Research in the 1950s showed that animals - mammals in particular - compulsively used and abused the same drugs as humans. Yet other psycoactive drugs - the ones used for treatment of mental health conditions - did not cause the same compulsive use patterns. Dr. Darryl Inaba expands on the use of  these medications, and the ways they affect people with substance use disorders - commonly knows as dual-diagnosis or co-occurring disorders.

 

 Psychiatric Medicine & Addiction Recovery: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

As our knowledge of the brain continues to expand, scientists are looking at thousands of neurochemical and brain cells that can be manipulated to reduce the stress mechanism and aid in the addicted person’s recovery. In this podcast Dr. Inaba explores some of the specifics.

 

 Drugs to Suppress Stress and Reduce ravings: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

These GO and STOP controls are in the “old” brain - where survival and automatic body functions, emotions and habits reside. Psychoactive drugs activate the GO switch creating the desire to repeat the behavior. “An addict’s MORE is a lot more.” Perhaps even 1000 times more. Once the GO switch is on, it stays on; there is no feedback to stop. The massive amounts of dopamine released by all addictive substances (and behaviors) actually causes destruction of the part of the brain and neurons involved with the STOP switch. So it can be very physically hard for an addicted person, who has modified or damaged parts of their brain, to stop. On the positive side, after the use of addictive substances is stopped, the brain can make new connections and begin to rebuild damaged structures.

 

 The Stop and Go Switch - The Brain's Control Circuitry: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

A discussion of the difference in treating chemical dependency vs. behavioral addiction (e.g., gambling, eating, etc.) and how the brain is affected.

 

 Treating addictions: chemical vs. behavioral [6:58m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download