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.

This research paper will evaluate the biological aspects of addictive substance or behavior and how it affects the brain and organs. Biological aspects include dopamine levels that are replaced in the brain due to the reward system being overtaken and the absorption rate of the drug once it is ingested will be discussed. The biological aspects are extensive and permanent if the individual does not get the help they need. Furthermore the clinical issues of addictive substance or behavior will be discussed along with medical treatments and ethical issues. This includes treatments such as counseling

Drug use can change in neurons and brain circuits 2. You feel bad because it cannot feel enjoy with activities or things that you’re pleasure before. Transition: Now I have discussed about drugs and brain so now I will mention about another view of addiction’s definition.

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

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)

With the development of science and technology and the raising of human awareness, the demand of drugs is also rising. However, in no case can people deny the terrible side effects of drugs when they are used to emphasize the burden or just have fun. The adverse effects of illicit drugs, including the terrible imagination and addiction to drugs, are a complex problem. This is a horrible brain disease that forces people to cling to use what they know to pose negative impact to them. Conquering addiction is a challenge that often requires group support in an environment such as rehabilitation.

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

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

McLellan. David Nutt is a professor at Edmond J. Safra Fundation. Besides, David Nutt is the Director of the Neuropsychopharmacology Unit in the Division of Brain Science. Thomas M. McLellan is the Chief Executive Officer and cofounder of the Treatment Research Institute. In addition, Thomas M. McLellan is a substance abuse researcher. Moreover, McLellan served as Deputy Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. “Can Neuroscience Improve Addiction Treatment and Policies?” is a research that explains that the brain is the primary objective of psychoactive drugs. In the paper “Can Neuroscience Improve Addiction Treatment and Policies?” the authors state, “drugs are self-administered because they make people feel different – usually better”. They explain that the majority of the modifications related with drug consume are fast changes. The alterations produced by drugs are faster than most changes created by natural stimulus. Numerous activities that produce amusement feelings release neurotransmitters such as dopamine. The consume of drugs manufacture quickly and higher levels of neurotransmitters like dopamine. An important fact about the ingest of drugs according to the authors is that “this rapid release of reward-inducing experience is a significant part of the transition from exploratory, to regular, to compulsive use (addiction).”

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.

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

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.

“The overstimulation of this reward system, which normally responds to natural behaviors linked to survival (eating, spending time with loved ones, etc.), produces euphoric effects in response to psychoactive drugs. This reaction sets in motion a reinforcing pattern that “teaches” people to repeat the rewarding behavior of abusing drugs ”(“Understanding Drug Abuse). Using addictive drugs floods the limbic brain with dopamine, taking it up to as much as five or ten times the normal level. A person with elevated dopamine levels now has a brain that begins to associate the substance with an outside neurochemical reward (“Your Brain on Drugs”). As a person continues to abuse drugs, the brain adapts to the overwhelming surges in dopamine by producing less dopamine or by reducing the number of dopamine receptors in the reward circuit. The result is a lessening of dopamine’s impact on the reward circuit, which reduces the abuser’s ability to enjoy the drugs, as well as the events in life that previously brought pleasure. The decrease in normal dopamine levels encourages the addict to keep abusing drugs in an attempt to bring the dopamine function back to normal, except now larger amounts of the drug are required to achieve the same dopamine high, an effect known as tolerance (“Understanding Drug Abuse ). That is what leads to the state of addiction, which leaves the person in a cycle of craving, using, withdrawal, and relapse.

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

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