Things to remember: Drug addiction is a chronic condition that manifests as an obsession with drugs and/or a difficult to manage drug use despite its negative effects.
Drug addiction affects the ability of a person to exercise self-control. Also, it interferes with their ability to resist strong urges to consume drugs. Drug addiction is a permanent, recurring condition.
Relapse is when you use drugs again after having stopped trying. Relapse means that there is a need to seek out alternative or further therapy.
It is possible to avoid both addiction and drug abuse, which is another encouraging sign. Education of young people in regards to drug abuse and addiction prevention is the responsibility of parents, teachers, and health professionals.
What exactly is drug addiction? Addiction is a condition that affects both the brain as well as the behaviour of the person who has it. Someone who is addicted to drugs can't resist the urge to use the drugs no matter what the consequences may be. The sooner someone seeks treatment, the better they can prevent the worsening effects of drug addiction.
Which are the most likely to get addicted? Everyone's brain and body are unique. Different people also react differently when taking medications. Some people are elated by the experience and desire more. Some hate it and won't try it again.
When it comes to the reasons why someone else could get addicted to drugs, many people are baffled by it. They can mistakenly assume that persons who use drugs lack moral standards or willpower, and that these people would be unable to stop taking drugs if they want to do so. Addiction to substances is a complex problem, and overcoming the habit often involves more than simply a strong will and a good outlook. Due to the way that drug use affects the brain, even those who wish to stop taking drugs may find it difficult to do so. As a result of this new understanding, researchers have identified medicines that can help people recover from drug addiction and enjoy productive lives.
There is no single factor that can predict if someone will get addicted to drugs. Many factors can impact addiction. These include genetic, environmental, developmental, and other factors. A person who has more predispositional characteristics increases their chances of becoming addicted to a particular substance.
Most medications send a lot dopamine to brain's reward circuit. The reward circuit is what keeps people doing fun, but not healthy activities. This is why people are more inclined to do these activities again.
Over time, the brain adjusts to the extra dopamine. The person will feel less high when they take the drug again. This is known to be tolerance. They may consume more medicine to enjoy the same high from dopamine.
When a person uses drugs, it causes brain changes.
Most drugs affect the brain's "reward circuit", which leads to pleasure and an increase in dopamine. To thrive, one must engage in regular activities like eating and spending time with family members. Because of their reinforcement, dopamine rushes in reward circuit can reinforce dangerous behaviors like drug use. Individuals are therefore more likely to do the same activity again.