Addiction: Causes, Symptoms and

Treatments

What Is addiction?
Signs of addiction
Addiction risk factors
Causes of addiction
How is addiction diagnosed?
Treatments for addiction
Addiction complications
Latest addiction research

What Is addiction?

People with an addiction do not have control over what they are doing, taking or using.
Their addiction may reach a point at which it is harmful.
Addictions do not only include physical things we consume, such as drugs or alcohol,
but may include virtually anything, such abstract things as gambling to seemingly
harmless products, such as chocolate - in other words, addiction may refer to
a substance dependence (e.g. drug addiction) or behavioral addiction (e.g. gambling
addiction).
This article focuses mainly on addiction to physical substances.
In the past, addiction used to refer just to psychoactive substances that cross the bloodbrain barrier, temporarily altering the chemical balance of the brain; this would include
alcohol, tobacco and some drugs. A considerable number of psychologists, other health
care professionals and lay people now insist that psychological dependency, as may be
the case with gambling, sex, internet, work, exercise, etc. should also be counted as
addictions, because they can also lead to feelings of guilt, shame, hopelessness,
despair, failure, rejection, anxiety and/or humiliation.
When a person is addicted to something they cannot control how they use it, and
become dependent on it to cope with daily life.

A habit may eventually develop into an addiction

Many of us can use substances or become engaged in activities without any significant
problems. Some people, however, may experience damaging psychological and/or
physical effects when their habit becomes an addiction.

Addictions and habits

With a habit you are in control of your choices, with an addiction you are not in control of
your choices.

Addiction - there is a psychological/physical component; the person is unable to

control the aspects of the addiction without help because of the mental or physical
conditions involved.
Habit - it is done by choice. The person with the habit can choose to stop, and will
subsequently stop successfully if they want to. The psychological/physical component is
not an issue as it is with an addiction.

Addiction to substances or activities can sometimes lead to serious problems at home,

work, school and socially.
The causes of addiction vary considerably, and are not often fully understood. They are
generally caused by a combination of physical, mental, circumstantial and emotional
factors.
Addiction, often referred to as dependency often leads to tolerance - the addicted
person needs larger and more regular amounts of whatever they are addicted to in
order to receive the same effect. Often, the initial reward is no longer felt, and the
addiction continues because withdrawal is so unpleasant.
According to MediLexicon's Medical Dictionary:
Addiction is Habitual psychological or physiologic dependence on a substance or
practice that is beyond voluntary control.
Withdrawal has many meanings, one of which is A psychological and/or physical
syndrome caused by the abrupt cessation of the use of a drug in an habituated person.

According to the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSMIV), published by the American Psychiatric Association:
Substance dependence is When an individual persists in use of alcohol or other drugs
despite problems related to use of the substance, substance dependence may be
diagnosed. Compulsive and repetitive use may result in tolerance to the effect of the
drug and withdrawal symptoms when use is reduced or stopped. This, along with
Substance Abuse are considered Substance Use Disorders..

Addiction may include prescription medications

Most people think of illegal drugs when they hear the word addiction.
However, prescription drug addiction is becoming a serious public health problem
in the USA and many other nations. Prescription medication abuse was described as
an epidemic by researchers from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College
of Medicine in a study they reported on in November 2012.
The scientists explained that doctors today treat pain differently than they used to years
ago. This change has led to an increase in prescription drug abuse.
In the USA in the 1990s - the decade of pain treatment - not only was there a change in
medication, but also policy. Pain became the fifth vital sign doctors looked out for, along
with respiratory rate, blood pressure, body temperature and pulse rate. Doctors offices
today commonly have signs in their waiting rooms asking patients to rate their
experience of physical pain from 1 to 10.

9 Reasons Why People Use Drugs and Alcohol

MAY 12, 2011 BY SHARON105 COMMENTS

The reasons why people use drugs

A quick overview
Many people have never experienced addiction of any sort. For these people it can be
very hard to understand and grasp the logic behind drug abuse. But with drug use

getting more and more prevalent in America, its now common for people to dig deeper
and look for the reasons why people use drugs and alcohol. This is not meant to be a
complete list, nor is is meant to be medical advise, but I feel this article can shed some
light for addicts or family members of addicts dealing with this burning question

Can someone please explain to me the reasons

why people use drugs?
This list has been compiled from 13 years of personal experience watching my close
family member struggle with the darkest moments of addiction. Many times I asked and
prodded to get answers from my sister who was addicted to drugs. She didnt always
have the answers but she still taught me. The important thing that I learned is that
drugs alter the thinking patterns in your brain which can distort logic and rationality.
Therefore an addict may not fully understand what a sober person can. So most of my
analysis came from observing her behaviors. So here is my list regarding the reasons
why people use drugs and alcohol.
1. People suffering from anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression or other mental
illnesses use drugs and alcohol to ease their suffering.
Mental illness is such a burden for some people they will try just about anything to
relieve the pain. Drugs or alcohol can temporarily make that person feel normal again,
like they remember feeling in the past. Mental illness is scary for the individual
experiencing it, so they are afraid to go to a doctor or family member for help and
instead turn to drugs or alcohol to try and solve the problem on their own.
2. People see family members, friends, role models or entertainers using drugs
and rationalize that they can too.
As teenagers and young adults, its very easy to think that drug and alcohol use can be
handled and controlled, especially if they see others they know doing the same thing. It
can become easy to rationalize like: hey my friends been doing this for a couple years
and he seems fine to me. Entertainment and music is full of drug references and that
can add to the rationalization that drug use is ok sometimes. Individuals with a family
history of drug or alcohol abuse are far more likely to develop an addiction than an
individual with no family background of addiction.
3. People become bored and think drugs will help.
Boredom is a big factor in drug abuse in teens and young adults. People in this age
bracket generally dont have bills, jobs and all the stresses that go along with adulthood.
So its easier to become bored and want to try something new and exciting. Drug use is
often thought of as a way to escape the mundane world and enter an altered reality.
4. People think drugs will help relieve stress.
Our modern world is full of new strains and stresses that humans have never

experienced in the past. Although many things in life are now easier than ever, the
burdens are also very high. Simply having a family, maintaining a household, and
holding a job are huge stress factors. Some drugs are viewed as a means of relaxation
a way to calm the storm in your mind. Although drugs can be very effective at doing
that, there can be serious side effects.
5. People figure if a drug is prescribed by a doctor, it must be ok.
It is easy for an individual to rationalize using a drug because it came from a doctor. The
thinking goes like this it was prescribed to someone I know for the same problem I am
having, so it makes sense it should work for me too. The dangerous part about this
rationalization is that this can lead to mixing of drugs, overdose, unintended side effects
and/or dependency.
6. People get physically injured and unintentionally get hooked on prescribed
drugs.
The people at risk for this are physical laborers, elderly, and anyone with pre-existing
injuries. Some people are born with chronic pain due to deformities others get injured.
Doctors then prescribe drugs for what they are intended for and a person can quickly
build a dependency. Especially if that drug is making them feel all better, they rationalize
that it must be ok to keep taking the drug, which can result in dependency.
7. People use drugs to cover painful memories in their past.
Many people go through extremely traumatic events in their life, many times as children,
and turn to drugs to cover the horrible memories. Children are extremely susceptible to
trauma, whether physically or emotionally, and those feelings can haunt them into their
adulthood. These people could benefit from working with psychologists to help repair
their damaged mind. Drugs usually only deepen the issue.
8. People think drugs will help them fit in.
When hanging out with friends, its easy for people to want to fit in and seem like one of
the crew. If others are drinking or doing drugs, its very likely for someone to fall into that
trap. Peer pressure can be a tremendous force causing someone to try things they
would normally not try on their own.
9. People chase the high they once experienced.
Ask anyone who has tried drugs and they will tell you that it is one of the best feelings of
their life. The highs from drugs are so much more extreme than regular everyday joys
because most drugs overload the pleasure sensors in your brain. Once a person feels
this extreme pleasure, its common for that person to become hooked on a drug simply
chasing the initial high they once felt. As we all know, this is a viscous cycle that is
extremely difficult to break. The highs are equally as powerful as the lows felt when
coming off of the drugs.