It may be common to hear that genes are involved in addiction. The idea that hormones play a part in addiction is less widely known. Yet hormones and hormone levels affect many health conditions, addiction included.
What, specifically, is the interplay between hormones and addiction? Below we take a closer look at hormones associated with addiction, their influence on addictive behaviors, and how hormonal shifts can affect recovery.
Influence of Hormones on Addictive Behaviors and Impulse Control
How hormones influence addiction is a fascinating and complex process that researchers are now examining more closely. How is it that one person can withstand cravings and forgo overconsumption and addictive behavior while another finds it impossible to resist? Researchers are finding more evidence of the extensive role hormones can play in addiction and recovery.
Role of Dopamine, Cortisol, and Other Chemicals in Substance Cravings
There isn’t one hormone involved in addiction, but several. These are potent chemicals that, when they’re out of balance, can wreak havoc on a person’s sobriety or cause them to go over the edge into addiction.
Dopamine: A Primary Addiction Hormone
Most people have heard of dopamine and that it’s a feel-good chemical in the body. Although this is only one addiction hormone, it is extremely powerful. When dopamine levels are off-kilter, it can disrupt a person’s ability to withstand cravings and lead to compulsive drug-seeking as well as impulse control problems.
Dopamine deficits, a core aspect of major depressive disorders, are a significant contributor to anhedonia, an inability to feel pleasure or joy in life. Depleted dopamine levels are also implicated in withdrawal-related depression and subsequent increased relapse risk.
- Consider dopamine as a motivator. When you feel good, you’re motivated to pursue and work for goals. In contrast, when you have low dopamine levels, you’re less likely to find the energy or desire to embrace even everyday activities, let alone life-affirming ones.
- Dopamine deficits may significantly affect an individual’s ability to resist cravings for alcohol and drugs or refrain from other addictive behaviors.
Other Chemicals Involved in Addiction
Several studies identify a few other chemicals primarily or likely involved in addiction. That hormones influence addiction is well-known, as evidenced by extensive research into the role that dopamine and cortisol play in substance cravings. One additional hormone involved in addiction is oxytocin, But others include thyroid, sex, and nutritional hormones, vasopressin, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hormones.
Although how they affect addictive processes is different, each of these hormones is known to have an influential effect on tolerance and sensitization to drugs and compulsive behavior for seeking out and taking drugs.
- Some of these hormones interfere with neurons in the reward circuit. Not only that, but a particular addiction hormone can cause changes that can make vulnerable individuals prone to addiction.
- Oxytocin, for example, may interrupt addictive behavior involving the reward circuit. It may also reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms.
Gender-Based Differences in Addiction Influenced by Hormonal Cycles
How female hormonal cycles affect addiction is a topic researchers have only recently begun to study. In part, this is due to recommendations by the National Institutes of Health.
What we know is that women can go from first use to increasingly heavy use and progress to full-on substance use disorders more rapidly than men. Furthermore, females gravitate toward addictive behaviors and compulsive drug seeking and taking faster than men. Studies show that this is true for many substances of abuse, such as opioids, alcohol, cocaine, cannabis, and nicotine.
Besides, the drug-induced high intensity and degree, how much drug use occurs, and the risk for relapse are thought to change throughout the female menstrual cycle. this happens as a result of fluctuating hormonal levels in each hormone involved in addiction.
Estrogen
In animal studies, the hormone estrogen causes a rapid increase in different aspects of behavior in addiction. Specifically, estrogen increases the amount of the drug used, motivation and willingness to seek out the drug, relapse vulnerability, and the severity of withdrawal. Briefly, estrogen appears to fuel addiction:
- During the estrogen surge time of their menstrual cycle, just before ovulation, many women report feeling a more intense drug high.
- This would suggest that estrogen both intensifies a drug high and accelerates the progression to addiction.
- Researchers explain this phenomenon by noting that estrogen increases dopamine activity in several key brain areas. The release of dopamine triggers reward and conditioning, both addictive processes.
Progesterone
Progesterone, another hormone involved in addiction, appears to have the opposite effect than estrogen. Instead of heightening and accelerating addictive behaviors, progesterone may provide a soothing effect that could protect against the onset of severe withdrawal and vulnerability to relapse. This is through the activation of the brain’s GABA receptor.
However, progesterone levels warrant attention during the different menstrual phases. The contrast is striking between low and high levels of this addiction hormone:
- Postpartum and during the week before the menstrual cycle (the luteal phase), progesterone levels drop. Physiologically, this is like withdrawal from alcohol. Women may use more alcohol or drugs as a coping mechanism.
- On the other hand, when progesterone levels are high, drug use, substance craving, and risk of relapses diminish.
- Furthermore, progesterone treatment may reduce the risk of relapse in post-partum women.
Potential Treatments Targeting Hormonal Imbalance
Hormone replacement therapy may be a practical component of treating substance use disorder in women and men, primarily if a hormone involved in addiction is targeted. For example, individuals undergoing methadone therapy may benefit from replacement therapy for those hormones that are significantly imbalanced.
Estrogen and Progesterone
Estrogen-blocking drugs, such as tamoxifen, which has shown promise in addiction onset and addictive behavior severity in animal studies, may be feasible.
In addition, progesterone could be administered since this hormone is protective against developing many types of addictive behavior, along with relapse. Some clinical studies involving postpartum women found that progesterone for several months reduced the use and relapse of cocaine. Furthermore, they had few side effects.
Sensitivity to Hormonal Level Fluctuation
Many women are highly sensitive to hormonal level fluctuation. Women with substance use disorder who experience powerful mood changes and cravings throughout their cycle may benefit from hormonal level stabilization:
- Oral contraceptives and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be considered.
- Dietary changes, exercise, getting sufficient sleep, and going to regular healthcare visits are essential to restoring fluctuating hormone levels, particularly any hormone involved in addiction.
Thyroid Dysfunction
The human body depends on thyroid hormones for normal functioning. With alcoholism, thyroid dysfunction is common, and severe dysfunction may result in cognitive issues and depression. As someone deteriorates cognitively and experiences more mood abnormalities, their relapse risk increases.
However, everyone is different in how they respond to thyroid hormone replacement. It may be beneficial in some types of addiction, such as smoking, heroin, and other narcotic addictions. Potential outcomes include returning abnormal thyroid hormone levels to a normal state and reversing some drug side effects interfering with treatment.
Recognizing Hormonal Shifts as Part of Addiction Recovery
Recovering from addiction is an achievable goal. However, since hormones are increasingly associated with many types of addiction, treatment must consider the effects of hormonal shifts in an individual’s life.
Considering that how women become addicted to drugs may be different than men, the impact of hormonal shifts in addiction treatment becomes even more significant. Not only do hormonal cycles make women more addiction-prone, but they also find themselves more affected by relapse triggers. This is important in developing treatments that work and in educating women about ways to reframe their mental connections to places and objects in their drug and alcohol use.
Getting Help
Deciding to seek addiction treatment is a big step to recovery. For many, it comes only after significant negative life consequences and declining physical and mental health. On the other hand, some recognize that their lives are seriously off track due to addiction and genuinely want to get professional help.
If you’re contemplating whether addiction treatment is right for you, our experts at Restore Mental Health are always available to help you decide. Contact us to learn more about our services and discuss any concerns. The discussion is confidential and free of charge. Remember, recovery is a journey that you can begin today.
