Are We Addicted to Dopamine?

Dopamine is a chemical signal in our brain that tells us when to pay attention to a stimulus. Dopamine is associated with the experience of pleasure, but it's also important for motivation and goal seeking. The problem is when we have created substances and behaviors which mimic natural rewards such as those found in rats or humans. We're not really addicted to dopamine; what matters is how well we can deal with its effects.