Drug Abuse Statistics : Who Are Prone And Abusing Drugs?

Addiction is a chronic brain disease that often results in some sort of relapse. Addiction is characterized by inability to control drug use which results in problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships. This disease causes compulsive behaviors such as the need to use drugs despite the many harmful consequences that affect the addicted individual and those around him or her. Although for most people, the initial decision to use drugs is a one time lapse in judgement, the brain is easily affected by these drugs if the person decides to use these drugs multiple times. The changes that occur to the brain over time will cause the addicted person’s ability to resist the intense impulses of drugs to be altered causing the addict to often give into the temptation of these drugs. Like other chronic diseases, addiction often involves cycles of relapse and remission. Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death. Drug addiction is an issue that many people deal with whether they are the addict or the addict is their loved one; but with a good source of support anyone can over come the challenges and consequences of addiction.

At a present time, drug addiction is the condition of being unable to stop taking illegal harmful

Most researchers believe that addiction is caused by a number of risk factors working together to create addiction to prescription drugs while some people can use recreational and prescription drugs without becoming addicted, many individuals who start using drugs become physically and emotionally dependent on them. Drug abuse causes vary greatly, depending on each individual and the extent of his or her addiction. The extent of a person's vulnerability to his or her addiction depends on their social environment, their mental and physical health, and their genes. According to Kellogg "Our drug problem is a real problem, but it stems from poverty, loneliness, shame, dishonesty, rage, family violence, power and greed. It is a spiritual

It is believed that certain individuals are predisposed or vulnerable to addiction based on biological, psychological and social influences. The euphoric high produced by many addictive substances is the result of overstimulation of the “pleasure center” of the brain. This is the same area that controls emotions, fear, self-control and overall feelings of wellness. The presence of these foreign chemicals creates a response that the brain will crave as soon as it fades. The brain’s chemistry works against its own health, as it rewires its decision making faculties around the primary goal of finding and taking more of the drug” (1). Many people mistakenly believe that psychological addiction is somehow less serious or real than physical addiction. The psychological aspects of addiction are much more challenging to repair and recover from than the physical addiction. Psychological addiction can last for years or even a lifetime.

Since the creation of drugs, its abuse and addiction became a taboo. As technology advanced into the 21st century, an impetus in civilization created the allure of drugs, which became propagated and popularized into modern society. Consequently, its Achilles heel created a social epidemic which threatened their innocence. Therefore, the conundrum of this phenomenon caused challenges for the addict, society, and treatment providers. Nonetheless, as problem arises, solutions await its discovery; and, as new and innovated ideas emerged, there are precipitate and modern challenges when getting individuals into addiction treatment.

The definition provided above is accessible and easy to understand; however, it initiates false beliefs among individuals because it fails to acknowledge that drug addiction is a mental health problem. Moreover, when words such as, “dependence”, “control” and “craving” are used to define drug addiction, it leaves an impression to the reader that addicts are indeed “people who cannot control their impulses.” Consequently, when we fail to recognize that drug addiction is a mental health problem, our focus is diverted towards the physical aspect of drug addiction. This could cause the belief among individuals that drugs alone cause the addiction. It is essential to acknowledge that there are chemical hooks in drugs; however, individuals need to understand that drugs alone do not cause the addiction. We need to identify and distinguish the “root cause” of addiction and ask ourselves: what caused the individual to take the drug in the first place?

The body, through tolerance, becomes accustomed to the effects of the drug causing a change in the functioning of the reward center in the brain. Neurotransmitters in the brain, at this point, do not function normally and the body “needs” the drug to achieve balance within the system.

Even after a addict has stopped using a drug they often relapse and begin using the drug again. Both behavioral and environmental factors play a role in addiction. Some environmental factors that can play a role in addiction are parents, family members, and peers abusing drugs. These environmental factors play a role in a person developing an addiction because they are around it and see it, that is all they know. Genetic factors are inherited. If a parent is an addict the children is likely to be a addict. People who have an addiction are likely to build up a tolerance against the drug. Tolerance means a person who uses a drug repeatedly over a period of time, the original dosage of the drug will not give the desired effect, so a higher dosage is needed to get the desired effect ("Addiction", 2017).

Whereas tolerance is the most important factor promoting addiction, withdrawal symptoms and cravings are the most important factors perpetuating addiction. At high tolerance, suddenly stopping or even reducing the amount of opioid a person uses produces

The continued response is the "high" or a feeling of euphoria created by the drug, since the brain learns to function in this pattern other normal behavioral patterns such as, planning tasks, memory, motivation and execution of tasks become overloaded (Volkow). This is when addiction happens in the brain. It is more than just liking the substance and what it does; it is now the psychological need to have it to maintain a new normal. When your brain is without a substance, it will send a message to the body that something is wrong. Withdrawal from a drug starts when there is a stop of using the drug. Withdrawal symptoms are different based on the type of drug used. Withdrawal patterns consist of sweating, tension, panic attacks, headaches, heart palpitations, disturbed sleep, nausea and much more (NIDA

the brain, flooding it with the neurotransmitter dopamine. This produces euphoria, and the heightened pleasure can be so compelling that the brain wants that feeling back again and again. Unfortunately, with repeated use of a drug, the brain becomes accustomed to the dopamine surges by producing less of it. So the user has to take more of the drug to feel the same pleasure — the phenomenon known as tolerance.

When people start taking drugs, they don't plan to get addicted. They like how the drug makes them feel. They believe they can control how much and how often they take the drug. However, drugs change the brain. Those who use drugs start to need the drug just to feel normal. That is addiction, and it can quickly take over a person's life.

Drug addiction has been happening for thousands of years. It is commonly known that addiction to drugs is poor for your health. However, drug addiction can affect an addict, their family, and their communities. Drug addiction needs more awareness and treatment because it leads to homelessness, crime, and broken families.

Drugs cause an indescribable high, causing the imprisoned individual to be set free from their reality; however, that’s not only what drugs cause. About 200 million people around the world are drug users causing 250,000 deaths each year. Dependency on a drug then leads to a tolerance to the drug, and before the user knows it, they are addicted. Drugs are like a black hole that vacuums the user into a state of addiction which makes it even more difficult to escape and quit. However, addiction can also take place with any civilized human being. Caffeine, alcohol, and plastic surgery are just a few addictions that people let take over their lives. For someone to stop is quite brave due to several obstacles they are put through. The end of an

Drug and alcohol addiction is a very serious and widespread problem in America, and across the globe. Drug addiction is a constant craving, seeking, and using of a substance, despite the negative consequences it may have on the addict or those around them. When drug use becomes more frequent, it is considered drug abuse. Once an individual’s drug abuse is can no longer be controlled, and they are using the drug to get through everyday life, it beomes an addiction. A person on drugs has an altered way of thinking, behaving, and perceiving. There are treatment facilities all over the world dedicated to help those suffering with drug addictions. All