Author: Gary Jackson

Signs and Symptoms of Addiction

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. Fortunately, researchers know more than ever about how drugs affect the brain and have found treatments that can help people recover from drug addiction and lead productive lives. The clinical manifestation of abrupt cessation of a substance of abuse is withdrawal. Symptoms of withdrawal range from sweatiness, shakiness, tremors, and seizures to upset stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting. Irritability, agitation, restlessness, and sleep disruption are common withdrawal symptoms for many drugs as are muscle cramps, headaches, and changes in blood pressure and heart rate.

When should I see my healthcare provider about addiction?

Alcohol in some form is widely used for pleasurable purposes and is an important part of the social fabric worldwide, today as in ancient times. Nevertheless, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 14.6 million U.S. adults over the age of 18 have alcohol use disorder, marked by uncontrolled drinking. Around the world, 240 million people are reportedly dependent on alcohol; alcohol abuse is most prevalent in Eastern Europe and least prevalent among Asians. Some drugs, such as stimulants like cocaine, methamphetamine, and prescription ADHD medications (Adderall and Ritalin), speed up central nervous system functions.

  1. The most common hallucinogens are lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and phencyclidine (PCP).
  2. It’s increasingly common for someone to be diagnosed with a condition such as ADHD or autism as an adult.
  3. Studies show that repeated use of a substance (or an activity), encouraged by a surge in dopamine, creates changes in the wiring of the brain—and those changes are reversible after drug use stops.
  4. The drug becomes less and less effective, and they need larger doses of the drug to control pain.

Changes in the brain

There is no real difference between physical addiction and psychological addiction. Addiction is one of those conditions that demonstrates it is not possible to distinguish between physical and psychological aspects of behavior. It interferes with your functioning—you start missing obligations and events. You make excuses for yourself—to yourself and to others, about why you need the substance, about not showing up, about making mistakes at work, about how tomorrow will be different.

Understanding Drug Use and Addiction DrugFacts

Bloodshot or glazed eyes and slurred or rambling speech can result from drug use. Sweating, body tremors, or even vomiting can be signs, as can weight loss or gain. There is some evidence that natural variation in genetic makeup of the dopamine system may influence who gets addicted. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter activated by rewarding activities as a way of increasing the likelihood of engaging in such activities in the future.

Withdrawal, the highly unpleasant feeling that occurs when the drug leaves your body, can include sweats, chills, anxiety and heart palpitations. For certain drugs, such as alcohol, withdrawal comes with a risk of death if not properly managed. Withdrawal symptoms occur when drug use is abruptly stopped or the dosage is sharply diminished.

Marijuana, hashish and other cannabis-containing substances

Drug cravings can be fierce, and fear of withdrawal symptoms often drives continued drug use. They can be set in motion by past memories or current environmental cues relating to substance use and are thought to be a force behind relapse, although they are not a clinically consistent predictor of relapse. Any cue with emotional significance registers on the brain’s amygdala, which then activates the nucleus accumbens and its dopamine neurons. Their activation gives rise to the sense of motivation,  experienced as a highly focused urge to seek the substance. Psychological dependence is a term sometimes used to indicate the mental processes of addiction, but it has no real meaning given current understanding of the way the brain works.

Therefore, education and outreach are key in helping people understand the possible risks of drug use. Teachers, parents, and health care providers have crucial roles in educating young people and preventing drug use and addiction. However, there are a number of personality traits, each of which is partly genetically influenced, that contribute to the risk of addiction.

Addiction Science

But when you’re dealing with substance use disorder, it’s important to know the difference between helping and enabling. Cocaine processed so that it can be smoked, it enters the blood stream rapidly and produces a rapid “rush” of a high; the immediate response becomes powerfully reinforcing, driving the motivation to repeat the experience. If you or someone you love is struggling with the devastating side effects of addiction and are unsure of where to turn, call us today at .

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