Addiction and substance abuse

Psych399 / Dr. Seema Gul

Thanaa Sadik, Sara Mofti, Albatoul Alaskar

WHAT IS ADDICTION?

When a people who use drugs can't stop taking a drug even if they want to, it's called addiction. The urge is too strong to control, even if you know the drug is causing harm.When people start taking drugs, they don't plan to get addicted. They like how the drug makes them feel. They believe they can control how much and how often they take the drug. However, drugs change the brain. Those who use drugs start to need the drug just to feel normal. That is addiction, and it can quickly take over a person's life.

TYPES OF ADDICTION

Substance-related Addictions This includes compulsive misuse of any of the

following:

Tobacco

Alcohol

Street drugs

Prescription drugs

Behavioral or process Addictions:

Gambling

Food

The internet

Video games

work

DEFINITION OF DRUG ADDITION

Drug addiction is a chronic disease characterized by compulsive, or uncontrollable, drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences and changes in the brain, which can be long lasting. These changes in the brain can lead to the harmful behaviors seen in people who use drugs. Drug addiction is also a relapsing disease. Relapse is the return to drug use after an attempt to stop.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BRAIN?

Most drugs affect the brain's "reward circuit" by flooding it with the chemical

messenger dopamine. This reward system controls the body's ability to feel pleasure

and motivates a person to repeat behaviors needed to thrive, such as eating and

spending time with loved ones. This overstimulation of the reward circuit causes the

intensely pleasurable "high" that can lead people to take a drug again and again

WHY DO PEOPLE BECOME ADDICTED TO DRUGS WHILE OTHER DON’T

No one factor can predict if a person will become addicted to drugs. A combination of

factors influences risk for addiction. The more risk factors a person has, the greater the

chance that taking drugs can lead to addiction

TREATMENT OF DRUG ABUSE

Treatment offers the best alternative for interrupting the drug use/criminal justice cycle for offenders with drug problems. Jail or prison should be a place where people can get the help they need, and offenders should ask if treatment is available. Untreated substance using offenders are more likely to relapse into drug use and criminal behavior, jeopardizing public health and safety and taxing criminal justice system resources. Additionally, treatment consistently has been shown to reduce the costs associated with lost productivity, crime, and incarceration caused by drug use.

SIGNS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE:

• Regularly using more of the substance than you intended

• Regularly trying to cut down or stop using, but never succeeding

• Spending too much time getting, using, or recovering from the substance

• Cravings or a strong desire to use the substance

• Often failing to meet responsibilities at work, home or school because of

substance use

• Continuing to use a substance when it has caused relationship problems

Giving up social, work or leisure activities because of substance use

• Using substances again and again, even when you’re aware of the

potential damage or danger

• Continuing to use, even when you know you have a physical or

psychological problem that could have been caused or made worse by the substance

• Tolerance: the substance does not have much effect on you, or you

need more of the substance to get the effect you want.

WHEN DOES A HABIT BECOME A PROBLEM?

When someone loses control over their use of alcohol or drugs

• If use becomes harmful: for example, causing medical

problems, injuries, inability to work or damage to relationships

• When someone becomes dependent, meaning the user

becomes tolerant to the effects of the substance, and experiences

cravings or withdrawal symptoms when stopping