Addictive simulacrum as a model for explaining drug-induced “high”

Abstract

This article provides a critical analysis of the biologically reductionist model of addictive euphoria (“the high”) and demonstrates its methodological limitations. From a biological perspective, the dose–response relationship between psychoactive substances and emotional effects is not linear: research reveals plateau- and inverted-U-shaped curves, and excessive neurotransmitter activation typically produces distress rather than pleasure. This undermines the assumption that a “high” is simply the result of chemically intensified positive emotions. Psychologically, the critique rests on the two-component structure of emotions: an affective experience always integrates bodily sensations with cognitive interpretation. Without one of these components, the phenomenon cannot be considered a full emotion. Thus, neurochemical activation alone may trigger bodily states, but the subjective “high” requires cognitive representation. The paper reviews several psychological approaches that partially explain this phenomenon. Psychoanalytic models (Rado, Freud, Scharff, Krystal) interpret the high in terms of narcissistic grandiosity, ego regression, or the projection of an ideal object. Jungian perspectives (Zoja) describe it as a surrogate for initiation rituals and an attempt at individuation. Humanistic theories (Fromm, Rogers, Frankl) see addiction as an attempt to overcome alienation, or frustration of needs for self-actualization and meaning. Cognitive frameworks (Schachter & Singer; Ludwig & Wikler) emphasize that emotions result from cognitive labeling of physiological arousal. Contemporary Ukrainian contributions (Filts, Sedykh, Mykhailiv) highlight the roles of addictive rituals and narcissistic regulation. Based on this, the article introduces the concept of the addictive simulacrum as a model for understanding the high. Drawing on Baudrillard’s theory of simulacra and hyperreality, the high is defined as an emergent state arising from the conjunction of PAS-induced bodily sensations and imaginatively produced signs-simulacra that acquire reality status within altered consciousness. This generates an internal “addictive hyperreality,” providing an illusion of closeness, authenticity, or self-transformation. On the social level, addictive simulacra mediate communication within groups and subcultures, sustaining rituals, symbols, and sign-exchanges that reinforce dependence. The conclusion is that addictive euphoria cannot be explained without integrating neurobiology and psychology of consciousness. The proposed model of the addictive simulacrum offers a more comprehensive theoretical framework and points to therapeutic strategies: deconstructing simulacra, restoring reality-testing, and cultivating authentic relationships may be key in overcoming addiction.