Is there a connection between cocaine, heroin and sugar addiction? Many will be surprised to know that there is. The fact that a bag of Sour Patch Kids or gummy worms is related to cocaine, heroin, or other drugs might seem far fetched, but they’re similar in how they can affect the brain.
Sugar, like drugs and alcohol, activates the reward cycle of the brain by stimulating dopamine (the reward-seeking chemical that is also responsible for addictive behaviors). “A sugar binge alters brain function and fuels the desire for more sweet stuff,” says Princeton University psychology professor Bart Hoebel. There is a sugar high caused by a surge of dopamine, similar to the “feel-good” rush of drugs or alcohol. This can be followed by the psychological and physical symptoms of withdrawal when sugar is then denied. (Medheadlines.com)
As with drugs and alcohol, chronic use can cause down-regulation or even damage to neurotransmitter receptor sites, disrupting the brain’s natural chemistry. This leads to withdrawal symptoms, feeling of loss of control, bingeing, anxiety, stress, depression, cravings, and deeper levels of addiction.
But why is this not true for everyone? According to Dr. Kenneth Blum and his research on Reward Deficiency Syndrome, a third of the population has a genetic variation that causes them to have fewer dopamine receptor sites. This third has a much greater difficulty achieving a normal sense of well-being. So it would make sense that this third would be more prone to addiction, whether sugar, alcohol or drugs. Anything that would raise their level of dopamine, would leave them more inclined to use, and more at-risk to abuse it.
Understanding the affects of sugar on the brain is also important for those who are in drug and alcohol recovery with a brain that is already vulnerable. Sugar causes neurochemical changes in the brain that are similar to drugs and alcohol addiction. As a result, sugar could act as a gateway drug for other drugs (Princeton University). Maintaining a healthy diet while in recovery can be crucial in keeping neurotransmitters and the reward pathway of the brain in balance.
