The truth about drug addiction
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Many have had the question of whether or not, drug addiction is a medical problem. Is it a sin or a sickness? To start off, the proper definition of drug addiction is, (Google) “A state of heavy dependence on a drug; sometimes defined as physical dependence but usually also including emotional dependence, compulsive or pathological drug use. It is often used synonymously with drug dependence.”
Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is a dependence on a legal or illegal drug or medication. Yes, alcohol and nicotine are legal drugs. (Staff) “Most drug addictions start with experimental use of a drug in social situations.” Which means drugs are mainly used at parties or special events. For some people, the drug use becomes more and more frequent. The risk of addiction and how fast one becomes dependent varies by drug. Some drugs have a higher risk and cause dependency more quickly than others.
(Staff) The symptoms of drug addiction may vary differently by each person, but they are all really general in this situation. The main symptoms of drug addiction that one may find in themselves are: Using the drug regularly or daily, having intense urges for the drug, taking more and more doses, keeping a supply, not meeting obligations and work responsibilities, committing irregular crimes to access the drug, taking higher risks when on the drug, and failing to quit. Other than personal issues, drugs can cause effects on the human brain. (Institute) Drugs contain chemicals that tap into the brain’s communication system and disrupt the way nerve cells normally send, receive, and process information. As a person continues to abuse drugs, the brain adapts to the overwhelming surges of dopamine. The result is a lessening of dopamine’s impact on the reward circuit of the brain. This causes a person to keep abusing drugs in an attempt to bring the dopamine function back to normal. At this point, larger amounts of the drug are required to keep the brain to its regular activity.
Relating drug addiction to drug abuse shows that drug addiction is a sickness. (Pike) “Drug abuse-the habitual taking of addictive or illegal drugs- is a serious public health problem that affects almost every community and family in some way.” Every year, drug abuse causes millions of serious illnesses or injuries among Americans. Drug abuse also plays a big role in many major social problems. It can lead to homelessness, crime, and many missed work opportunities.
One question that a person may have is, “Why are some addicted, while others aren’t?” (Institute) “No single factor can predict whether a person will become addicted to drugs.” In other words, there is no real answer to why some are addicted while others aren’t because everyone is different. One main cause or reasoning can be biological. The genes that people are born with account for about half of their addiction vulnerability. Additionally, gender, ethnicity, and other mental disorders may influence risk for drug abuse and addiction. The second main cause or reasoning can be the environment of the addict or abuser. A person’s environment includes many different influences, from family and friends to social status and quality of life in general. Peer pressure, physical and sexual abuse, depression, and quality of parenting, all relate to the idea of environment. The third and last main thing is Development. The earlier that drug use begins in a person, the more likely it will progress to more serious abuse. Because areas in their brains that govern decision making, judgment, and self-control are still developing, adolescents may be especially prone to risk-taking behaviors, including trying drug abuse.
Drug addiction is very common among the states, but it is a preventable disease. Preventing drug abuse is the key. NIDA-funded research that shows prevention programs involving families, schools, communities, and the media are very much effective in reducing drug abuse. Which means that having drug prevention shoved in the people’s faces, is greatly effective on preventing drug abuse.
Maturing out of drug addiction can be very challenging. Many become so addictive that it is basically impossible to quit. In other words, they are “Drug Dependence,” which is defined as a disease. Drug dependence refers to long-term, compulsive drug use, with attempts to stop that end in repeated returns of to use. Many user’s bodies begin to develop a tolerance to that drug and resort to higher doses. It is very common that many people will deny the fact that a drug problem exists. The symptoms of drug dependence include at least three of the following: craving for the substance; inability to stop of limit drug use; tolerance, or taking greater amounts to feel the same effects. Doctors will attempt to diagnose the problem, but most patients are resorted to intense treatment. Drug abuse and drug addiction in these cases are often different for everyone.
Although this is true, it is never too late for a sobering change. There are many medications, but one of the best ways to quit is intense treatment. (NIH) There are currently treatment medications for opioids (heroin, morphine), tobacco (nicotine), and alcohol, but are developing others for treating stimulant (cocaine, methamphetamine) and cannabis (marijuana) addiction. The second way of sobering change is behavioral treatment. This treatment encompasses a wide variety of programs for patients who visit a clinic at regular intervals. Most involve individual counseling while others are resorted to different therapies. Each treatment course is different than the others despite of the drug.
Overall, drug addiction has its own statistics and reason, but it is very general. As you can see, it strongly matches its own definition. The idea only drags a person to come to their own personal thoughts. “Is drug addiction a sin or a sickness?”
Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is a dependence on a legal or illegal drug or medication. Yes, alcohol and nicotine are legal drugs. (Staff) “Most drug addictions start with experimental use of a drug in social situations.” Which means drugs are mainly used at parties or special events. For some people, the drug use becomes more and more frequent. The risk of addiction and how fast one becomes dependent varies by drug. Some drugs have a higher risk and cause dependency more quickly than others.
(Staff) The symptoms of drug addiction may vary differently by each person, but they are all really general in this situation. The main symptoms of drug addiction that one may find in themselves are: Using the drug regularly or daily, having intense urges for the drug, taking more and more doses, keeping a supply, not meeting obligations and work responsibilities, committing irregular crimes to access the drug, taking higher risks when on the drug, and failing to quit. Other than personal issues, drugs can cause effects on the human brain. (Institute) Drugs contain chemicals that tap into the brain’s communication system and disrupt the way nerve cells normally send, receive, and process information. As a person continues to abuse drugs, the brain adapts to the overwhelming surges of dopamine. The result is a lessening of dopamine’s impact on the reward circuit of the brain. This causes a person to keep abusing drugs in an attempt to bring the dopamine function back to normal. At this point, larger amounts of the drug are required to keep the brain to its regular activity.
Relating drug addiction to drug abuse shows that drug addiction is a sickness. (Pike) “Drug abuse-the habitual taking of addictive or illegal drugs- is a serious public health problem that affects almost every community and family in some way.” Every year, drug abuse causes millions of serious illnesses or injuries among Americans. Drug abuse also plays a big role in many major social problems. It can lead to homelessness, crime, and many missed work opportunities.
One question that a person may have is, “Why are some addicted, while others aren’t?” (Institute) “No single factor can predict whether a person will become addicted to drugs.” In other words, there is no real answer to why some are addicted while others aren’t because everyone is different. One main cause or reasoning can be biological. The genes that people are born with account for about half of their addiction vulnerability. Additionally, gender, ethnicity, and other mental disorders may influence risk for drug abuse and addiction. The second main cause or reasoning can be the environment of the addict or abuser. A person’s environment includes many different influences, from family and friends to social status and quality of life in general. Peer pressure, physical and sexual abuse, depression, and quality of parenting, all relate to the idea of environment. The third and last main thing is Development. The earlier that drug use begins in a person, the more likely it will progress to more serious abuse. Because areas in their brains that govern decision making, judgment, and self-control are still developing, adolescents may be especially prone to risk-taking behaviors, including trying drug abuse.
Drug addiction is very common among the states, but it is a preventable disease. Preventing drug abuse is the key. NIDA-funded research that shows prevention programs involving families, schools, communities, and the media are very much effective in reducing drug abuse. Which means that having drug prevention shoved in the people’s faces, is greatly effective on preventing drug abuse.
Maturing out of drug addiction can be very challenging. Many become so addictive that it is basically impossible to quit. In other words, they are “Drug Dependence,” which is defined as a disease. Drug dependence refers to long-term, compulsive drug use, with attempts to stop that end in repeated returns of to use. Many user’s bodies begin to develop a tolerance to that drug and resort to higher doses. It is very common that many people will deny the fact that a drug problem exists. The symptoms of drug dependence include at least three of the following: craving for the substance; inability to stop of limit drug use; tolerance, or taking greater amounts to feel the same effects. Doctors will attempt to diagnose the problem, but most patients are resorted to intense treatment. Drug abuse and drug addiction in these cases are often different for everyone.
Although this is true, it is never too late for a sobering change. There are many medications, but one of the best ways to quit is intense treatment. (NIH) There are currently treatment medications for opioids (heroin, morphine), tobacco (nicotine), and alcohol, but are developing others for treating stimulant (cocaine, methamphetamine) and cannabis (marijuana) addiction. The second way of sobering change is behavioral treatment. This treatment encompasses a wide variety of programs for patients who visit a clinic at regular intervals. Most involve individual counseling while others are resorted to different therapies. Each treatment course is different than the others despite of the drug.
Overall, drug addiction has its own statistics and reason, but it is very general. As you can see, it strongly matches its own definition. The idea only drags a person to come to their own personal thoughts. “Is drug addiction a sin or a sickness?”
Works Cited
Bower, Bruce. The ADDICTION PARADOX: Drug dependence has two faces - As a chronic disease and a temporary failure to cope. 2015. <Web>.
Google. Google.com. 2015. <Web>.
Institute, National. DrugFacts: Understanding Drug Abuse and Addiction. November 2012. <Web>.
NIH. DrugFacts: Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction. September 2009. <Web>.
Pike, Bethesda. Drug Abuse. 29 January 2015. <Web>.
Staff, Mayo Clinic. Diseases and Conditions Drug Addiction. 5 December 2014. <Web>.
Bower, Bruce. The ADDICTION PARADOX: Drug dependence has two faces - As a chronic disease and a temporary failure to cope. 2015. <Web>.
Google. Google.com. 2015. <Web>.
Institute, National. DrugFacts: Understanding Drug Abuse and Addiction. November 2012. <Web>.
NIH. DrugFacts: Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction. September 2009. <Web>.
Pike, Bethesda. Drug Abuse. 29 January 2015. <Web>.
Staff, Mayo Clinic. Diseases and Conditions Drug Addiction. 5 December 2014. <Web>.