One of the earliest and most common signs of substance abuse is a sudden change in behavior and/or mood. Individuals who abuse drugs are typically irritable, undergo changes in skin condition and have an obsession with the substance they are abusing. As the medical community learns more about the disease of addiction, we can offer a more holistic approach that is tailored to each individual. In the brain, an organ called the nucleus accumbens, releases large amounts of dopamine during the injection or consumption of drugs or alcohol. This flood of dopamine triggers a temporary euphoric feeling, making the individual feel extremely happy for a short period of time. This feeling registers with the hippocampus, the long-term learning center of the brain, leading to a “rewiring” of reward center and producing a change in the behavior of the individual.