When you lay the cards on the table and analyze the facts, you can easily see how progesterone could be called the “feel good hormone.” A powerful steroid produced by the corpus luteum (an endocrine gland), this hormone prepares the female body to accept an egg and also happens to make females some of the happiest creatures on the planet as a result (until menstruation creeps around the corner, that is). However, did you know that this “feel good” hormone might actually be connected to addiction and can be severely depleted after long-term drug use? Let’s take a closer look at this phenomenon and find out more about the link between addiction and progesterone.
Vulnerability to Addiction
In the book Role of Progesterone in Nicotine Addiction, one study indicates that hormone transition phases (including those that take place during adolescence and periods of birth control) might trigger changes that make women more susceptible to drug addiction. Specifically, nicotine, opioid, and cocaine addiction are directly linked to progesterone problems. During the part of the hormonal cycle when progesterone levels dip (resulting in a temporary estrogen dominance), women will start to experience severe side effects like weight gain, depression, and anxiety (making them more susceptible to abuse and addiction). However, when progesterone re-enters the picture, the hormone immediately modulates reward processing (almost identical to the dopamine release resulting from drug use).
Progesterone as a Cure
Remarkably, when researchers administered progesterone to a group of cocaine-addicted women, these women found it much easier to stop using cocaine and abstain from further use. In fact, some researchers have fully supported the notion that progesterone medication can help women who are suffering from a severe form of cocaine addiction. As Dr. Wendy Lynch and Dr. Mehmet Sofuoglu explain, this information will not only help researchers uncover more critical data for drug addiction treatment in females but also shed more light on the possibilities for addiction prevention.
Seeking Treatment for Drug Abuse and Addiction
Always remember that drugs do not have control over your life. You do. Are you suffering from a substance use disorder or a severe form of addiction? Do you have a friend or family member suffering from one or more of these debilitating illnesses? If you do, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our counselors and healthcare experts are ready to walk you through every step of the detox and withdrawal process and rehabilitation and guide you towards living a happier, healthier, and freer lifestyle. While the road to recovery might not be an easy road to travel, we promise to help you every step of the way. Take the first step to stay fit, healthy, and safe.
The time for you to take back control of your life is now. If you are interested in one of our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how to overcome your drug abuse or addiction troubles today.
