Addiction is a Disease Addiction kills more than 300,000 people each year (NIDA 1). Addiction to a substance or multiple substances affect the brain and body's functioning's. Addiction is classified as a disease that affects both the brain and behavior (CDC). Addiction is when a person cannot stop abusing a drug or substance, even if they want to quit. The effects from continuing drug use take over the mind and body. Drug addiction is classified as a "relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences to the drug addict and those around them" (NIDA 4). Repeated drug use leads to addiction, which then leads to a disease that changes the brain (CDC). Addiction changes the brain. The psychological …show more content…
The continued response is the "high" or a feeling of euphoria created by the drug, since the brain learns to function in this pattern other normal behavioral patterns such as, planning tasks, memory, motivation and execution of tasks become overloaded (Volkow). This is when addiction happens in the brain. It is more than just liking the substance and what it does; it is now the psychological need to have it to maintain a new normal. When your brain is without a substance, it will send a message to the body that something is wrong. Withdrawal from a drug starts when there is a stop of using the drug. Withdrawal symptoms are different based on the type of drug used. Withdrawal patterns consist of sweating, tension, panic attacks, headaches, heart palpitations, disturbed sleep, nausea and much more (NIDA …show more content…
The Medicare, economic and social costs of addiction in the United States are over five-hundred billion dollars a year. Treatment for addicts is very expensive and difficult to obtain for many. Health insurance only provides minimal coverage of care. Overdose from drug addiction is killing people everyday. Recently, the development and use of Narcan has been introduced to Emergency personnel, first responders and EMT's. Narcan reverses opioids sensors in the brain. If a person has stopped breathing due to the use of opioids, including, heroin, morphine, methamphetamine, or other drugs, Narcan can be given to remove the high and reverse the symptoms. There is a growing ethical concern about the use of Narcan and the accessibility of it. Many drug add it's become angry when their "high" is reserved; to them it is a loss of the pleasurable feeling they need to function (CDC). The impact of drug addiction sets a foundation for generations to repeat this behavior as
Addiction is a chronic brain disease that often results in some sort of relapse. Addiction is characterized by inability to control drug use which results in problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships. This disease causes compulsive behaviors such as the need to use drugs despite the many harmful consequences that affect the addicted individual and those around him or her. Although for most people, the initial decision to use drugs is a one time lapse in judgement, the brain is easily affected by these drugs if the person decides to use these drugs multiple times. The changes that occur to the brain over time will cause the addicted person’s ability to resist the intense impulses of drugs to be altered causing the addict to often give into the temptation of these drugs. Like other chronic diseases, addiction often involves cycles of relapse and remission. Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death. Drug addiction is an issue that many people deal with whether they are the addict or the addict is their loved one; but with a good source of support anyone can over come the challenges and consequences of addiction.
Addiction claims the user through physiological dependence that creates a need for the drug of choice on a very basic level. Through repeated substance abuse, the user gains tolerance for the drug, needing it in larger amounts, and on a more frequent basis, until the body cannot function normally without the drug. Withdrawal symptoms now also occur upon attempting to halt use. This is how substance abuse becomes the disease of addiction.
What occurs, depending on the drug(s) in the body system is tremors, nausea, anxiety, hallucination, fever, and disorientation. The heart rate can rise, and the addict could go into seizures., If the person is detoxing from alcohol, delirium tremens could occur. Each drug can have a different effect on the body. Cold turkey has advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is drugs are not used and the person will think about the withdrawal and pain, therefore not engage in use again. The disadvantage is Cold Turkey is considered dangerous, in that some of the abused drugs have unbearable withdrawal symptoms. The author states that Cold Turkey is archaic, ineffective and dangerous. The new preferred approach to detoxification is Medical
Cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, alcohol, opium, tobacco, hypnotics, just to name a few. Addiction is a chronic disease that affects the chemicals in the brain. It dysfunctions the circuits in the brain that deal with memory, reward, sex, motivation, behavior, relationships and emotions all mostly resulting in substance use or other behaviors to fulfill those circuit rewards. This world is in a current addiction epidemic on drugs. Let’s try to understand addiction to make it a little clearer.
Addiction affects 40% of the population in the Western world (Lewis, Marc). There are many different kinds of addictions such as: food, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, gambling or sexual aspects. When
What is addiction? The most common definition is the condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing, or activity. Addiction is so much more than that. People with addiction may not realize that their problem is out of control and could be causing problems for themselves or others around them. Addiction becomes an all-time thing and interferes with usual life responsibilities like relationships, social life, work, and health. People that are struggling with addiction, often cannot quit on their own. Addiction is an illness that entails treatment,
Addiction is a Brain Associated Disorder that Allows the Body to Become Dependent on a Substance
Addiction is a disease that affects one’s behavior and brain to slowly lose control over drug use. The repeat high provided by drug abuse will overtime cause the brain to crave the drugs and the high that they provide. Opioid drugs that one can be addicted to include, codeine, hydrocodone, morphine, oxycodone, tramadol and more. Some stronger prescription cough medicines will contain opioids. Opioids are often prescribed to relieve pain and are prescribed by doctors often for tooth pain, surgical recovery, injury, and chronic conditions. With the common prescription of drugs containing opioids addiction is becoming more and more common. The article provide speaks of a young man prescribed a narcotic pain reliever for the injury he
Addictions are when a person cannot control their actions or urges when dealing with the object of their addiction.
Many people believe the misconception that an addiction is a moral problem and not a disease. To better understand the reasons why an additicition is in fact a disease; I will identify several types of addictions, and the problems associated with them. I will examine reasons why certain people are more susceptible for developing an addiction. Also, I will determine why many addicts deny their problems and many recovery methods addicts use to fight their illness. Researching these issues, will help aid my claim that addiction is a disease.
An addiction is in which the brain responds to a stimulus, or multiple stimuli, that triggers a respond to the brain, and releases, dopamine to the person creating a reward system to the user, thus increasing the mood of the person. Therefore, allowing the brain to learn by teaching it to respond to increased levels of dopamine, by the stimulus (pp.131). For example, the more a person gambles and wins, the better they feel. Even so, there is a low point for people that gamble or takes drugs, but the need for that persons is to increase their chances of winning, or getting a fix, where they could combine a mix of food, alcohol, drugs and tobacco (pp.131). Which would make them feel good again, as once again, as dopamine is released into the system.
Addiction is really a persistent behavior pattern designated by bodily and/or mental dependency that triggers significant interruption and adversely impacts the caliber of life of the person. Addictions are usually connected to drug abuse, mainly psychoactive drugs. For example narcotics, stimulants, and sedatives amongst others. It is actually that using the phrase "addiction" additionally includes apparently compulsive behavior and incredibly passionate commitment to equal activities. “In medicine, an addiction is a chronic neurobiological disorder that has genetic, psychosocial, and environmental dimensions and is characterized by one of the following: the continued use of a substance despite its detrimental effects, impaired control over the use of a drug (compulsive behavior), and preoccupation with a drug 's use for non-therapeutic purposes (i. e. craving the drug)” (Definition of Addiction). Nevertheless, common using the phrase addiction offers spread to incorporate psychological reliance. In this case, the term can be used in medication addiction and drug abuse problems, but additionally refers in order to behaviors which are not generally identified by the healthcare community because problems associated with addiction, such as compulsive eating too much. (Addiction). The word addiction can also be sometimes utilized towards compulsions which are not substance-related, for example problem betting and pc addiction. In such everyday uses, the phrase addiction can be
What is a drug addiction? “Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use,
The meaning of addiction has been misconceived on multiple occasions and yet we fail to see it. There are two forms of addiction that we can recognize. A medical diagnosis, according to the Medical Dictionary is a “diagnosis based on information from sources such as findings from a physical examination, interview with the patient or family or both, medical history of the patient and family, and clinical findings as reported by laboratory tests and radiologic studies.” This form of addiction differs from a person’s own form of addiction. How many times have people said, “ I’m addicted to?”, basically giving themselves a self diagnosis. We take lightly to the word addiction because to us it's something that doesn't affect our lives, but to others it takes over their lives. According to the website, “ The Science of Drug Abuse and Addiction “ Addiction is defined as “a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences.” It is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain; they change its structure and how it works. Drug addiction through the media is not very popular we see very few ads on the internet about drug addiction rehab centers.
Addiction is the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing or activity. Addiction is not only to drugs or alcohol, but also gambling, eating, and shopping. The main focus is on drug addiction. Drugs affect three parts of your brain the brain stem, limbic system, and cerebral cortex. The brain stem is in charge of your body functions that you need to stay alive, It also links the brain to the spinal cord. The limbic system links the brain structures and our emotional responses, so a good feeling motivates us to do something again. The cerebral cortex makes up 3/4th of the brain and it is in charge of hearing, seeing, taste, and feel. The addict doesn’t become an addict alone, it has family or friend roles that contribute and codependency.