Addiction is a chronic illness that includes a need for drugs and a difficult time controlling it. For most people, the decision to take drug is voluntary. But repeated drug use can cause brain problems that impair self-control. These brain changes may be permanent, so drug addiction can be considered a "relapsing” illness. People who have been treated for drug addiction are at higher risk of getting back into drug use even after years.
Although it is common for someone to relapse, that doesn't mean they aren't getting treatment. Like with other chronic conditions such as diabetes, treatment should not stop and should be reviewed regularly. You should review your treatment plan often to ensure that it is adapted to the patient's changing needs.
What happens in the brain when someone takes drug?
Points to Remember: Drug addiction is a chronic condition defined by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to stop, despite severe effects.
Addiction is when you cannot stop. It should not be a threat to your health. It can cause financial, emotional, and other problems for you or your family members. Even if you want to quit, your desire to use and get drugs may grow stronger each day.
Tolerance or physical dependency are different from addiction. Withdrawal symptoms occur when you stop using a drug abruptly in cases of physical dependence. Tolerance occurs when a drug's effectiveness is reduced over time.
Most drugs impact the "reward loop" in your brain. This causes pleasure and floods of the chemical messenger dopamine. For a person to thrive, they must engage in activities such a healthy diet and spend time with their loved ones. The reinforcement provided by dopamine rushes can reinforcing risky behaviors such as drug usage and other addictive behaviours through the reinforcement they provide. People are more likely than ever to repeat the activity.
Your brain will become more dependent on the drugs you are using, and your brain will begin to adapt. The person may still be abusing drugs. This will continue. A person's tolerance to a substance decreases and the intensity of their high from it becomes less. They might be able to achieve the same effect by taking more of the chemical. This may lead to the individual being unable or unwilling to engage in activities such as eating and sexual activity.
The long-term use may affect a number of cognitive functions and behavior, including learning, judgement and decision-making, stress, memory and behaviour. Many people who abuse drugs continue to do so despite realizing the dangers.
When you use drugs for an extended period of time, it might induce alterations in other brain chemical processes and circuits. They can impair your:judgment, decision-making, memory, and learning ability. These brain alterations, when combined, can cause you to seek out and use drugs in ways that are out of your control.
Who Is Most Likely to Develop an Addiction? Every person's body and brain are unique. People react differently to medications as well. Some people enjoy the sensation the first time they try it and want to experience it again. Others despise it and never attempt it again.
Not everyone who consumes drugs develops an addiction. However, it may happen to anyone at any age. Some factors that may increase your risks of addiction include: A family tree. Your genes account for almost half of your chances. You are more likely to develop an addiction to alcohol or drugs if your parents or siblings do. Addiction affects both men and women equally. Drug usage in childhood. Children's brains are still developing, and drug use can alter this process. As a result, using drugs at a young age may increase your chances of being addicted later in life. Mental illnesses Addiction is more likely if you are sad, have difficulty paying attention, or are continuously worried. To attempt to feel better, you may turn to medicines. Addiction is also more likely if you have a history of trauma in your life. Relationship problems If you grew up with family problems and are estranged from your parents or siblings, you are more likely to develop an addiction.
Tolerance or. Tolerance and Addiction. You might be tempted to borrow prescriptions or take more than usual. You may use drugs to improve your mood, relieve stress, or escape the reality of life. It is possible to change your bad habits or give up completely on using drugs.
There is no single factor which can predict whether someone will become addicted to drugs. Many factors increase the risk of developing an addiction, including genetic, environment, and developmental factors. The more predisposing factors a person has, the higher their chances of developing a drug addiction.