Addiction primarily affects the brain's reward circuit, known as the mesolimbic dopamine pathway. This system, responsible for eliciting pleasurable feelings in response to enjoyable activities, is significantly disrupted by drug addiction. Drugs can alter this reward system, causing changes in the brain that make drug-induced dopamine release the primary source of pleasure, leading to dependency. Besides the mesolimbic pathway, addiction can manifest in other brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex, the extended amygdala, and the basal ganglia, among others. These areas play roles in decision-making, stress response, and habitual behaviors, all of which are critical in the development and perpetuation of addiction. Drug addiction treatment is available at MAPS for Recovery. For more information, contact us. We serve patients from Austin TX, Georgetown TX, Leander TX, Jonestown TX, Cedar Park TX, Round Rock TX, Rollingwood, TX, Bluff Springs TX, Del Valle TX, and surrounding areas.