How To Deal With Addiction: Learn From Rats

Addiction is a chronic disorder where an individual is drawn towards a particular substance (primarily drugs). It can also be classified as a brain disorder, developmental disorder, or learned behaviour as it involves dysregulation of the brain circuits. An individual can become addicted to a variety of substances, like caffeine, drugs, narcotics, alcohol, gambling, and more, most of which trigger psychological changes. The addict sometimes becomes emotionally dependent on these substances as well, due to which relapse behaviour is seen and they are unable to stop it. Consuming anything above permitted limits or abusing substances leads to addiction.

This Story also Contains

1. Do Animals Exhibit Addiction?
2. Study On Rats And Their Response To Addiction
3. Application Of The Rat Study To Humans
4. Humans And Addiction
5. Ways To Deal With Addiction

Do Animals Exhibit Addiction?

The non-human animals (mice, rats, monkeys, etc.) were studied in laboratory settings to find out their addictive behaviours. There have been decades of research on the topic, which has concluded that animals can also be addicted to certain substances. They show addictive behaviour, especially when outdoor influence is minimal and substances are easily available to them. This might sound astonishing, but the animals were readily addicted to available substances similar to humans. This can be better understood in the next section.

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Study On Rats And Their Response To Addiction

An extremely simple study setup on rats showed how addiction is picked up and can be avoided as well. A rat kept inside a cage will automatically run toward the lever to break it open. There are no external disturbances, and thus, opening the lever will be a reflexive addictive behaviour.

Similarly, when rats are given a food lever, they will continuously press it to get food. However, when food and cocaine levers are both present at the same time, the rat will be drawn more towards the cocaine lever once it has been consumed. This is because the consumption of cocaine provides a chemical reward called dopamine, which alters brain functions. This neurotransmitter enhances positive feelings like motivation, mood, and movement, and more importantly, it provides feelings of reward. Rats will consume this brain chemical more and more until they become addicted and eventually die.

One potential reason for rats to choose the cocaine lever over the food lever is that the latter only provides energy that is released slowly, whereas the former influences the mood and provides an instant shift in mood.

When the rats were studied in their natural environment with access to all the different factors, they weren’t drawn towards the cocaine even when it was readily available in ample amounts. What could be the possible reason for this? This happened because rats were able to receive dopamine doses by engaging with nature and performing their regular tasks, which in turn released more dopamine. This shows that addiction can be avoided if there are alternative sources to receive dopamine or neurotransmitters.

Application Of The Rat Study To Humans

Humans, too, are addicted to many things, most of which affect them negatively in the long run. The initial stages of addiction are not severely harmful and can be reversed, but gradually, it alters brain functions; therefore, it becomes difficult to restore the normal state or rewire your brain. Increasing addiction causes more disruption and hijacks some regions of the brain, due to which day-to-day activities and survival are compromised.

The case with humans is similar to rats. When provided with food and cocaine, they will also get addicted to cocaine. But if humans are involved in other activities that trigger the release of dopamine, then they can safely drop the habit of addiction. All the activities like gambling, drinking, smoking, and more produce a sudden boost of energy and a number of probable outcomes. This gives them a certain kick and pushes the brain to get addicted to this behaviour. Destroyed brain regions promote unhealthy behaviour, while a healthy brain can produce dopamine effects via exercising, bonding, spending time in nature, etc.

Like rats, if humans engage in healthy behaviour and practices, then addiction would not be an option for the dopamine kick or chemical rewards.

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Humans And Addiction

Addiction does not occur immediately, it develops gradually. It works by hijacking the rewarding regions of the brain, due to which it finds pleasure in drugs and alcohol. Their absence induces craving, and controlling addiction becomes difficult as brain hardwiring can make you anxious and stressed. Due to this fearful feeling, one easily falls into the trap of addiction.

Cigarette breaks in between work are a perfect example of a nicotine addiction, where an individual manages stress by consuming nicotine. But what is the correct way to deal with addiction?

Ways To Deal With Addiction

Healthy activities like yoga, meditation, a good diet, bonding with family and friends, helping others, getting some fresh air, spending time with pets, and other lifestyle changes can also induce rewarding feelings. These activities also release certain neurotransmitters that mimic different positive feelings like improved mood, movement, memory, and more. Such tasks can make one feel satisfied and make people less vulnerable to addiction.

Teens are prone to addiction due to peer pressure, emotional instability, and other factors. Therefore, it is necessary that they involve themselves in healthy distractions like learning hobbies, studying, playing outdoors, and more. It must be noted that distractions must be activities rather than substances. Few substances, like tea and coffee, are thought to be unharmful and taken to energise the body, but they are equally addictive.

Conclusively, addiction is a repeated and heightened urge to consume things that alter psychological functions and disrupt brain regions in the long run. Drugs, alcohol, gambling, and other abuses are common addictions. In multiple studies, when rats were present in a natural environment, they engaged in natural activities rather than consuming cocaine for chemical rewards. Humans must also rely on natural activities rather than substances for their dopamine kick or chemical rewards. The natural activities induce dopamine release and can drastically reduce relapsing and returning to addictive substances.

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