What is Drug Addiction?
Drug addiction is a chronic illness that affects the behavior and brain of a person. A person with drug addiction can’t resist the strong desire or urge to use the addictive substance. As such, an addict continues to use drugs even when its adverse effects are apparent. Addiction can, therefore, be defined as a complex, neurobiological illness whose treatment requires an integrated treatment of the body, mind, and spirit.
People consider addiction a brain disease since drugs alter the brain. Continued use of drugs changes how the brain works, as well as, its structure. If treatment is not sought, long-lasting changes can occur. That’s because addiction is a progressive and chronic condition that can be fatal if left untreated.
When struggling with substance use disorder or addiction, it’s easy to feel like you can’t function normally without the addictive substance. This can cause several issues that affect personal relationships, professional goals, and the overall health of a person. However, it’s possible to beat addiction and regain control over your life. Even if you don’t have enough money to pay for treatment at a luxurious facility, you can seek free drug rehab here https://addictionresource.com/drug-rehab/free-rehabs/. This can help you avoid the serious negative effects of untreated addiction.
Common Drugs that Cause Addiction
Most people think about illegal drugs when substance use disorder is mentioned. However, not every addictive drug is illegal. People become addicted to prescription drugs and legal substances too. Some of the commonly abused and addictive drugs include:
- Alcohol
- Heroin
- Crack cocaine or cocaine
- Nicotine
- Methamphetamine
- Bath salts
- Ecstasy
- LSD
- Marijuana
- PCP
- Mushrooms
- Opioid painkillers
- Stimulants like those for treating ADHD
- Anti-obsessive agents
- Benzodiazepines
- Antidepressants
- Mood stabilizers
Substances like antidepressants and alcohol are legal. However, they are also addictive. Addiction starts in many ways. For instance, some people start using a drug because they like how it makes them feel. They think they are in control of how often and how much of the drug they use. However, the drug changes how their brain functions after some time. The physical changes caused by the drug to the brain can be long-lasting. Eventually, the user loses self-control and the drug takes over. And this can lead to damaging behaviors.
Drug Abuse versus Addiction
Drug abuse refers to the use of illegal or legal substances in ways they should not be used. For instance, taking more pills than the prescribed regular dose or using the prescription of another person amounts to drug abuse. People abuse drugs for varied reasons. But, major among them include to ease stress, feel good, and to avoid reality. However, a person can change their unhealthy habit or quit using the drug altogether.
On the other hand, addiction is when a person can’t stop using a drug even when the habit puts their health at risk. Even when using the drug causes emotional, financial, and relationship problems with individuals or their loved ones, they can’t stop using it. They constantly strive to acquire and use the drug. This urge fills up every moment of their life even when they want to stop using the drug.
This explains why a person struggling with addiction may desire to seek free addiction help one minute and use the addictive substance later on. Essentially, addiction is when a drug has taken over control over the life of a person. Thus, an addict can’t function without the drug in their system.
How Addiction Affects the Brain
Some people wonder why their loved ones can’t just stop using addictive substances. But, this is not a decision or move an addict can easily make. The human brain is naturally wired to make a person want to do things that give them a feel-good experience. Thus, a person is naturally motivated to repeat experiences that bring a good feeling over and over again.
Research indicates that addictive drugs target the reward system of the brain. These drugs flood the brain with dopamine. This is the hormone that triggers intense pleasure in the user. Thus, a person uses the drug repeatedly trying to chase the high feeling it provides.
Over time, the brain becomes used to having extra dopamine. This compels the user to take the drug more frequently and in higher amounts to maintain or to enjoy the good feeling. Eventually, things like spending time with friends and family or even foods that a person used to enjoy become less pleasurable.
After using drugs for an extended period, brain circuits and chemical systems can also change. That’s when loved ones start noticing the effects of drugs and seeking help from free rehab centers to assist the addicted person. At this point, addiction affects the decision-making, judgment, memory, and learning abilities of a person. These changes in the brain can compel an individual to seek out and even take the addictive drug uncontrollably.
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ADDICTION
People have different brains and bodies. Therefore, not everybody that uses drugs can become addicted to them. However, anybody can become an addict. Some of the factors that predispose individuals to addiction include:
- Mental disorders– People with difficulties paying attention and those depressed or constantly worried are at a higher risk of using drugs and becoming addicts.
- Early use of the drug– Drugs can change the growing brains of children. Thus, taking drugs early can make children more likely to become addicts later in life.
- Family history– Genes play a role in addiction. People whose siblings or parents have problems with drugs or alcohol are also likely to become addicts.
- Relationship problems– People that grow up in troubled families or those not close to their siblings or parents are at a higher risk of becoming addicts.
WARNING SIGNS
How do you know that you or a loved one needs help from a free drug rehabilitation center? Well, there are several warning signs to watch out for.
HERE ARE SOME OF THEM:
- An uncontrollable urge to use a drug daily or several times per day.
- Taking more drugs and longer than a person wants or thought they would.
- Having the addictive drug all the time or purchasing it even when they can’t afford it.
- Using a drug even when it causes trouble with family, friends, and at work.
- Not taking care of how a person looks or their health.
- Spending more time alone, lying, stealing, and doing dangerous things under the influence of the drug.
- Spending time looking for, using, and recovering from the addictive drug’s effects.
- Feeling sick when a person has not taken the drug.
If you or a loved one is showing any of these signs, seek professional assistance. Many centers offer free help for alcoholics and drug addicts. Seeking assistance from these facilities can help in the fight against addiction. Thus, they can help you or a loved one stop using addictive substances to lead a drug-free, healthy, and happy life.
