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This article is motivated by knowledge of an associate who is addicted to a killing substance – nicotine mixed with tar – under a belief in individual choice. This article is not intent on changing my associate’s mind or being. This is written to be of assistance to those who are ready to change.

Most human beings can recognise the profound call of hunger or the insistent urge of thirst. These are not mere preferences; they are fundamental biological imperatives. These are felt as ‘needs’ in much the same way that addicts feel ‘a need’ to repeatedly sustain their various addictions. Survival sensations signal vital bodily requirements, compelling us to seek sustenance and fluids. Ignoring these directives becomes increasingly difficult, as our entire focus can narrow towards satisfying that essential, life-sustaining drive for relief. And this is pretty similar to what addicts experience – though of course there is no true ‘need’ of cocaine or nicotine, for example.

The ‘need’ described by individuals experiencing addiction can present with a strikingly similar intensity and an all-consuming nature. They often report a craving that feels as urgent and commanding as the deepest hunger, a force that overshadows other thoughts and priorities. This powerful parallel suggests that addiction may not simply be a matter of conscious choice. It appears to be a process that taps into, or even commandeers, the brain’s ancient and powerful survival pathways, creating a deeply felt, albeit misleading, sense of profound necessity.

Once these pathways are engaged in such a manner, an individual’s thoughts may become increasingly preoccupied with the addictive substance or behaviour. Their cognitive estate can be dominated, often leading to the rationalisation of actions they might otherwise question. Consequently, behaviours can also be powerfully commandeered; established routines, responsibilities, and even relationships may be neglected or abandoned as the drive to satisfy this perceived urgent ‘need’ takes precedence.

Even avoidance of articles like these is partly orchestrated via deep seated brain pathways in order to maintain ‘the need’. Worse yet, even knowledge of the mechanisms of addiction – like in this article – may be of very limited use to ‘addicts’ of various kinds. The Brain-Mind is therefore truly hijacked and held for ransom when addiction takes control.

Mechanisms of the Hijacking

When substances are used, they can profoundly alter deep-seated brain pathways, effectively hijacking systems originally designed for survival and well-being. Central to this process is the mesolimbic dopamine pathway, often called the brain’s reward circuit (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2020; Academic Oxford – BioScience, 2009). This pathway originates in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and projects to the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Addictive substances cause a surge of dopamine in the NAc, far exceeding the levels released by natural rewards like food or social interaction (Yale Medicine, 2022). This intense chemical reinforcement strongly teaches the brain to repeat the substance-taking behaviour (Scientific Amerian 2016)

Beyond the immediate reward, other crucial brain regions become deeply embroiled in substance addiction. The prefrontal cortex, responsible for executive functions like decision-making, impulse control, and judgement, becomes impaired by chronic substance use. This impairment makes it harder for individuals to resist urges or consider long-term consequences. The amygdala, which processes emotions and threat, becomes hyper-responsive to drug-related cues and withdrawal, driving cravings and negative emotional states that perpetuate use. Furthermore, the hippocampus, vital for memory formation, links environmental cues with the drug experience, triggering intense cravings when those cues are encountered again. Over time, these interconnected pathways are dysregulated, leading to a compulsive drive to seek and use substances, often at the expense of all other life activities.

Turning to non-substance addictions, often termed behavioural addictions (such as sex-addiction, gambling, internet use, or compulsive shopping), these appear to hijack these same fundamental brain pathways in a strikingly similar manner. Research increasingly demonstrates that engaging in these rewarding behaviours also activates the mesolimbic dopamine system. This results in dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens, much like addictive drugs do (PMC – PubMed Central, 2012). The pleasure and reinforcement experienced can, for susceptible individuals, become compulsive or even lead to impulsive behaviours.

The involvement of other brain regions in behavioural addictions also mirrors that seen in substance addiction. For instance, individuals with behavioural addictions often exhibit impaired functioning in the prefrontal cortex, leading to difficulties with impulse control and decision-making concerning the addictive behaviour (PMC – PubMed Central, 2022). The amygdala can become sensitised to cues associated with the behaviour, triggering strong urges or cravings. Similarly, the hippocampus helps to solidify memories that link specific contexts or actions to the rewarding experience. Therefore, while the initial trigger is a behaviour rather than an ingested chemical, the underlying neurobiological mechanisms of reward, compulsion, and loss of control show substantial overlap with those hijacked by substances (Pinnacle Recovery, n.d.). This shared neural architecture underscores why behavioural addictions can be just as compelling and disruptive as substance use disorders.

Choice

A common societal view often frames addiction as a series of conscious, deliberate choices, implying that an individual could simply choose to abstain if they possessed sufficient willpower. However, this perspective frequently overlooks the profound neurobiological changes that occur within an addicted individual’s brain. These changes significantly impact the very capacity for choice regarding the addictive substance or behaviour. What appears as a straightforward decision to an observer is, for the person experiencing addiction, often the endpoint of powerful underlying processes.

The biological underpinnings of addiction reveal that deep brain pathways, particularly those governing reward, motivation, and survival, become fundamentally altered (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2020). As discussed, these pathways are hijacked, meaning the addictive substance or behaviour is encoded by the brain with an inappropriately high level of importance, akin to a primary survival need like hunger or thirst. Consequently, the brain’s motivational systems become powerfully biased. They generate intense cravings and a drive towards the addictive behaviour that can feel overwhelming.

When these deeply ingrained, survival-tagged urges arise, they significantly constrain an individual’s cognitive processes. The prefrontal cortex, crucial for rational decision-making, weighing consequences, and exerting inhibitory control, is often compromised in addiction. Its ability to regulate the now amplified signals from the reward and emotion centres (like the nucleus accumbens and amygdala) is diminished. Therefore, the cognitions that reach conscious awareness – the thoughts about using or not using – are already heavily influenced by these subcortical drives. The internal debate may feel like a choice, but the options are not weighed on a level playing field; the scales are tipped dramatically by these altered neural circuits.

Thus, the behaviours observed are often the culmination of these powerful, largely unconscious neurobiological processes. What emerges as a seemingly conscious “choice” to engage in the addictive behaviour – or avoidance of stopping it – is frequently a response to an intense internal state. This state has been shaped by a brain whose decision-making architecture has been fundamentally rewired by the addictive process (Live Science 2018). The entanglement of reward pathways with survival instincts means that the conscious experience of decision-making can indeed be thwarted, as the brain compulsively prioritises what it has mistakenly learned is essential for its immediate, albeit artificial, sense of well-being.

Change

Understanding the profound biological and psychological grip of addiction, as outlined above, illuminates the immense internal battle individuals face. They are indeed often fighting against deeply ingrained neural pathways and conditioned responses. Yet, despite the formidable nature of this challenge, change is possible. A crucial aspect of initiating this journey involves a shift in an individual’s awareness and willingness to consider alternatives to their addictive behaviour.

The Transtheoretical Model of Change, developed by James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente, offers a valuable framework for understanding this process. This model outlines several stages individuals typically move through when modifying problematic behaviours. Initially, many individuals may be in a ‘Precontemplation’ stage. In this phase, they often do not recognise their behaviour as problematic and have no intention of changing in the foreseeable future. If a person does not move beyond this stage, they can indeed remain “stuck,” as the internal motivation for change is absent.

The critical turning point often occurs with the transition into the ‘Contemplation’ stage. Here, individuals become aware that their behaviour is problematic and start to consider the pros and cons of changing, though they may feel ambivalent. This acknowledgement and internal debate signify a crucial opening. It is from this stage of contemplation that the motivation to seek help and engage with interventions, such as rehabilitation programmes, can begin to solidify. Once an individual genuinely contemplates the possibility and benefits of change, they are more likely to progress to ‘Preparation,’ where they intend to take action, and then to ‘Action,’ actively modifying their behaviour and engaging with support systems. Therapeutic approaches often aim to help individuals navigate these stages, fostering the insight and motivation required to move towards sustained recovery.

Deception

Individuals often express a firm belief in their ability to control their addictive behaviour, stating “I can stop whenever I like,” even when evidence suggests otherwise. This stance is partially a deliberate attempt to mislead others as well as it can be a profound form of self-deception, deeply rooted in the complex ways addiction affects the brain (and therefore the mind).

The neurobiological changes in addiction, particularly to the prefrontal cortex, play a significant role here. This brain region is crucial for accurate self-perception, insight, and executive functions like impulse control and sound judgement. When its function is compromised by substance use or addictive behaviours, an individual’s capacity to accurately assess their own behaviour and its consequences can be significantly impaired. This can lead to a genuine, yet mistaken, belief in their capacity to exert control over the addiction.

Furthermore, the powerful cravings and compulsions driven by the hijacked reward and survival pathways can overwhelm rational thought processes. An individual might sincerely believe they can abstain, yet find themselves repeatedly succumbing to these intense internal pressures. This discrepancy between belief and action can be profoundly confusing and distressing for the individual themselves, reinforcing the cycle of perceived control followed by loss of control. This internal experience often reflects a lack of insight, sometimes referred to as anosognosia in broader neurological contexts, where the brain struggles to recognise its own impairment (Addiction Denial: American Addiction Centers, 2025). It is often a symptom of the addiction itself rather than simple obstinacy.

Conclusion

This article uncovers a compelling narrative, beginning with the deceptive familiarity of a ‘need’ that mirrors our most basic survival drives like hunger or thirst. This initial insight underscores how addiction is not a superficial want but a profound internal state, mimicking the very forces designed to keep us alive. We have seen how this intense craving is no mere psychological quirk; it is deeply rooted in the brain’s own machinery.

The core of this understanding lies in the concept of a ‘hijacking’. Ancient neural pathways, meticulously evolved for reward, motivation, and ultimately survival, are commandeered by the addictive substance or behaviour. This neurobiological usurpation powerfully reshapes an individual’s world, distorting priorities, thought processes and perceptions – often imperceptibly. Consequently, the notion of ‘choice’ becomes immensely complex. The common assertion, “I can stop whenever I like,” often reflects not a straightforward capacity for control, but rather a compromised awareness, where the brain’s ability to accurately perceive its own predicament is itself diminished by the addictive process. This creates an internal battle where the individual is pitted against the deeply ingrained urgings of their altered biology.

Some will have become overly occupied by evidence of biological underpinning of addictions. People tend to favour ‘hard evidence’. But wait – even if one were to momentarily set aside the detailed neurobiological explanations, the ‘need’ itself (from addictions) asserts a terrible power. It is often described as a relentless, gnawing emptiness, a desperate craving that screams for satisfaction with the same primal urgency as starvation or profound thirst. Logic as a directing force is compromised. This is not a gentle suggestion from the body; it is a powerful, demanding force that can feel as fundamental to existence as feeding. This visceral conviction, the unshakeable feeling that one must satisfy this ‘need’ to simply endure, truly highlights the profound and often agonising struggle at the heart of addiction, regardless of whether the intricate brain pathways are understood by the individual enduring it.

Yet, understanding these profound mechanisms does not lead to a narrative of despair, but one of informed compassion and potential for ‘change’. Recognising the stages individuals may navigate, particularly the pivotal shift towards contemplation, illuminates the path to recovery. It highlights that overcoming addiction involves not just ceasing a behaviour, but a significant recalibration of these hijacked pathways and the development of new, healthier means of navigating the world. This journey, while arduous, underscores the human capacity for change when the true nature of the challenge is understood and addressed with targeted support.