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These fascinating molecules have been associated with an
impressive array of human functions, and from this we may infer that
they play similar roles in all vertebrates. Heavy exercise will increase
the endorphin level, which produces the "runners high". Certain
foods, including chocolate increase endorphins. It is now believed that
acupuncture relieves pain by releasing endorphins. Changes in mood
can involve endorphins. They appear to be released in response to
prolonged laughter. There also appears to be a link between
endorphins and the immune response. It's a very impressive list that
involves a lot of the ways in which we experience the qualitative
dimension of our lives on this planet. The endorphins are also
involved in the body's response to stress, which will be discussed later.

Relapse--A Central Problem

When the Public Health Service began to study addiction, they
brought volunteers to their isolated clinics who went through intensive
rehabilitation. Even though they were abstinent for considerable
intervals, when they returned to more natural environments, they
almost always relapsed

Over the years, it has become clear that injecting heroin multiple times
per day for years or even decades produces profound, durable changes
in the neurochemistry and probably in the neuroanatomy of addicted
persons. It is not uncommon for such persons to be able to have
periods of abstinence, terminated by a relapse to heavy drug use,
which produces profound shame, humiliation and even depression.
Addiction is currently understood as a chronic, relapsing disease of the
central nervous system and must be approached accordingly, which
means that superficial slogans or magical cures are extremely unlikely
to be effective.

Why do people relapse? The answer is that even though they have
been abstinent, the neurobiologic changes inflicted on their brains by
long term addiction have not been returned to normal, and they are
therefore, still vulnerable to certain stimuli, called "triggers".
Examples of triggers include, exposure to the substance or
paraphernalia of their addiction, i.e. just seeing a heroin spoon or