Cravings for drugs or alcohol are controlled by a variety of brain chemicals, including norepinephrine, dopamine, and glutamate. Many people describe their cravings as coming out of nowhere, as if these chemicals pop into their brains and create a cravings spontaneously. These chemicals and the manifestations of cravings are actually triggered by stimuli from external environmental cues and internal mood states, particularly anxiety, irritability, and dysphoria. Environment
