The consequences following the use of any drug are adverse. While many individuals may see drug addiction as a simple lifestyle choice, it is a problem that many individuals suffer from and inevitably a growing problem that leaves major social and economic impacts. The most commonly abused substances are nicotine, inhalants, alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines, prescription drugs, heroin, ecstasy and marijuana. 1a(National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2011) Initially, a person may find themselves using substances voluntarily and with the certainty of being able to dictate their personal use. However, over the period of time that drug use is repeated, changes occur throughout the brain, both functionally and structurally. The drugs contain chemicals that enter the brain's communication system and disturb the way nerve cells normally send, receive and process information. The chemicals in these drugs will cause a disruption in the communication system by mimicking the brain's natural chemical messengers or by overstimulating the brain's “reward system” by sending large amounts of dopamine. When an individual prolongs the use of these substances, he or she may develop an addiction. Drug addiction is often characterized as a complex brain disease that causes a compulsive, uncontrollable desire to seek and use drugs without any regard for the consequences they may bring. about themselves or about society. As long as the brain is exposed to these large amounts of dopamine in the reward system, it will inevitably develop a tolerance to the current levels of dopamine it is receiving, decreasing the pleasure the user will experience. To satisfy the brain “rewards…… half of the document……www.drugfree.org/about8bPartnership at Drugfree.org (2010). Annual report. Retrieved October 21, 2011, from http://www.drugfree.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/PARTNERSHIP-ANNUAL.pdf?utm_source=About_Us&utm_medium=annual_report&utm_campaign=downloadNational Institute on Drug Abuse (2009). Preventing drug abuse: the best strategy. Retrieved October 21, 2011, from http://www.nida.nih.gov/scienceofaddiction/strategy.htmlNational Institute on Drug Abuse (2009). NIDA Information: Therapeutic Approaches for Drug Addiction. Retrieved October 22, 2011, from http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/treatmeth.htmlPrevention Research Center, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Meng-Jinn Chen Ph.D, Brenda A. Miller Ph.D, Joel W. Grube Ph.D and Elizabeth D. Waiters Ph.D (2006). Music, substance use and aggression. Journal of Alcohol Studies, 67(3), 373-381 .