Drug addiction is characterized by an uncontrollable longing for a drug and the inability to keep from using that drug.
Many people do not understand why or how other people become addicted to drugs. They mistakenly view drug abuse and addiction as strictly a social problem and may characterize people who take drugs as morally weak. One very common belief is the fact that drug abusers should be able to just stop taking drugs if they’re only willing to change their behavior.
Drug addiction is characterized by an uncontrollable longing for a drug and the inability to keep from using that drug. Whether your drug of preference is marijuana, nicotine, alcohol, or something stronger like heroin or cocaine, it requires control of your life making it impossible for you to do without it.
Drug addiction is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences towards the drug addict and those around them. Drug addiction is really a brain disease because the abuse of drugs leads to changes within the structure and function of the brain.
Most abused drugs directly or indirectly concentrate on the brain’s reward system by flooding the circuit with dopamine. Dopamine is really a neurotransmitter present in regions of the brain that regulate movement, emotion, cognition, motivation, and feelings of pleasure. When drugs go into the brain, they can actually change the way the brain performs its jobs. These changes are what result in compulsive drug use, the hallmark of addiction.
Signs of Drug Addiction
Some of the signs of drug dependence include:
- Feeling uncomfortable and alone without drugs
- Losing weight
- Avoiding non-users
- Selling belongings to cover drugs
- Lying or not being honest with friends and family about just how much you’re using
- Stealing from other people to pay for drugs
- Getting into debt or spending money you can’t afford on drugs
Drug Abuse and Addiction Facts
Facts About Drug Addiction:
Drug addiction isn’t similar to drug abuse or substance abuse. Many people are relating both of these disorders similarly. Drug addiction is a disease that includes physical dependence, craving or compulsion to consider drugs, tolerance and loss of control. Physical dependence is a state whereby an individual is experiencing withdrawal symptoms after quitting taking drugs, including sweating, shaking and nausea.
- Stress is really a chief factor in drug abuse.
- Drug addiction negatively impacts the economy because of lost productivity, treatment for addiction and related complications, and other consequences of drug use.
- Approximately 10 to 22 percent of car accidents involved drivers who’ve been abusing drugs.
- Almost two-thirds of people undergone drug rehabilitation suggests that they were physically or sexually abused as children. Child abuse is definitely an important factor in drug addiction.
- Drug use or dependency are associated with at least half of the serious crimes in this country. Over fifty percent of the suspects arrested in violent crimes, including murder and assault, were underneath the influence of drugs when they were arrested.