Addiction can be defined as the inability to stop. It is not a good idea if you are putting your health at risk. It should not be used to cause financial, emotional or other problems for you or your family members. Even if you want to stop, the urge to use and obtain drugs can consume your every waking moment.
Most drugs affect the brain's "reward circuit," which floods it with the chemical messenger dopamine and makes you feel good. A reward system that works well keeps a person doing things that are good for them, like eating and spending time with family and friends. Dopamine surges in the reward circuit reinforce behaviours that are fun but bad for you, like taking drugs. This makes people do the behaviour over and over again.
The drugs that have the potential to lead to addiction target the reward system in your brain. Your brain receives significant amounts of the chemical dopamine. This produces a feeling that can only be characterised as complete happiness. You keep taking the prescription in an effort to get that high again.
The disease of drug addiction can be treated.
You may initially decide to use a medication because you love the way it makes me feel. It is possible to regret the decision. You may believe you have full control over how many and how often you use your medication. The way your brain functions can be affected by repeated medication use. These alterations may be permanent. They may cause you to lose your control and lead to other activities that could be harmful to you.
One example is that you might become dependent on opioids to manage pain. This is not a reason to become addicted. In general, only a small fraction of individuals become addicted to drugs that have been prescribed by competent medical professionals.
Some people become addicted to drugs, but not all. However, it can happen to anyone at anytime and at any age. You may be more at risk for addiction if you have a family history. Half of your chances of addiction are determined by your genes. You are more likely to become addicted if you have parents or siblings who abuse drugs or alcohol. Addiction is a common problem for both men and women. Early drug use. The brains of children are still developing, so drug use can impact that. You may be more likely to become addicted if you start using drugs young. Mental disorders. You are more likely to become addicted if you are depressed, anxious, have difficulty paying attention, or have constant worry. As a way to feel better, you might turn to medications. An addiction is more common in those who have experienced trauma in their lives. Troubled relationships. You may be more at risk of becoming addicted if your family has had problems or you are not connected to your siblings and parents.
Long-term drug use can cause brain chemical pathways and systems to be altered. They can affect your ability to learn, judgement, decision-making, memory and ability to learn. All of these mental changes can lead to you seeking out and using drugs in ways you cannot control.
The terms addiction and physical dependence do not refer to the same thing. You might feel withdrawal symptoms if your substance use is abruptly stopped after you have become physically dependent. One dose of medication can lose some effectiveness over time. This causes a condition called tolerance.
Get help right now; don't wait. If your drug use is excessive or causing problems, talk to your doctor. Recovery from drug addiction can take time. Although there is no cure for drug addiction, therapy can help you quit and maintain your drug-free lifestyle. Counselling and medication may be part of your treatment plan. Talk to your doctor about the best treatment plan for you.
Changes in the brain that happen over time as a result of long-term drug use make it hard for a person who is addicted to drugs to control themselves and resist their strong urges to use drugs. So, drug addiction is also a disease that can lead to relapses.
Therapy for drug addiction often does not lead to full recovery, as is the case with other chronic disorders like diabetes, asthma, or heart disease in most situations Addiction, on the other hand, may be successfully treated and its symptoms controlled. Those who are trying to overcome an addiction are at danger of relapsing for a long period, even their whole lives. It has been established that the most effective method of treating addiction is a mix of medicine and behavioural therapy. In order to maintain sobriety, treatment methods must be tailored to each patient's history of drug use, as well as any underlying physical, mental, or social conditions.
Dopamine is released into the reward circuit of the brain by most medicines. Dopamine surges in the reward circuit can reinforce dangerous but pleasant behaviours. As a result, people often engage in these behaviors.
Recall: Addiction is a chronic condition characterized by persistent drug seeking and addiction despite the negative effects.