Author: Gary Jackson

Addiction: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms, Types & Treatment

Alcohol use disorder is the most common substance addiction in the United States, followed by nicotine and marijuana. About 10% of people aged 12 or older in the U.S. have alcohol use disorder. It’s common for a person to relapse, but relapse doesn’t mean that treatment doesn’t work. As with other chronic health conditions, treatment should be ongoing and should be adjusted based on how the patient responds. Treatment plans need to be reviewed often and modified to fit the patient’s changing needs. If you’re not ready to approach a health care provider or mental health professional, help lines or hotlines may be a good place to learn about treatment.

Healthcare providers and the medical community now call substance addiction substance use disorder. The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) has concrete diagnostic criteria for substance use disorders. Many people don’t understand why or how other people become addicted to drugs. They may mistakenly think that those who use drugs lack moral principles or willpower and that they could stop their drug use simply by choosing to. In reality, drug addiction is a complex disease, and quitting usually takes more than good intentions or a strong will. Drugs change the brain in ways that make quitting hard, even for those who want to.

When should I see my healthcare provider about addiction?

Due to the toxic nature of these substances, users may develop brain damage or sudden death. As time passes, you may need larger doses of the drug to get high. As your drug use increases, you may find that it’s increasingly difficult to go without the drug. Attempts to stop drug use may cause intense cravings and make you feel physically ill. Understanding the pathways in which drugs act and how drugs can alter those pathways is key when examining the biological basis of drug addiction.

It’s about the way your body craves a substance or behavior, especially if it causes a compulsive or obsessive pursuit of “reward” and lack of concern over consequences. To diagnose addiction, your healthcare provider may refer you to a psychiatrist, psychologist or drug and alcohol counselor. Your provider will ask you (and possibly your loved ones) questions about your patterns of substance use or problematic behaviors.

Understanding Drug Use and Addiction DrugFacts

Still, talk to your doctor if this effect becomes troubling. A strong social support system is important during recovery. Letting your friends, family, and those closest to you know about your treatment plan can help you keep on track and avoid triggers. But just because addiction runs in the family does not necessarily mean a person will develop one. If you or someone you care about may have an addiction, talk to your provider right away. Substituted cathinones, also called “bath salts,” are mind-altering (psychoactive) substances similar to amphetamines such as ecstasy (MDMA) and cocaine.

• You’ll typically use more of certain substances or engage in behaviors longer to achieve the same high again.
• As time passes, you may need larger doses of the drug to get high.
• For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Attempting to harm oneself may represent a suicide attempt. People who purposefully overdose on medications frequently have mental health conditions. These conditions may or may not have been diagnosed before.

Reward system

The higher the dose or the longer the exposure, the worse the poisoning. Two examples are carbon monoxide poisoning and mushroom poisoning. Not when it causes financial, emotional, and other problems for you or your loved ones.

• Taking some drugs can be particularly risky, especially if you take high doses or combine them with other drugs or alcohol.
• The most common hallucinogens are lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and phencyclidine (PCP).
• The most well-known and serious addiction is to drugs and alcohol.
• Drug misuseis when you use legal or illegal substances in ways you shouldn’t.
• Protective factors, on the other hand, reduce a person’s risk.
• Your doctor, your local poison center, or the emergency department of your local hospital may be able to help determine the seriousness of a suspected drug overdose.

The best plans are comprehensive, as addiction often affects many areas of life. Treatments will focus on helping you or the person you know stop seeking and engaging in their addiction. Charity Action on Addiction, 1 in 3 people in the world have an addiction of some kind. Addiction can come in the form of any substance or behavior. Your provider may want to do a physical exam and may request blood and urine tests. These tests give your provider information about your overall health.