How Addiction Hijacks the Brain Infographic
Addiction is a complex medical condition that affects how the brain functions. Understanding the science behind addiction can help reduce stigma, strengthen prevention efforts, and increase awareness of why addiction is not simply a matter of willpower.
Alcohol and other drugs can affect important areas of the brain, including the limbic system, which helps regulate survival instincts and reward, and the cortex, which plays a role in decision-making and impulse control.
Repeated substance use can disrupt the brain's natural reward system, changing how the brain responds to pleasure and motivation. These changes help explain why addiction can make it difficult for individuals to stop using substances, even when they experience harmful consequences.
To help make the science of addiction easier to understand, the Addiction Policy Forum developed the Addiction and the Brain infographic. This free educational resource illustrates how substance use affects the brain's reward system and the areas responsible for decision-making and behavior.
The Addiction Policy Forum's Opioid Prevention Campaign offers additional free, evidence-informed educational materials to help individuals, families, educators, and communities better understand addiction and prevent substance use.
