I mean other than not having access to the substance in question. What makes the body respond in such a way that it can be deadly?
In: Biology
Let’s use alcohol as an example, it is central nervous system depressant, it slows your brain down. With constant use the brain compensates in an effort at getting back to normal. This is the origin of drug tolerance or “being able to hold your liquor.”
Over a prolonged period of time the degree of compensation gets to be so great that suddenly stopping its use causes the brain to go into a very over active state that can lead to seizures. The seizures can be so severe that the alcoholic can’t breathe. Withdrawal from alcohol can be fatal.
the main risk of death is seizures from stopping alcohol and benzos. these drugs raise the seizure threshold while on them, so when you go off then after a long time, your seizure threshold drops because it’s used to being propped up by the drugs, this makes it easier to have a potentially fatal seizure.
Your body naturally produces many kinds of molecules in order to function. When you regularly use a substance that activates the same spot that is used to receive those natural molecules, your body begins to produce less of its natural supply as it begins to rely on the external supply. Additionally, your body is also becoming more “resistant” to the molecule if you take too much in order to achieve equilibrium, thus increasing tolerance and needing to take more.
Certain molecules (Like GABA) are very important and if you suddenly stop supplying your brain with those molecules, you basically leave your brain empty as it doesn’t produce it naturally like it supposed to anymore, which result in dangerous withdrawals and seizures.
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