Addiction—whether to substances or behaviours—isn’t simply a matter of bad habits or poor choices. At its core, addiction is about the brain. Specifically, it’s about how the reward and pleasure system, driven largely by dopamine, gets rewired in ways that make stopping incredibly difficult.
In this post, we’ll explore how both substance use and behavioural addictions affect the brain’s reward circuitry, and why understanding this can change how we approach healing.
What Is the Brain’s Reward System?
Our brains are wired to help us survive—and one of the ways they do that is by reinforcing life-sustaining behaviours. When we eat, connect with others, or achieve something meaningful, our brain releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter that signals pleasure, motivation, and reward.
Dopamine helps us remember what felt good and motivates us to repeat it. In a healthy system, dopamine rises and falls in response to appropriate cues—like the satisfaction of a good meal or the joy of laughing with a friend. But addiction changes all that.
How Addiction Hijacks the Dopamine System
Addictive substances and behaviours trigger huge spikes of dopamine, far beyond what natural rewards provide. The rapid advancements in technology and the widespread availability of highly addictive substances have outpaced the brain’s ability to adjust, causing intense dopamine surges that make the brain’s reward system harder to maintain balance. Over time, this creates a few key changes in the brain:
- Desensitization
The brain starts to require more of the addictive behaviour or substance to experience some level of pleasure. Old hobbies and interests that once brought joy may start feeling dull or empty. - Narrowed Focus
The brain begins to prioritize the addictive substance or behaviour as the main (or only) source of pleasure and relief. Life becomes increasingly focused on seeking that next hit or high. - Impaired Decision-Making
The prefrontal cortex—responsible for judgment, impulse control, and self-awareness—becomes compromised. This is why people with addiction often make choices that don’t align with their values or intentions.
Substance Use vs. Behavioural Addiction
Both types of addiction—substance and behavioural—hijack the same dopamine pathways.
Substance Use Addiction: This includes alcohol, nicotine, opioids, cannabis, stimulants, and other drugs. These substances either flood the brain with dopamine or interfere with how it’s reabsorbed, creating intense and immediate effects.
Behavioural Addiction: This includes gambling, gaming, shopping, pornography, social media, and other compulsive behaviours. These behaviours can create repetitive reward loops—short bursts of dopamine that drive us to continuously seek the next thrill, distraction, or moment of gratification.
In both cases, what starts as a way to feel good or escape pain can spiral into something that isn’t conducive to the way we want to function in our daily lives.
Addiction Is Not a Moral Failing: It’s Neurological
Understanding the role of dopamine and the brain’s reward system helps us reframe addiction with compassion and clarity.
- It’s not about weak willpower.
- It’s not a character flaw.
- It’s about neuroplasticity gone awry—and the good news is, the brain can also heal.
Recovery
Healing from addiction takes time, patience, and support. If you’re struggling, it’s important to reach out to a mental health professional who can guide you through recovery. Professional support can help you:
- Create new sources of reward: Discover healthier ways to regulate dopamine through meaningful and purposeful activities.
- Regulate emotions: Many addictive behaviours are coping mechanisms for stress, anxiety, or trauma. A therapist can help you build safer, more effective strategies to manage emotions and heal from past trauma.
- Restore balance: Restoring balance in your life through improved sleep, nutrition, and nervous system regulation is key to stabilizing the brain and promoting recovery.
Your journey through recovery doesn’t have to be alone. With the right support, you can rebuild a life filled with healthier rewards, emotional balance, and a renewed sense of well-being.