https://askwonder.com/q/what-happens-in-the-body-or-the-brain-before-an-opiate-including-heroin-addict-has-the-urge-to-use-575f6c463232941a00797e01?viewtoken=575fd45313951f340065f9f6
key insights
Opiate abuse causes changes in the structure and function of the brain and as a result, addicts face difficulty in remaining abstinent without seeking professional help.
The prefrontal cortex system is involved in cue-induced drug reinstatement, storing lasting memories that associates the pleasure with the circumstances where the drug was taken, driving the addict to continue to seek opiates.
Levels of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH), the neurotransmitter that regulates the stress hormone system, usually increases in addicts right before a relapse and the amygdala becomes more active.
