Pubdate: Sun, 27 Nov 2005
Source: Meadow Lake Progress (CN SN)
Copyright: 2005 Meadow Lake Progress
Contact:  http://www.meadowlakeprogress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2156
Author: Theresa Seraphim, staff writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?241 (Methamphetamine - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/dr+david+cook

ADDICTION IS ALSO PHARMACOLOGICAL

Because of the way the brain is set up and works, it is inevitable
that some people will become addicted, according to a University of
Alberta pharmacology professor.

"We're hotwired for addiction," Dr. David Cook noted in a Nov. 23
session held during Addictions Awareness Week.

It's not just an individual or society or any one group or
organization, but everyone working together, which will help combat
addiction, said Cook.

He defined drug use as taking something, drug abuse as taking
something which results in negative consequences, and drug addiction
as continual drug use which causes problems for the person in their
life.

Drugs are "seductive", said Cook, in that the user feels good at
first, since the nerve tracks in the brain, known as reward pathways
(formerly called pleasure pathways), are stimulated.

The person enjoys the high and wants to experience it again and again
as drugs such as cocaine and crystal meth stimulate the part of the
brain that releases dopamine, which provides the good feeling.

"It starts to become a habit", and a destructive one, said Cook,
adding this happens because as drug use becomes more frequent, "the
reward pathway starts to turn itself off."

This means the dosage must be increased to achieve the same effect.
Also, said Cook, "the pathway isn't as sensitive as it was," so normal
stimuli don't have the effect on the person which they had before.

The user becomes obsessed with getting the drug because that is the
only thing which will get the reward pathway going once again, said
Cook.

That's why recovering addicts can take a long time to get over the
drug.

"It may take months, it may take a year" to get the reward pathway
activated to where it was before the person used drugs, said Cook,
stressing this does not mean the person is unable to conquer the addiction.

The process, Cook noted, is somewhat like getting over a broken
leg.

"I'm not going to be on the dance floor in a week's time," he
commented.

Crystal meth is particularly quick at getting users into its
clutches.

While crack cocaine addicts going to Alberta drug counselors have been
on the drug for six months, those taking crystal meth come in after an
average of only three months, said Cook.

The "crash" part of the addiction, which follows the high, is
particularly harsh for those using crystal meth, he noted, adding
during this stage, many users contemplate suicide "because they don't
know what to do." They feel caught between wanting to give up the drug
and yet craving it, Cook said.

Not only is the brain wired differently for meth addicts, but studies
have shown brain substance is affected.

"There's pretty good evidence that some of the brain cells have died"
and cannot be brought back, said Cook, citing the depression and
headaches often experienced by users as signs this has occurred.

"There's permanent damage, and that scares me."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin