Addiction has been around since the dawn of humanity. It is everywhere in today's society, especially in the media. Unfortunately, many people still don't see addiction as the disease it really is. According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, “Addiction is a primary, chronic disorder of brain reward, motivation, memory, and related circuits.” Another misconception about addiction is that it only involves substance abuse, but in reality anything that a person finds pleasurable can turn into an addiction. The media portrays addiction in many different ways, but, again, most are only about substance abuse and not behavioral addictions. The term addiction typically has a negative connotation. People tend to see drug addicts as “inferior people” and think that their addiction is their choice. While addiction may result from a personal choice at a particular time, it is a brain disease that often cannot be easily treated. According to Time Magazine, “when exposed to drugs, our memory systems, reward circuits, decision-making skills, and conditioning kick into overdrive… to create an all-consuming pattern of uncontrollable craving.” This also applies to behavioral addictions. For someone who overeats, the brain's pleasure center goes into overdrive, eventually leading to addiction. Some theories about how addiction works suggest it has to do with the prefrontal cortex of the brain. In some addicts, brain scans show reduced levels of activation in this area, meaning their rational thinking is not being used, so they are more impulsive. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter that has to do with the brain's reward system, also plays an important role in addiction, as far as researchers know. Dopamine is released in the brain during pleasure… middle of paper… gh, the person may even regress to the precontemplative stage. The final stage of change is called cessation. At this point in the addict's life, the substance is no longer the ideal solution in times of stress or crisis. The person continues a sober life (A process to understand how we approach recovery from addiction). Although addiction is often glorified by musical artists, it is a serious disease and can affect anyone. It is important to understand that, although it may seem like it, drug addicts do not choose to be. Addiction affects the brain, altering our neurons and unbalancing our chemicals. Almost anything can turn into an addiction, so it's important to be aware of our actions and how we react to stressors. If you know someone who is struggling with addiction, it's important to support them in their recovery because they can't do it alone.