Drug Prevention Spokane

Spokane’s connection to substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery information.

How Do Opioids Lead to Addiction?

Opioids increase the amount of dopamine in a part of the brain called the limbic reward system. Dopamine causes intense feelings of pleasure, which drives users to seek out the drug again and again. They trigger the release of dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that causes intense pleasure in parts of the brain that include the limbic system. It links brain areas that control and regulate emotions. Limbic reward system can hijack other systems in the brain — systems that drive judgment, planning and organization — driving them all to seek that pleasure of getting high. This process can go on during years of sobriety.

Research now show that opioids can cause permanent changes to the brain’s opioid receptors. The brain becomes hard-wired to seek opioids to maintain its new normal. For some people, this happens in a matter of days.

Prescription opioids release much higher levels of the chemicals than what our bodies naturally produce, so they can overwhelm our system and bind to places they shouldn’t. Binding to some of these other receptors can completely eliminate the sensation of pain, creating drowsiness, mental confusion, and nausea, as well as euphoria.

For more information about opioids and preventing and treating opioid use disorder (OUD), it’s effect on pregnancy, how to support a loved one with OUD, or find data on OUD in Spokane:

Events

Spokane Regional Opioid Taskforce