Addiction results in changes to brain structure and chemistry.

• A. It increases IQ
• B. It has no effect
• C. It makes brain function perfect
• D. It changes brain structure and chemistry

Answer: (D)

Addiction changes the brain in two fundamental ways: its structure and its chemistry. Repeated use rewires neural circuits, especially those involved in reward and craving, altering how neurons connect and communicate. Chemically, the brain’s neurotransmitter systems—like dopamine—are altered so that normal experiences no longer produce the same reward signal, while drug cues can trigger strong cravings. These neuroadaptations can impair judgment and self-control because the areas that regulate decision-making and impulse control, such as the prefrontal cortex, don’t function as effectively as before. Some structural changes may even persist after stopping use, which is why relapse is common. The other options don’t fit because addiction does not increase IQ, has real effects on the brain, and does not make brain function perfect.