Dr. Berg talks about opioid and heroin addictions and are they really a disease or merely a symptom. When someone is addicted to opioids or heroin or any drug, whats happening is certain neurotransmitters are creating certain effects and sensations like pleasure. This includes dopamine, GABA, serotonin, etc. In fact, the effect of some of these drugs are 10x that of food and sex. This makes it highly addictive. At first the person feels incredible, then the body starts to protect itself and resist it causing a downgrade of it’s receptors. This leads to a lack of absorption as well as lack of production of dopamine. Its the neurotransmitter depletion that creates the withdrawal symptoms and the addiction.