Understanding Addiction

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.

Cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, alcohol, opium, tobacco, hypnotics, just to name a few. Addiction is a chronic disease that affects the chemicals in the brain. It dysfunctions the circuits in the brain that deal with memory, reward, sex, motivation, behavior, relationships and emotions all mostly resulting in substance use or other behaviors to fulfill those circuit rewards. This world is in a current addiction epidemic on drugs. Let’s try to understand addiction to make it a little clearer.

As results of scientific research, we know that addiction is a disease that affects both the brain and behavior. A disease is an interruption, cessation, or disorder of a body system, or organ structure, or function; according to Stedman’s Medical Dictionary. (Sheff ,2013) cites, the disease od addiction has an etiologic agent, identified by a group of signs and symptoms or consistent anatomic alterations. There are significant changes in the brain. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) states that addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristics biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations. This is reflected in an individual pathology pursuing reward and /or relief by substance use and other behaviors. (Addiction is characterized by inability to consistently abstain, impairment of behavioral control, craving, diminished recognition of significant problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships and dysfunctional emotional responses. 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. (ASAM Adopted as Policy, February

Drug addiction is a brain disease because drugs change the brain’s structure and how they work. Over a period of time drugs start to affect the brain by challenging an addicted person’s self-control and interfere with their ability to resist intense urges to take drugs. “Most drugs affect the brain's reward circuit by flooding it with the chemical messenger dopamine. This overstimulation of the reward circuit causes the intensely pleasurable "high" that leads people to take a drug again and again. Over time, the brain adjusts to the excess dopamine, which reduces the high that the person feels compared to the high they felt when first taking the drug—an effect known as tolerance. They might take more of the drug, trying to achieve the same dopamine high.”, States National Institute on Drug Abuse. After long term use of drugs it affects functions such as learning, judgment, decision-making, stress, memory, and behavior. Even though an addict knows this, they still use

For addicts, the stress and misery are increased by a factor of 10. The only way to fight the illness of addiction all the way through to recovery is to enlist the services of a professional and safe detox center and drug and alcohol rehab facility. With the right level of commitment, the addict gets a real chance to clear their mind and body of the poisons that threaten their very life. They also learn the value of having a strong support group and recognizing personal triggers so they have the tools necessary to avoid

Many people do not understand why individuals become addicted to drugs. The truth is drugs change the brain and cause repeated drug abuse. Drug addiction is a brain disease. Drug use leads to changes in the function and structure of the brain. Although it is true that for most people the initial decision to take drugs is voluntary, over time, the changes in the

Substance use disorders and addiction are affecting Americans at an alarming rate. People of all backgrounds, cultures and socioeconomic status have suffered the impact this epidemic is causing on loved ones, friends or maybe even themselves. Some individuals seek treatment and with the help of a support network they can change their life. Others are not so lucky. It is estimated that 62,497 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2016. That is more casualties than the Vietnam War (Lopez, 2017). This number does not include deaths resulting from diseases of long term use such as liver cirrhosis, hepatitis and AIDS. It would be easy to conclude these addicted individuals died in vain simply due to their poor life choices and lack of morals, but

Addiction exerts a long and powerful influence on the brain that manifests in three distinct ways: craving for the object of addiction, loss of control over its use, and continuing involvement with it despite adverse consequences. (HelpGuide.org)

Because drug abuse and addiction have so many dimensions and disrupt so many aspects of an individual 's life, treatment is not simple. Effective treatment programs typically incorporate many components, each directed to a particular aspect of the illness and its consequences. Addiction treatment must help the individual stop using drugs, maintain a drug-free lifestyle, and achieve productive functioning in the family, at work, and in society. Because addiction is typically a chronic disease, people cannot simply stop using drugs for a few days and be cured. Most patients require long-term or repeated episodes of care to achieve the ultimate goal of sustained abstinence and recovery of their lives.

This article was written by Elizabeth Gifford and Keith Humphreys of the Veterans Affairs and Stanford University Medical Centers in Palo Alto, California. Elizabeth Gifford has a PhD in psychology and specializes in Behavioral Science, Clinical Psychology and Health Psychology. Keith Humphreys is a professor of Behavior Science and Psychology at Stanford.

I believe in non - addiction. Many deaths, many bad diseases, and mental disorders happen from addiction. We should stop and end this. Build a border between us and addictions. And let's show that we are better and smarter than those addictions. Addictions have many consequences. You can get many diseases and mental disorders. A quote from the article called “Addiction” says,” Abstinence from the addiction may cause unpleasant or even life‐threatening withdrawal symptoms." Also, much money gets spent on saving these people's lives. $484 dollars is spent on health care for the injuries that have happened by drugs. Once, when I was 7, my dad's friend was doing drugs. And he almost died doing those drugs. That shocked me because I never thought

I’ve always wondered what the true definition of addiction is. I know there's bad addictions like drugs and alcohol. Which people should probably stay away from by the way but that's not the kind im talking about. Some addictions are good ones. For instance people that are addicted to a certain food or drink. That’s kind of my situation. I’m addicted to gum. I think I have a serious issue.

Drug use is a common issue that is occurring all around the world today. Drug addiction is also called substance use disorder. It is a disease that changes a person's brain, actions, and self control by making them incapable of not using the legal or illegal drug or medication they have become addicted to over time. Alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine are also considered drugs. Whenever an individual is addicted, they may continue their drug usage regardless of its consequences. Addiction is a long term disease. For most individuals, the initial decision to use drugs is optional. Individuals in recovery from drug use disorders risk returning to drug use even after years of not taking the drug. Many individuals may need help from their doctor,

Each year, there are more deaths and disabilities in the U.S. from substance abuse than from any other cause. In the United States alone, it is reported that roughly 18 million Americans have alcohol problems; 5 to 6 million have drug problems, and more than 9 million children live with a parent addicted to alcohol or illicit drugs. Drug addiction continues to be a growing concern, prompting medical and scientific research on a global scale into the possible causes of addiction and the various levels to which people become drug-dependent. This global issue continues to grow, prompting a rush to determine the cause in an effort to find a cure. Through research, doctors are learning

On further extent, all addictions have the capacity to induce the feeling of shame and guilt, sense of hopelessness and feeling of failure. Moreover depression and anxiety are the most common conditions among the addicts. All the addictions have a great impact on various circuits of brain including those which are related to reward, motivation and memory.