Also, long-term use can cause changes in other chemical systems or circuits in your brain. These can affect learning and judgement, decision-making, stress, memory, behavior, and many other things. These are the consequences of drug abuse. However, many people continue to take drugs despite knowing this. This is the nature a addiction.
Preventing Addiction from Prescription Painkillers. Although patients might take painkillers for an extended time, most patients who follow the doctor's instructions do not become dependent. Fears about addiction should not stop you from using drugs to ease your pain. There may be a greater chance of addiction if there are family members or you who have previously used drugs or abused alcohol.
Why is it that some people become addicted to drugs and others not? The risk of someone becoming dependent on drugs cannot be determined by one factor. Many factors influence your risk of falling prey to addiction. A person is more likely to become addicted to drugs if they have more risk factors.
Environment. Environment. There are many factors that can influence a person's quality of life. Peer pressures, early exposures to drugs and stress can all play a significant role in how likely someone will become addicted.