Points to Recall: Addiction to drugs is a chronic condition characterised by obsessive drug seeking and usage despite negative effects.
While recurrence is not uncommon, it does not mean that treatment is unsuccessful. As with all chronic conditions, treatment must be ongoing and adjusted based upon how the patient responds. The patient's needs change and treatment plans need to be adjusted regularly.
Why is it that some people can't overcome their drug addiction while others can. There aren't any single traits that can predict if someone will become drug dependent. Many factors can affect your chances of becoming addicted. The more predisposing traits a person has, the higher their chances of becoming addicted to drugs.
Effect on Your Brain They make you feel motivated to try them again and again.
Addictive drugs may target the reward system in your brain. They flood your brain's dopamine chemical. This creates intense pleasure. To get the high, you continue taking the drug.
Preventing Addiction to Prescription painkillers. Even though patients may take the medication for a longer time, most people who do so are not dependent. Do not be discouraged from using painkillers to relieve your pain. However, if you are a recovering addict or have relatives who have been affected by drugs or alcohol abuse in the past, you could be at higher risk.
Why is it that some people are more addicted to drugs than others? One thing cannot tell if someone will be dependent on drugs. A variety of factors can influence the likelihood of an addict becoming dependent on drugs. There are many risk factors that can increase the likelihood of someone becoming addicted to drugs.
Environment. The environment a person lives in can impact their quality of life and financial situation. Peer pressure and early exposure can have an impact on whether someone will use drugs or become addicted.
If a person continues to use drug, the brain adapts by decreasing the ability of reward circuit cells to respond to it. As long as an individual continues to use drugs, this will continue. Tolerance, also known as dependence, can reduce the person's experience with the drug. The individual might attempt to get the same high by taking more of the drug. These brain alterations can cause an individual to lose enjoyment in other activities they used to enjoy, such as eating or sexual activity.
The brain's chemical systems and circuits can be altered by long-term drug use. This can have a profound effect on learning, judgement, decision making, stress, memory, and behavior. Many people continue using drugs despite knowing the potential dangers.
Your brain's reward system is where drugs that can cause addiction may be directed. Your brain is constantly receiving large amounts of dopamine, a neurotransmitter. This can cause a feeling of pure bliss. In an effort to recreate this feeling, you continue to take the medication.
Dopamine will eventually adapt to your brain. To achieve the same effect, you may need to take more of the medication. You might also find that other pleasures, such as food and family time, are not as appealing to you now.
If you take drugs for a prolonged period of time, they can cause brain chemical changes and circuit alterations. These drugs can impair your judgment, ability to make choices, memory, and ability learn. Combining these brain alterations can make it hard to resist the temptation of using drugs in ways you cannot control.