powerful
childhood, is a very important factor. Parents or older family contrast drives some people to repeatedly use drugs to
members who use drugs or misuse alcohol, or who break the recapture the fleeting pleasurable state.
law, can increase children’s risk of future drug problems.29
• Peers and school. Friends and other peers can have an increasingly
strong influence during the teen years. Teens who use drugs can sway
even those without risk factors to try drugs for the first time. Struggling
in school or having poor social skills can put a child at further risk for
using or becoming addicted to drugs.30
 SCIENCE OF
ADDICTION

Images of Brain Development in Healthy Children and Teens (Ages 5–20)

The brain continues to develop into adulthood and undergoes

DRAMATIC CHANGES DURING

ADOLESCENCE
One of the brain areas still maturing during adolescence is the
prefrontal cortex— the part of the brain that allows people to assess
situations, make sound decisions, and keep emotions and desires
under control. The fact that this critical part of a teen’s brain is
still a work in progress puts them at increased risk for trying drugs
or continuing to take them. Introducing drugs during this period
of development may cause brain changes that have profound and
long-lasting consequences.
DRUG MISUSE AND ADDICTION

Source: PNAS 101:8174–8179, 2004.

As the brain matures, experiences prune excess neural connections while strengthening those that
are used more often. Many scientists think that this process contributes to the steady reduction
in gray matter volume seen during adolescence (depicted as the yellow to blue transition in the
figure). As environmental forces help determine which connections will wither and which will thrive,
the brain circuits that emerge become more efficient. However, this is a process that can cut both
ways because not all patterns of behavior are desirable or healthy. The environment is like an artist
who creates a sculpture by chipping away excess marble; and just like bad artists can produce bad
art, environments with negative factors (like drugs, malnutrition, bullying, or sleep deprivation)
can lead to efficient but potentially harmful circuits that conspire against a person’s well-being.
10
Preventing Drug Misuse and
Addiction: The Best Strategy
Why is adolescence a critical time for

PREVENTING DRUG ADDICTION?

As noted previously, early use of drugs increases a person’s chances of becoming addicted. Remember, drugs change the brain—
and this can lead to addiction and other serious problems. So, preventing early use of drugs or alcohol may go a long way in
reducing these risks.
Risk of drug use increases greatly during times of transition. For an adult, a divorce or loss of a job may increase the risk
of drug use. For a teenager, risky times include moving, family divorce, or changing schools.35 When children advance from
elementary through middle school, they face new and challenging social, family, and academic situations. Often during this
period, children are exposed to substances such as cigarettes and alcohol for the first time. When they enter high school,
teens may encounter greater availability of drugs, drug use by older teens, and social activities where drugs are used. When
individuals leave high school and live more independently, either in college or as an employed adult, they may find themselves
exposed to drug use while separated from the protective structure provided by family and school.
A certain amount of risk-taking is a normal part of adolescent development. The desire to try new things and become more
independent is healthy, but it may also increase teens’ tendencies to experiment with drugs. The parts of the brain that control
judgment and decision-making do not fully develop until people are in their early or mid-20s. This limits a teen’s ability to
accurately assess the risks of drug experimentation and makes young people more vulnerable to peer pressure.36
Because the brain is still developing, using drugs at this age has more potential to disrupt brain function in areas critical to
motivation, memory, learning, judgment, and behavior control.12
 SCIENCE OF
ADDICTION

Can research-based programs prevent

DRUG ADDICTION IN YOUTH?

Yes. The term research-based or evidence-based means that these programs
have been designed based on current scientific evidence, thoroughly tested,
and shown to produce positive results. Scientists have developed a broad
range of programs that positively alter the balance between risk and protective
factors for drug use in families, schools, and communities. Studies have shown
that research-based programs, such as described in NIDA’s Principles of Substance
Abuse Prevention for Early Childhood: A Research-Based Guide and Preventing
Drug Use among Children and Adolescents: A Research-Based Guide for Parents,
PREVENTING DRUG MISUSE AND ADDICTION: THE BEST STRATEGY

Educators, and Community Leaders, can significantly reduce early use of

tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs.37 Also, while many social and cultural
factors affect drug use trends, when young people perceive drug use as
harmful, they often reduce their level of use.38

How do research-based

PREVENTION PROGRAMS WORK?

These prevention programs work to boost protective factors and eliminate or National drug use surveys
reduce risk factors for drug use. The programs are designed for various ages and
can be used in individual or group settings, such as the school and home. There indicate some children are
are three types of programs: already using drugs by age
• Universal programs address risk and protective factors common
to all children in a given setting, such as a school or community.
12 or 13.
• Selective programs are for groups of children and teens who have
specific factors that put them at increased risk of drug use.
Prevention is the best strategy.
• Indicated programs are designed for youth who have already started
using drugs.

12
Young Brains Under Study
Using cutting-edge imaging technology, scientists from the NIDA’s Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study will look at how childhood
experiences, including use of any drugs, interact with each other and with a child’s changing biology to affect brain development and social, behavioral,
academic, health, and other outcomes. As the only study of its kind, the ABCD study will yield critical insights into the foundational aspects of
adolescence that shape a person’s future.

These brain images show the reward-related circuity in the cortical and
subcortical regions of the brain that tend to be more active when a child
is successful at achieving a reward. While all of the images show the
regions of the brain that are active to reward, the regions in yellow and
red are the most active.

Courtesy of the ABCD Study. Adapted from Casey et al., 2018

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcn.2018.03.001 

Economics of Prevention

Evidence-based interventions for substance use can save society money in medical costs and help individuals
remain productive members of society. Such programs can return anywhere from very little to $65 per every dollar
invested in prevention.39
 SCIENCE OF
ADDICTION

Drugs and the Brain

Introducing the
Here’s how
HUMAN BRAIN people communicate.
The human brain is the most complex organ in the body. This three-pound
mass of gray and white matter sits at the center of all human activity —
you need it to drive a car, to enjoy a meal, to breathe, to create an artistic
masterpiece, and to enjoy everyday activities. The brain regulates your Transmitter
body’s basic functions, enables you to interpret and respond to everything
you experience, and shapes your behavior. In short, your brain is you —
everything you think and feel, and who you are.

How does the

BRAIN WORK?
The brain is often likened to an incredibly complex and intricate computer. Receptor
Instead of electrical circuits on the silicon chips that control our electronic
DRUGS AND THE BRAIN

devices, the brain consists of billions of cells, called neurons, which

are organized into circuits and networks. Each neuron acts as a switch
controlling the flow of information. If a neuron receives enough signals
from other neurons that it is connected to, it fires, sending its own
signal on to other neurons in the circuit.

14
The brain is made up of many parts with interconnected circuits that
all work together as a team. Different brain circuits are responsible for
coordinating and performing specific functions. Networks of neurons
send signals back and forth to each other and among different parts
Neuron
of the brain, the spinal cord, and nerves in the rest of the body (the Here’s how brain
peripheral nervous system). cells communicate.
To send a message, a neuron releases a neurotransmitter into the gap (or
synapse) between it and the next cell. The neurotransmitter crosses the
synapse and attaches to receptors on the receiving neuron, like a key
into a lock. This causes changes in the receiving cell. Other molecules
called transporters recycle neurotransmitters (that is, bring them back
into the neuron that released them), thereby limiting or shutting off
the signal between neurons.

How do drugs

WORK IN THE BRAIN?

Neurotransmitter
Drugs interfere with the way neurons send, receive, and process signals
via neurotransmitters. Some drugs, such as marijuana and heroin, can
activate neurons because their chemical structure mimics that of a
natural neurotransmitter in the body. This allows the drugs to attach
onto and activate the neurons. Although these drugs mimic the brain’s
own chemicals, they don’t activate neurons in the same way as a natural
neurotransmitter, and they lead to abnormal messages being sent
through the network.
Other drugs, such as amphetamine or cocaine, can cause the neurons to Receptor
release abnormally large amounts of natural neurotransmitters or prevent
the normal recycling of these brain chemicals by interfering with
transporters. This too amplifies or disrupts the normal communication
between neurons.
 SCIENCE OF
ADDICTION

What parts of the brain are

Basal Ganglia
AFFECTED BY DRUG USE?
Drugs can alter important brain areas that are necessary for life-sustaining
functions and can drive the compulsive drug use that marks addiction. Brain
areas affected by drug use include:
• The basal ganglia, which play an important role in positive forms of
motivation, including the pleasurable effects of healthy activities like
eating, socializing, and sex, and are also involved in the formation of
habits and routines. These areas form a key node of what is sometimes
called the brain’s “reward circuit.” Drugs over-activate this circuit,
producing the euphoria of the drug high. But with repeated exposure,
the circuit adapts to the presence of the drug, diminishing its sensitivity
and making it hard to feel pleasure from anything besides the drug.
• The extended amygdala plays a role in stressful feelings like anxiety,
irritability, and unease, which characterize withdrawal after the drug
high fades and thus motivates the person to seek the drug again. This
circuit becomes increasingly sensitive with increased drug use. Over time,
a person with substance use disorder uses drugs to get temporary relief
from this discomfort rather than to get high.
• The prefrontal cortex powers the ability to think, plan, solve problems,
Extended Amygdala
make decisions, and exert self-control over impulses. This is also the
last part of the brain to mature, making teens most vulnerable. Shifting
DRUGS AND THE BRAIN

balance between this circuit and the circuits of the basal ganglia and
extended amygdala make a person with a substance use disorder seek
the drug compulsively with reduced impulse control. Prefrontal Cortex
Some drugs like opioids also disrupt other parts of the brain, such as the
Source: Facing Addiction in America:
brain stem, which controls basic functions critical to life, including heart
The Surgeon General’s Report on
rate, breathing, and sleeping. This interference explains why overdoses Alcohol, Drugs, and Health
can cause depressed breathing and death.
16
How do How does

DRUGS PRODUCE PLEASURE? DOPAMINE REINFORCE DRUG USE?

Pleasure or euphoria — the high from drugs — is still poorly The feeling of pleasure is how a healthy brain identifies and
understood, but probably involves surges of chemical signaling reinforces beneficial behaviors, such as eating, socializing, and
compounds including the body’s natural opioids (endorphins) and sex. Our brains are wired to increase the odds that we will repeat
other neurotransmitters in parts of the basal ganglia (the reward pleasurable activities. The neurotransmitter dopamine is central
circuit). When some drugs are taken, they can cause surges of these to this. Whenever the reward circuit is activated by a healthy,
neurotransmitters much greater than the smaller bursts naturally pleasurable experience, a burst of dopamine signals that something
produced in association with healthy rewards like eating, hearing important is happening that needs to be remembered. This dopamine
or playing music, creative pursuits, or social interaction. signal causes changes in neural connectivity that make it easier to
It was once thought that surges of the neurotransmitter dopamine repeat the activity again and again without thinking about it,
produced by drugs directly caused the euphoria, but scientists now leading to the formation of habits.
think dopamine has more to do with getting us to repeat pleasurable Just as drugs produce intense euphoria, they also produce much
activities (reinforcement) than with producing pleasure directly. larger surges of dopamine, powerfully reinforcing the connection
between consumption of the drug, the resulting pleasure, and all
the external cues linked to the experience. Large surges of dopamine
“teach” the brain to seek drugs at the expense of other, healthier goals
and activities.
Cues in a person’s daily routine or environment that have become
linked with drug use because of changes to the reward circuit can
trigger uncontrollable cravings whenever the person is exposed to
these cues, even if the drug itself is not available. This learned “reflex”
can last a long time, even in people who haven’t used drugs in many
years. For example, people who have been drug free for a decade can
experience cravings when returning to an old neighborhood or house
Simple activities in everyday life can produce small bursts of neurotransmitters in the
brain bringing pleasurable feelings. Drugs can hijack that process. where they used drugs. Like riding a bike, the brain remembers.
 SCIENCE OF
ADDICTION Why are drugs more addictive than

NATURAL REWARDS?
For the brain, the difference between normal rewards and drug rewards can be likened to the difference between someone whispering
into your ear and someone shouting into a microphone. Just as we turn down the volume on a radio that is too loud, the brain of
someone who misuses drugs adjusts by producing fewer neurotransmitters in the reward circuit, or by reducing the number of
receptors that can receive signals. As a result, the person’s ability to experience pleasure from naturally rewarding (i.e., reinforcing)
activities is also reduced.
This is why a person who misuses drugs eventually feels flat, without motivation, lifeless, and/or depressed, and is unable to enjoy
things that were previously pleasurable. Now, the person needs to keep taking drugs to experience even a normal level of reward —
which only makes the problem worse, like a vicious cycle. Also, the person will often need to take larger amounts of the drug to
produce the familiar high — an effect known as tolerance.

Some drugs target the brain’s pleasure center

Brain reward (dopamine pathways) How drugs can increase dopamine

Dopamine Transporter Dopamine Transporter

Dopamine Dopamine Cocaine

Dopamine
Receptor

While eating food While using cocaine

DRUGS AND THE BRAIN

These brain circuits are important for natural Typically, dopamine increases in response to natural rewards such as food. When
rewards such as food, music, and sex. cocaine is taken, dopamine increases are exaggerated, and communication is denied.

Long-term drug use impairs brain functioning.

For more information on drugs and the brain, order NIDA’s Teaching Addiction Science series or the Mind Matters series at
www.drugabuse.gov/parent-teacher.html. These items and others are available to the public free of charge.
18
Addiction and Health
What are the other health

CONSEQUENCES OF DRUG ADDICTION?

People with addiction often have one or more associated health issues, which could include lung or heart disease, stroke,
cancer, or mental health conditions. Imaging scans, chest X-rays, and blood tests can show the damaging effects of long-
term drug use throughout the body.
For example, it is now well-known that tobacco smoke can cause many cancers, methamphetamine can cause severe
dental problems, known as meth mouth, and that opioids can lead to overdose and death. In addition, some drugs, such
as inhalants, may damage or destroy nerve cells, either in the brain or the peripheral nervous system (the nervous system
outside the brain and spinal cord).
Drug use can also increase the risk of contracting infections. HIV and hepatitis C (a serious liver disease) can occur from
sharing injection equipment or from unsafe practices such as condom-less sex.40,41 Infection of the heart and its valves
(endocarditis) and skin infection (cellulitis) can occur after exposure to bacteria by injection drug use.42

Does drug use cause

OTHER MENTAL DISORDERS OR VICE VERSA?

Drug use and other mental disorders often co-exist. In some cases, mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, or
schizophrenia may come before addiction. In other cases, drug use may trigger or worsen those mental health conditions,
particularly in people with specific vulnerabilities.43,44
Some people with disorders like anxiety or depression may use drugs in an attempt to alleviate psychiatric symptoms.
This may exacerbate their mental disorder in the long run, as well as increase the risk of developing addiction.43,44
Treatment for all conditions should happen concurrently.

Addiction and HIV/AIDS are intertwined health conditions.

 SCIENCE OF
ADDICTION

How can addiction THE IMPACT OF ADDICTION CAN BE

HARM OTHER PEOPLE?
Beyond the harmful consequences for the person with the addiction,
drug use can cause serious health problems for others. Some of the
FAR-REACHING
more severe consequences of addiction are:

Heart disease Endocarditis

Stroke Cellulitis

Cancer Lung disease

HIV/AIDS Mental health

conditions
Hepatitis B and C
• Negative effects of drug use while pregnant or breastfeeding
A mother’s substance or medication use during pregnancy can
cause her baby to go into withdrawal after it’s born, which is
called neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Symptoms will differ
depending on the substance used, but may include tremors,
problems with sleeping and feeding, and even seizures.45 Some
ADDICTION AND HEALTH

drug-exposed children will have developmental problems with

behavior, attention, and thinking. Ongoing research is exploring
if these effects on the brain and behavior extend into the teen
years, causing continued developmental problems. In addition,
some substances can make their way into a mother’s breast milk.
Scientists are still learning about long-term effects on a child who
is exposed to drugs through breastfeeding.

20
• Negative effects of secondhand smoke • Increased spread of infectious diseases
Secondhand tobacco smoke exposes bystanders to at least Injection of drugs accounts for 1 in 10 of cases of HIV. Injection
250 chemicals that are known to be harmful, particularly drug use is also a major factor in the spread of hepatitis C,49
to children.46 Involuntary exposure to secondhand smoke and can be the cause of endocarditis and cellulitis. Injection
increases the risks of heart disease and lung cancer in people drug use is not the only way that drug use contributes to the
who have never smoked.5 Additionally, the known health risks spread of infectious diseases. Drugs that are misused can cause
of secondhand exposure to tobacco smoke raise questions intoxication, which hinders judgment and increases the chance
about whether secondhand exposure to marijuana smoke poses of risky sexual behaviors such as condom-less sex.
similar risks. At this point, little research on this question • Increased risk of motor vehicle accidents
has been conducted. However, a study found that some Use of illicit drugs or misuse of prescription drugs can make
nonsmoking participants exposed for an hour to high-THC driving a car unsafe — just like driving after drinking alcohol.
marijuana in an unventilated room reported mild effects of Drugged driving puts the driver, passengers, and others who
the drug, and another study showed positive urine tests in the share the road at risk. In 2016, almost 12 million people ages
hours directly following exposure.47,48 If you inhale secondhand 16 or older reported driving under the influence of illicit drugs,
marijuana smoke, it’s unlikely you would fail a drug test, but it including marijuana.50 After alcohol, marijuana is the drug
is possible. most often linked to impaired driving. Research studies have
shown negative effects of marijuana on drivers, including
an increase in lane weaving, poor reaction time, and altered
attention to the road.
 SCIENCE OF
ADDICTION

Treatment and Recovery

Can addiction be Can addiction be

TREATED SUCCESSFULLY? CURED?

Yes, addiction is a treatable disorder. Research on the science of Like other chronic diseases such as heart disease or asthma, treatment
addiction and the treatment of substance use disorders has led to the for drug addiction usually isn’t a cure. But addiction can be managed
development of research-based methods that help people to stop using successfully. Treatment enables people to counteract addiction’s
drugs and resume productive lives, also known as being in recovery. disruptive effects on their brain and behavior and regain control
of their lives.
Brain Recovery with Prolonged Abstinence

Healthy Person Meth User: 1 month abstinence Meth User: 14 months abstinence
These images showing the density
of dopamine transporters in the brain
illustrate the brain’s remarkable ability
to recover, at least in part, after a long
abstinence from drugs — in this case,
TREATMENT AND RECOVERY

methamphetamine.51

Source: The Journal of Neuroscience,

21(23):9414-9418. 2001

22
Does relapse to drug use mean Comparison of Relapse Rates Between Substance
Use Disorders and Other Chronic Illnesses
TREATMENT HAS FAILED?
No. The chronic nature of addiction means that for some people relapse, or
100
a return to drug use after an attempt to stop, can be part of the process,
but newer treatments are designed to help with relapse prevention.
Relapse rates for drug use are similar to rates for other chronic medical 80

Percent of Patients Who Relapse

illnesses. If people stop following their medical treatment plan, they are
likely to relapse.
50–70% 50–70%
60
Treatment of chronic diseases involves changing deeply rooted behaviors,
and relapse doesn’t mean treatment has failed. When a person recovering 40–60%

from an addiction relapses, it indicates that the person needs to speak with
40
their doctor to resume treatment, modify it, or try another treatment.52

Source: JAMA, 284:1689-1695, 2000 20

Relapse rates for people treated for substance use disorders are compared with those for
people treated for high blood pressure and asthma. Relapse is common and similar across
these illnesses. Therefore, substance use disorders should be treated like any other chronic 0
illness. Relapse serves as a sign for resumed, modified, or new treatment. Substance Use Hypertension Asthma
Disorders

While relapse is a normal part of recovery, for some drugs, it can be very dangerous —
even deadly. If a person uses as much of the drug as they did before quitting, they
can easily overdose because their bodies are no longer adapted to their previous level
of drug exposure. An overdose happens when the person uses enough of a drug to
produce uncomfortable feelings, life-threatening symptoms, or death.
 SCIENCE OF
ADDICTION

What are the principles of What medications and devices help

EFFECTIVE TREATMENT? TREAT DRUG ADDICTION?

Research shows that when treating addictions to opioids (prescription Different types of medications and devices may be useful at different
pain relievers or drugs like heroin or fentanyl), medication should be the stages of treatment to help a patient stop using drugs, stay in treatment,
first line of treatment, usually combined with some form of behavioral and avoid relapse.
therapy or counseling. Medications are also available to help treat • Treating withdrawal. When patients first stop using drugs,
addiction to alcohol and nicotine. they can experience various physical and emotional symptoms,
Additionally, medications are used to help people detoxify from drugs, including restlessness or sleeplessness, as well as depression,
although detoxification is not the same as treatment and is not sufficient anxiety, and other mental health conditions. Certain treatment
to help a person recover. Detoxification alone without subsequent medications and devices reduce these symptoms, which makes it
treatment generally leads to resumption of drug use. easier to stop the drug use.
For people with addictions to drugs like stimulants or cannabis, no • Staying in treatment. Some treatment medications and mobile
medications are currently available to assist in treatment, so treatment applications are used to help the brain adapt gradually to the
consists of behavioral therapies. Treatment should be tailored to address absence of the drug. These treatments act slowly to help prevent
each patient’s drug use patterns and drug-related medical, mental, and drug cravings and have a calming effect on body systems. They
social problems. can help patients focus on counseling and other psychotherapies
related to their drug treatment.

Discoveries in science lead to breakthroughs • Preventing relapse. Science has taught us that stress cues linked
to the drug use (such as people, places, things, and moods), and
in drug use treatment. contact with drugs are the most common triggers for relapse.
Scientists have been developing therapies to interfere with these
triggers to help patients stay in recovery.
TREATMENT AND RECOVERY

COMMON Opioid Nicotine Alcohol

MEDICATIONS USED Methadone Nicotine replacement therapies Naltrexone
Buprenorphine (available as a patch, inhaler, or gum) Disulfiram
TO TREAT DRUG
Extended-release naltrexone Bupropion Acamprosate
ADDICTION AND Lofexidine Varenicline

24
WITHDRAWAL
How do behavioral therapies

TREAT DRUG ADDICTION?

Behavioral therapies help people in drug addiction treatment
modify their attitudes and behaviors related to drug use. As a
result, patients are able to handle stressful situations and various
triggers that might cause another relapse. Behavioral therapies
can also enhance the effectiveness of medications and help people
remain in treatment longer.
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy seeks to help patients
recognize, avoid, and cope with the situations in which
they’re most likely to use drugs.
• Contingency management uses positive reinforcement
How do quality treatment programs help patients
such as providing rewards or privileges for remaining drug-
free, for attending and participating in counseling sessions, RECOVER FROM ADDICTION?
or for taking treatment medications as prescribed.
Stopping drug use is just one part of a long and complex recovery
• Motivational enhancement therapy uses strategies to process. When people enter treatment, addiction has often caused
make the most of people’s readiness to change their behavior serious consequences in their lives, possibly disrupting their health
and enter treatment. and how they function in their family lives, at work, and in
• Family therapy helps people (especially young people) with the community.
drug use problems, as well as their families, address influences Because addiction can affect so many aspects of a person’s life,
on drug use patterns and improve overall family functioning. treatment should address the needs of the whole person to be
• Twelve-step facilitation (TSF) is an individual therapy successful. Counselors may select from a menu of services that
typically delivered in 12 weekly session to prepare people to meet the specific medical, mental, social, occupational, family,
become engaged in 12-step mutual support programs. 12- and legal needs of their patients to help in their recovery.
step programs, like Alcoholic Anonymous, are not medical For more information on drug treatment, see Principles of Drug
treatments, but provide social and complementary support Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide, and Principles of
to those treatments. TSF follows the 12-step themes of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment: A Research-Based Guide.
acceptance, surrender, and active involvement in recovery.

Treatment must address the whole person.

 SCIENCE OF
ADDICTION

Advancing Addiction Science

and Practical Solutions
Leading the Search for

SCIENTIFIC SOLUTIONS
To address all aspects of drug use and its harmful consequences, NIDA’s research
program ranges from basic studies of the addicted brain and behavior to clinical
strategies and health services research. NIDA’s research program develops prevention
ADVANCING ADDICTION SCIENCE AND PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS

and treatment approaches and ensures they work in real-world settings. As part of
this goal, NIDA is committed to research that addresses the vulnerabilities and health
differences that exist among ethnic minorities or that stem from gender differences.

Bringing Science to

REAL WORLD SETTINGS

• Clinical Trials Network (CTN): CTN “road tests” research- • The Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network
based drug use treatments in community treatment programs (JCOIN): Led by NIDA and funded through the NIH HEAL
around the country. InitiativeSM, JCOIN is a network of research institutions and
• The HEALing Communities Study (HCS): Led by NIDA and centers established to study approaches to increase high-quality
funded through the NIH HEAL InitiativeSM, HCS is testing the care for people with opioid misuse and OUD in justice settings.
impact of an integrated set of evidence-based practices across JCOIN will test strategies to expand effective treatment and
health care, behavioral health, justice, and other community- care in partnership with local and state justice systems and
based settings. The goal of the study is to reduce opioid-related community-based treatment providers.
overdose deaths by 40 percent over the course of three years. • The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD)
Research sites are partnering with 67 communities highly Study: ABCD is the largest long-term study of brain development
affected by the opioid crisis in four states to measure the and child health in the United States. The study is following more
impact of these efforts. than 11,000 healthy children ages nine to 10 and will follow them
into early adulthood to observe brain growth.
26
SHARING FREE INFORMATION
with the Public

NIDA increases the impact of its research on addiction by sharing free information with professionals and the general
public. Special initiatives are intended for researchers, clinicians, educators, students, and parents. Please visit
https://drugpubs.drugabuse.gov.

NIDA’S SPECIAL INITIATIVES

for Students, Teachers, and Parents

Heads Up: Real News About Drugs and Your Body – A drug education series created by NIDA and SCHOLASTIC
INC. for students in grades 6 to 12

NIDA for Teens – A website for teens (with resources for educators and parents) that provides age-
appropriate facts on drugs

National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week® – A week-long observance that encourages community-based events
and dialogue between teens and scientists about drugs and alcohol

Drug and Alcohol Facts Chat Day – A web chat between NIDA scientists and teens, held through school
computer labs once a year during National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week®
 SCIENCE OF
ADDICTION

SPECIAL INITIATIVES
for Clinicians

NIDAMED – A collection of resources for health professionals on the causes and consequences of drug use and addiction,
and advances in pain management.

Publications on

PREVENTION AND TREATMENT PRINCIPLES

Preventing Drug Use among Children and Adolescents: A Research-Based Guide for Parents, Educators, and Community Leaders – NIDA’s research-
based guide for preventing drug use among children and adolescents provides principles based on effective drug-prevention research
and includes answers to questions on risk and protective factors as well as on community planning and implementation
ADVANCING ADDICTION SCIENCE AND PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS

Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide – This guide summarizes principles of effective treatment, answers common
questions, and describes types of treatment, providing examples of scientifically based and tested treatment components

Principles of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment: A Research-Based Guide – This guide discusses the urgency of treating substance
use disorders in teenagers, answers common questions about how young people are treated for drug problems, and describes
effective research-based treatment approaches

Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment for Criminal Justice Populations: A Research-Based Guide – NIDA’s research-based guide for treating criminal
justice-involved people with addiction provides essential treatment principles and includes answers to frequently asked questions as
well as resource information

For more information: All NIDA publications are available at www.drugabuse.gov. Some publications are also available in print, free of charge.
To order a publication in print, call the DRUGPubs Research Dissemination Center at 1–877–NIH–NIDA or go to https://drugpubs.drugabuse.gov.
Watch NIDA videos (NIDA TV) at www.drugabuse.gov/nida-tv.
28
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
NIH Publication No. 20-DA-5605
Printed in April 2007
Revised February 2008, August 2010, July 2014,
July 2018, June 2020

This publication is available for your use and may be reproduced

in its entirety without permission from the NIDA. Citation of the
source is appreciated, using the following language:

Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse; National Institutes

of Health; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.