How opioid
addiction works
We now know that opioid addiction is a recurring brain disease. Yes, a disease. It’s not
a personal weakness or lack of willpower. It’s important to remember that. This guide
includes facts to help you better understand the disease yourself, explain it to others, and
combat the stigma of addiction.
It has psychological and physical effects.
Opioid dependence affects two areas of the brain; the cortex (a) and
limbic region (b). The cortex of the brain is where psychological effects
occur. They may include the feelings people have about themselves,
the way they interact with others, and how they think about opioids. It
can also influence behavior, judgment and decision making. 1
Physical effects happen in the limbic region of the brain and influence
the way the brain reacts and adjusts to the constant presence of
opioids.1
The result? Opioid use can become unmanageable. It can affect
motivation, decision making and the way a person thinks, feels, and
responds to others.1
Why are opioids so addictive?
When we experience pleasure, the brain releases chemicals called endorphins. When those endorphins attach to
receptors in the brain, dopamine is released, creating a feeling of pleasure.1
Opioids attach to some of the same brain receptors where endorphins normally attach. But there’s a difference.
The pleasurable feelings can be much more intense than people usually feel. Some people are more susceptible
to addiction, and this intensity can be especially true for them. When the pleasure ends, the brain craves that
feeling again.1
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The more often someone uses, the more craving they may experience.1
Over time, the constant presence of opioids in a person’s system can cause the receptors in their brain to adjust.1 It
may take more opioids for the person to get the same feeling of pleasure as when they first started. This is called
developing “tolerance.”
Withdrawal can happen if a person stops or quickly reduces opioid use. That can have negative physical and
psychological effects.1
With tolerance there may be increased cravings for opioids to prevent withdrawal symptoms.1 A person may also fear
treatment because of what will happen if drugs are taken away.2
Ready to fight? There’s help out there. Learn more.
Addiction is a disease, and it can be treated. Every person is different, and treatment options exist to meet specific
needs. You can find out more at EndOpioidDependence.com, and talking with a healthcare professional can help you
understand the recovery journey.
1. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction. Bethesda, MD: National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of
Health; 2014. NIH publication 14-5605.
2. National Institute on Drug Abuse. What to Do If Your Adult Friend or Loved One Has a Problem with Drugs. https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/treatment/whatto-do-if-your-adult-friend-or-loved-one-has-problem-drugs. Revised January, 2016. Accessed July 15, 2016.
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