Addiction is a condition that results in obsessive drug-seeking and use. This behavior can lead to long-term health problems. It can be difficult to manage addiction. Most people use drugs alone for the first and only time. The brain can develop changes over time that make it more difficult for one to control their behavior and to resist the urge to use. These brain changes can persist for years and are known as "relapsing" drug addiction. This means that drug addicts who are improving may relapse more often, even though they haven’t used drugs in a while.
Although relapses are not uncommon, it does not mean that the therapy did not work. It is important to continue treatment for long-term problems. However, the patient's response will determine how the treatment should be adjusted. The same applies to long-term problems. To ensure that treatment plans are still in line with patient needs, they must be regularly reviewed and updated.
What kinds of brain changes can people experience when they take drugs?
A chronic condition is one that involves drug abuse and persistent drug seeking. Though most people will choose to use drugs at their own risk, addiction can lead to brain changes that make it difficult or impossible to manage self-control. A "relapsing" disorder is one that results in drug addiction. This is because people who have been sober for years are more likely not to relapse. These brain modifications can be lasting.
Although it is common to experience relapses, that does not necessarily mean the treatment is ineffective. Similar to other chronic conditions, therapy must be continued and modified according to the patient's response. It is important to constantly evaluate and adjust treatment plans in order to adapt to the patient's changing demands.
Environment. A person's environment consists of a multitude of impacts, including their family, friends, economic position, and quality of life in general. Peer pressure, physical and sexual abuse, early drug exposure, stress, and parental monitoring all have a substantial influence on a person's likelihood of participating in drug use and developing a drug addiction.
Environment. The environment a person lives in may have a variety of effects, from family and friends to financial stability and overall quality of life. The risk that someone would take drugs and become addicted can be significantly influenced by a variety of factors, including peer pressure, physical and sexual abuse, early drug exposure, stress, and parental supervision.
Development. Critical developmental phases in a person's life combine with genetic and environmental variables to influence the likelihood of addiction. Although using drugs at any age can result in addiction, addiction is more likely to develop the sooner drug usage starts. Teenagers in particular find this to be bothersome. Teenagers may be particularly prone to dangerous activities, such as attempting drugs, since parts of their brains that regulate decision-making, judgement, and self-control are still growing.
After making an effort to quit using drugs, someone who relapses will start using them again. A relapse is an indication that further therapy or a new therapeutic approach is required.
The majority of medications work by overwhelming the brain's reward circuit with an abundance of the chemical messenger dopamine. The surges of dopamine that occur in the reward circuit are what cause the reinforcement of behaviours that are enjoyable but harmful. As a result, people tend to engage in these behaviours repeatedly.
Over time, the brain adjusts to the extra dopamine, which lessens the high that the person feels relative to the high they felt when initially taking the drug—an process known as tolerance. They might take more of the medicine in an effort to get the same pleasure from the dopamine it provides.
Don't Wait; Get Help Now. If you feel that your drug abuse is getting out of control or causing you problems, talk to your doctor. Sometimes it can take time to overcome a drug addiction. Although there is no cure for drug addiction, therapy can help you stop using drugs and stay clean over the long-term. Talking to a therapist or taking medication can be part of your therapy. Talk to your doctor to determine which treatment is best for you.
As with most chronic conditions, including diabetes, asthma, and heart diseases, drug addiction treatment does not cure. However, addiction can often be managed and treated. Recovering addicts have a tendency to relapse throughout their lives. Research shows that the combination of medication and behavioural treatment for addiction increases the chance of success for the majority patients. There are many treatment options available to help patients recover from addiction. Each patient will need to be treated according to their drug use history and any other health issues.