<p>This image illustrates greater stimulation of the brain's pleasure circuit by drugs compared to natural rewards (food). The large dopamine response increases the likelihood that the user will repeat the experience.
</p><p>Image created by NIDA for the 2007 publication Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction
</p><p>Check out the website to see the updated publication, &lt;a href="<a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drugs-brain">https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drugs-brain</a>" rel="noreferrer nofollow"&gt;www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-scie...&lt;/a&gt;
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Credit: National Institute of Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/132318516@N08">NIH Image Gallery</a> from Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/nihgov/29817401553/">Drugs of Abuse</a>