The drug addiction o Drug addiction is the problem that occurs when a person uses an addictive substance on a regular basis. Due to the changes they cause in the brain, users who develop it need to consume a higher dose. This gets to the point where the person cannot control themselves.
Many people do not understand why or how others can become addicted to drugs. They mistakenly believe that those who use these substances on a regular basis do not have willpower, and that they could quit whenever they wanted.
However, drug addiction is a complex disease, and overcoming it requires much more than just wanting to do it. In general, people with drug addiction will require professional help to be able to recover their life and get out of the trap that these substances generate.
Fortunately, today we know more than ever about drugs and their effects on the brain. In this article we will see what exactly is drug addiction, as well as the factors that cause it and the ways in which a person can get rid of this disease.
Article index
Each drug causes different effects depending on the type of drug they are and the person who uses them. However, there are some common symptoms that can help us identify when someone is becoming addicted to these substances..
In general, they can be divided into two types: physical, and behavioral.
Physical symptoms can be more difficult to detect than behavioral ones. However, they can give us clues to find out if someone close to us is falling into drug addiction.
Among those of this type, the most dangerous are those that have to do with the internal functioning of the body. They are generally impossible to detect unless specific medical tests are done. However, it is important to be aware of them..
Thus, for example, drugs can cause changes in the brain, hormones or internal organs of the body. In addition, being toxic substances to a certain extent, overall health will worsen. In the case of some drugs, even an overdose can lead to the death of the user.
Regarding external symptoms, in general they are usually easier to detect but much less serious. Thus, among them we can find sudden changes in weight, red eyes, hair or teeth loss, or wounds in the parts of the body through which the entry of the drug occurs..
Behavioral symptoms are often the easiest to detect among people with drug addiction. Next we will see the most common.
All drugs alter the ability and function of the brain. Therefore, both its immediate effects and those of the withdrawal syndrome can cause serious difficulties in maintaining concentration..
This can be translated, for example, in the inability to pay prolonged attention to a single thing, or in the difficulty to form coherent thoughts.
Another of the most common symptoms of drug abuse is abnormal aggressiveness. Even for people who are normally mild and calm, drug addiction can make them violent and lead to outbursts of anger..
Due to changes in the brain, drugs can alter the way a person relates to the world or the way they think.
For this reason, people close to an addict will notice how he behaves in ways that are very different from those that are usual in him.
Finally, one of the most serious symptoms in which drug abuse is involved is the appearance of all kinds of psychiatric disorders.
These can range from the most common, such as depression or anxiety, to much more serious ones such as personality disorders or schizophrenia.
In any case, the appearance of a mental disorder can be difficult to reverse. Therefore, it is important to stop drug addiction in time. Those close to an addict should help him seek the support of a professional as soon as possible..
There is no single cause that causes all cases of drug addiction. On the contrary, most of the time there will be certain risks that will make this outcome more likely. In general, the possible causes are divided into three types: psychological, social and genetic.
Among the psychological ones, we find factors such as the previous presence of a mental disorder, the lack of connection with others, or problems related to the difficulty in coping with stress and unpleasant emotions.
On the other hand, social causes are the most studied. Among them, we find some such as pressure from a group, lack of economic resources, or poor education about the risks of drugs.
Finally, genetic causes refer to certain hereditary components that have been shown to play a role in the appearance of substance abuse problems. Thus, some people would be more predisposed from birth to become addicted.
Below you will find a description of the most common drug families and some of their effects..
Stimulants are a group of drugs that cause an increase in energy and euphoria. Its most common side effects include paranoia, anxiety, heart problems, and depression.
Some of the best known stimulants are cocaine, amphetamines and ecstasy.
Nervous system depressants cause an artificial feeling of relaxation and calm. Some of them are used as medicines, but many are abused in drug form. The most common are alcohol, marijuana, and benzodiazepines.
Its side effects include depression, heart problems, forgetfulness, and mood disturbances..
Hallucinogenic drugs do not usually cause physical addiction. However, its effects on the mind can be very dangerous. These are drugs that cause a loss of the notion of reality to a greater or lesser extent.
Some of the most common substances of this type are LSD, magic mushrooms, peyote or ayahuasca. Its side effects can include extreme paranoia, anxiety, or recurrent hallucinations. Marijuana also has certain hallucinogenic effects.
These types of drugs cause the user to feel that they are separating from their own body. Thus, you will have the feeling of observing yourself from the outside. On the other hand, they also cause a certain component of relaxation.
Its most serious side effects are mood disorders, suicidal tendencies, social avoidance, and speech problems. Among the best known are ketamine and PCP.
The opioid group contains some of the most dangerous drugs in the world. Its short-term effects are an intense feeling of euphoria and reduction of pain, followed by extremely unpleasant symptoms when the dose is passed.
The best known of these is heroin, although morphine, a drug used to treat some medical problems, also belongs to this group.
Its side effects are extreme addiction, severe pain, concentration problems and loss of mental faculties.
The last group of drugs includes a series of substances that are consumed by inhaling the vapors they give off. They are also known as "poppers".
Some of its most common effects are increased sexual arousal and pleasure, and a feeling of momentary relaxation.
Long-term use of inhalants can cause brain damage, nasal septum wear, hallucinations, or memory loss..
Treatment for a person addicted to drugs has to achieve three objectives: to get them to stop using them, to prevent them from relapsing into their use, and to reintegrate them into society in such a way that they are once again a productive member of it..
There are many approaches that can be used to treat substance abuse. Some of them involve the use of medication. Rather, others choose to focus on treating the mental or social aspects of drug addiction..
Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most effective ones for treating all types of disorders. It is based on the modification of certain problem behaviors, as well as the thoughts that cause them.
An also very effective approach in drug addiction treatment is social intervention. It is based on studying the environment of the drug addict, in order to modify it so that the use of addictive substances ceases to have meaning in his life.
Finally, in some cases, medication can be used to alleviate the most serious symptoms of drug withdrawal..
This can help the person to get off the substance on their own. In other cases, however, this approach must be accompanied by some other type of therapy..
Yet No Comments