Like other chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, asthma, and heart disease, most drug addiction therapy doesn't lead to full recovery. However, addiction symptoms can be managed. People who attempt to overcome addiction for a long period of time and possibly their entire lives are at risk of relapsing. Mixing medication with behavioural therapy is the best way to treat addiction for most people. It is possible to maintain sobriety by using treatment methods that are customized to each patient's drug history and any associated physical, mental or social issues.
Another encouraging development is the possibility of avoiding addiction and drug abuse. Research funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIDA, revealed the importance of prevention programs that include families, schools, communities and the media to reduce or prevent drug abuse and addiction. Research has shown that young people tend to reduce their drug use when they perceive drug abuse to be harmful. This is despite the fact that both personal experiences and social factors can influence drug use patterns. Education and outreach are essential steps in helping people to understand the risks associated with drug use. Education is a responsibility of all parties, including parents, schools, and doctors.
Important facts Drug addiction is a chronic disorder that is characterised by compulsive drug use and seeking. It is difficult to manage its negative effects.
Addiction is a condition that can be characterized as a long-term problem. It involves an obsession with drug seeking and consumption, regardless of the health consequences. Addiction can be very difficult to manage. The vast majority of people use drugs freely. But, chronic drug abuse can lead in brain changes that make a person unable to exercise self-control or resist their urge to use. A "relapsing", or drug addiction, is a condition that causes brain alterations that can last for a long time. Individuals who are in recovery from drug addiction may have a greater likelihood of resuming drug use after a time when they have not been using it.
Environment. People's environment can affect their health, financial status, and quality of their life. Peer pressure, peer abuse, early exposure and stress to drugs, as well as the environment a person was raised in can all make a difference in how likely they will be to use them and develop an addiction.
Development. Genetics and environment influence the risk of addiction. This is especially true during critical stages of development. Everyone can get addicted to drugs. But, the sooner they begin using them, the greater their chances of becoming addicted. Teenagers are particularly vulnerable. Teenagers may be more likely to experiment with drugs than adults. This is because their brains control decision-making, judgement and selfcontrol are still growing.
Someone who has made an attempt to stop taking drugs will likely relapse. A relapse is an indicator that more therapy or a different therapeutic method is necessary.
In most cases, drugs function by increasing the amount of dopamine released into the brain's reward system. When dopamine is released as a result of rewarding behaviour, it is reinforced and can lead to hazardous, but gratifying, behaviours. So, as a result, people are more likely to repeat similar actions.
Environment. The environment that a person lives in is influenced by many factors. Peer pressure, sexual and physical abuse, early exposure to drugs and parental supervision can all impact a person's likelihood of becoming addicted.
Over time, the brain adjusts to the extra dopamine, which diminishes the high a person experiences compared to when they initially took the medication. This phenomenon is known as tolerance. They may take more of the medicine in an attempt to reach the same level of dopamine.
Drugs that are potentially addictive target your brain's reward system. They flood your brain with a substance known as dopamine. This produces a strong sense of pleasure. You keep taking the substance in order to achieve that high.
Your brain adapts to the increased dopamine levels over time. As a result, you may need to take more of the medication to achieve the same high. Other activities you loved, such as eating and spending time with family, may provide you with less pleasure.
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.