Drugs -Tolerance,Dependence,Addiction and Treatment

The definition of addiction is the continuing, compulsive use of a substance despite negative physical, mental or societal consequences of the substance. (Drug addiction and drug abuse, 1) To be psychologically dependent upon a substance is to feel the need to have the substance to maintain the feeling of well being. (Drug addiction and drug abuse, 1) Physical need is determined by tolerance levels for the substance. There would be a need for increase in dosage to achieve the same feeling. (Drug addiction and drug abuse, 1)

Tolerance therefore turns into an addiction by where the body cannot regulate itself without the drug. Addiction is a severe form of substance use disorder (SUD). Along with the symptoms noted with substance abuse, the user now has lost the ability to limit or stop using on their own as symptoms of withdrawal are present if the user attempts to halt use altogether.

Addiction is happening due to the addictive property of the drug, opiates attach to the body’s receptors that reduce the perception of pain. Although, the addiction must start somewhere, and it typically begins with a prescription written by a doctor. Over prescription and greedy drug companies are believed

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

All heroin users—not just those who injected the drug—risk becoming addicted. Individuals who abuse heroin over time develop a tolerance for the drug, meaning that they must use increasingly larger doses to achieve the same intensity or effect they experienced when they first began using the drug. Heroin ceases to produce feeling of pleasure in users who develop tolerance: instead, these users must continue taking that dug simply to feel normal.

Addiction is a physical and or a psychological dependence on a mood altering substance or behavior that is continued despite negative consequences. In Gerald G. Mays’ book Addiction & Grace

Positive reinforcement receives a reward for good behavior and is likely to repeat it. Negative reinforcement causes a behavior to be repeated and the action causes a bad feeling or situation to go away. Physical dependence on a substance is defined by the appearance of withdrawal symptoms when use of the substance is discontinued. Opiates induce physical dependence. Psychological dependence is a dependency of the mind, and leads to psychological withdrawal symptoms. Addiction can come from any rewarding behavior and is believed to be associated with particular areas of the brain’s reward system. A dependency of the mind involves a mental association with how a particular behavior is rewarded. Physiological dependence occurs when the body adjusts to the continued presence of a drug. These adaptations lead to negative symptoms when the drug is removed or when the dose is dramatically reduced. Psychological dependence is a change in emotional state that occurs after using a substance or engaging in a behavior over a period of time. This change in emotional state is a result of changes in brain chemicals. Physical dependence is the body's adjustment to a particular drug. The individual's body gets used to receiving regular doses of a certain medication. When the medication is suddenly stopped or the dosage is reduced too quickly, the person will experience withdrawal

There is a very high chance that an individual how abuses prescription drugs will become addicted. Addiction is defined as a persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be harmful. There are many reasons why a person would become addicted to a substance. Family history of addiction, traumatic experiences in childhood and mental disorders such as depression or anxiety can all increase ones vulnerability to becoming an addict. When a person takes prescription

One of the effects of being addicted to something is tolerance. Tolerance occurs when, after some time taking a drug, your body becomes desensitized to it, making it so more is necessary

There are many different types of addiction that people become dependent on and they are devoted to it. There are 2 main categories of addiction, which are substance-related addiction and behavioral or process addictions. There are 2 main types of addiction, which are physical is when a person 's body is reliant on something after a while a person’s body can crave it and then there 're psychological addictions which is when someone craves something so that is changing their mood and feelings. According to Wikipedia, addiction is “ a state characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli despite adverse consequence”. When becoming addicted it is being reliant on a certain substance or an activity, physically and mentally. When addicted you feel as if you need to have it and are unable to stop taking it. Substance abuse or misuse is when you are dependent on a certain substance, most common substances are alcohol and drugs. When misusing substances it affects a person’s physical and mental health and their social responsibilities.

One of the myths about substance abuse is substance abuse and addiction is actually the same thing. But the fact says, though the terms “abuse” and “addiction” are often mixed up for one another, they are not the same thing. Substance abuse generally refers to those who continue to use drugs or alcohol even though they know that they are dangerous. An individual who has a drug addiction

When a person is addicted to drugs, they are dependent on the substance. when the substance is not available to the addicted person they experienced pronounce distress. this distress is known as withdrawals are abstinence syndrome. An addicted person may experience physiological dependency. this is an emotional need for the substance. In the absence of the physical dependency. Sociologist Ronald Akers believes that addiction involves two processes, dependence, and tolerance.

Eventually that addiction leads to drug tolerance. Tolerance is when drug user takes more and more of their drug of choice in order to receive the same type of euphoria feeling they once felt with smaller quantities.

Even though people do not believe they are addicted, painkillers are addicting because painkillers that are being misused are deadly and they are a hard habit to break. Many people are using and abusing painkillers which are prescription drugs and some may say that they are not and will not admit it. The effects of prescription abuse are painfully obvious and needed at the same time.

Drugs Abuse occurs when a drug is taken for unintended purposes and can lead to addiction. Addiction occurs when a person must use the drug to feel and function normally. Addiction occurs in two types, physical and psychological. Physical addiction is caused by the brain, the brain produces fewer chemicals or neurotransmitters to make up for the extra chemicals therefore the brain needs the chemicals from the drug to reach the correct balance and individual becomes out of touch with reality. Psychological addiction is much simpler, the individual simply likes the way a drug makes him/her feel and must have it, therefore becoming addicted. (Lawrence, F. 1996)