Drug Addiction : A Worldwide Epidemic

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.

Wise and Koob state that addiction begins with positive reinforcement, habits, a person feels the “high” of the habit, however, then the tolerance sets in which conditions the brain for negative reinforcements and one increases the use to enjoy the habit (2014). According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (2012), drug addiction is a chronic brain disease. This disease is complex disease that is treatable, however it is a lifetime of treatment, sending many into relapses over and over again. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)

According to the biological perspective, drug use may start off as casual, but through continued use, it produces changes in the brain that influences the onset and maintenance of drug addiction. (Horvath et al., 2013). Drugs have their most prominent effects on the function of neurotransmitters. Almost all major drugs of abuse activate the reward system and cause a flood in the levels of dopamine which is a neurotransmitter that is involved in pleasure. As a result, not only do people learn to associate drug use with pleasure, but the brain also starts to reduce its own natural dopamine production in adjustment to the levels of dopamine produced by the drugs. This is called tolerance, and the consequences of tolerance are highly influential

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse 2014, the disease model addiction is considered a brain disease that can affect multiple circuits in the brain, which involve motivation, learning, memory and inhibitory control over one’s behavior. Because drug addiction and abuse have so many dimensions and disrupts aspects of one’s life, treatment is just not that simple. Addiction treatment must be able to stop an individual from using drugs and continuously maintain a drug free lifestyle, and achieve productive functioning in working, family and society. Because a person’s addiction is typically considered a chronic disease, those who have the disease cannot simply stop using drugs in a few days and totally be cured. Some require long-term and repeated episodes of care to be able to achieve one’s ultimate goal of sustaining abstinence and recovery of their lives. A report conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the

“Can Neuroscience Improve Addiction Treatment and Policies?” is a research that focus in the causes and effects of drugs in the brain. There is not explanation or analyses in the probable social and cultural causes and effects for using a drug.

Addiction does not have any infectious agent and is not biologically degenerative. Additionally, it does not have any pathological process, which casts serious doubts over its being a disease. On the other hand, empirical evidence has found that not only are addicts able to regulate their addiction, they are also able to alter their addictive behaviors to align them with real world issues and challenges. The risk-taking behaviors exhibited by addicts have a behavioral beginning, and can explain the behavioral etiology of addiction. The fact that most research points out the behavioral basis of addiction, and laws that have been instituted to prevent addictions. This especially pertains to chemical substances, indicates that prevailing understanding in both the scholarly and legal realms, considers addiction as voluntary and a matter of choice. Therefore, the argument that addictive behaviors are biologically mediated, is inaccurate, because not only can addictive behaviors be regulated, they can be give up with enough will power. The description of addiction underlines the role of conscious choice that is inherent in the addictive behavior, and therefore it can be concluded that addiction is a choice and not a

From 2001 to 2014 there has been a 42% increase in the number of deaths caused by prescription drug overdose. Moreover, the national survey conducted on drug use stated that 27 million people who are aged 12 and over have used an illegal drug. Year by year, drug addiction has been growing immensely among citizens and does not seem to stop. The sooner people start to take action, the sooner drug addiction in America will decrease. Whether it be directly or indirectly, the abuse of drugs has affected every family in every community and needs to be stopped.

Although the initial decision to take drugs is voluntary for most people, the brain changes that occur over time challenge an addicted person’s self-control and hamper his or her ability to resist intense impulses to take drugs. Becoming addicted to any drug is a complex process. Quitting takes more than good intentions or a strong will in order to be consistent and successful. In fact, because drugs change the brain in ways that foster compulsive drug abuse, quitting is difficult, even for those who feel they may be prepared to do so. Through scientific advances, more is known about how drugs work in the brain. Drug addiction can be successfully treated to help people stop abusing drugs and lead productive

Many drugs affect the “reward circuit” in the brain by engulfing it with Dopamine. The circuit controls the body’s ability to feel good and to have the person repeat the drug use. The over use of the reward circuit starts the intense high that can lead to addiction. As a person continues drug use, the brain adjusts to the high, causing the person to crave the drug and be less interested in social activities and even eating.

Drug addiction in America Is a problem. Specifically, when athletes and celebrities are setting a negative image for the younger generation to follow with the use of drugs or enhancements. Drug testing in professional sports should be continued in the U.S. Punishments should be enforced, and people caught using drugs in professional sports should be required to go to rehab.

What the sole cause of addiction is a highly contended issue as it is an illness that stems from both physiological and psychology factors. This essay will focus on drug addiction and in order to effectively evaluate its potential causes and treatments, I will examine the effects of cocaine. Drug addiction is a complex illness that entails countless physiological and psychological changes in a person. There is no singular cause that has been determined to onset addiction but rather an accumulation of social, environmental and even genetic factors (Agrawal and Lynskey 2008). The best approach to counteract cocaine addiction involves behavioral intervention programs as well as incorporating medication to assist with the onset withdrawal symptoms

The general trend of drug use and its misuse has made a huge impact in our society today for their correlating differences. We often encounter drugs in our everyday lives from our doctors, finding them on over the counter prescriptions, onto purchasing cigarettes and alcohol at our neighborhood store. But also there are other

Addiction and abuse of drugs have remained an unexplainable circumstance, even till today. A mistaken assumption is that drug abusers lack moral principles, and if given a chance or in the presence of will power, their selections could be altered. In reality, drug addiction is known as a complex disease and requires more than will power or mere good intentions to change. Due to the fact that drug addiction could change the way the brain works, with time, the brain promotes compulsive drug abuse. It is difficult to relent even if one is ready to do so. Drug abuse has negative influences not only in the lives of mortals, but also in the society.

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

Drug addiction is one of society 's biggest problems and it is rampant among teenagers and young adults and one of the most abused drugs is marijuana. Cannabis sativa or marijuana usually grows throughout tropical and temperate climates and then plant 's stems, leaves, flowers, and seeds are then dried. What attracts to most users is the mind altering effect these parts produce which is addictive to some extent. It is usually smoked as cigarette, or in a pipe. It is also smoked in blunts, in which cigars will be emptied of tobacco and refill with marijuana or sometimes it is combined with another drug. It can also be brewed as tea or mixed in food. Hashis is a more concentrated, resinous form which is sticky black liquid, hash oil. The