Biological Models of Addiction

Biological models of addiction suggest that changes in brain chemistry and structure play a central role. They propose that substance use alters neural pathways related to reward, motivation, and self-control—particularly involving chemicals like dopamine. These changes make individuals crave the substance, prioritize it over other activities, and struggle with control even when aware of negative consequences. Essentially, addiction is viewed as a chronic brain disorder where the substance hijacks normal brain functions, making recovery challenging without targeted treatment that addresses these biological changes.