Addiction is a chronic brain disease that can be caused by abusing drugs or alcohol. Over time, addiction changes the structure and function of the brain. Find out more about addiction by taking this quiz.
1. Addiction can begin when a person uses drugs, but addiction involves more than just
using a lot of drugs.
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When someone abuses a drug, changes occur in the brain that bring on a feeling of
pleasure. Pleasure is the reason for continuing to abuse the drug early on. These
changes, however, also have a long-term effect on the brain, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) says. These
changes shift abuse to addiction. Without the drug, the pleasurable feeling decreases, and the drug is required just to get back to a normal level of pleasure. Thus, people addicted to drugs, including alcohol, suffer
from a craving for the drug and usually can’t quit by themselves.
2. Addiction is usually progressive and continues to worsen over time.
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Addiction ranges from "pre-addiction" to the advanced stages of dependence. Unfortunately,
many people still view drug abuse and addiction as a social problem, the NIDA says.
People who are addicted to drugs, however, are not morally weak and simply unwilling
to change their behavior.
3. Signs of addiction include increased tolerance to a substance and withdrawal symptoms when a person stops or reduces the use of the substance.
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Other signs include the inability to limit the amount of substance used; ongoing desire for the substance;
unsuccessful attempts to stop; spending a lot of time obtaining, using, or recovering from the
substance; and using despite ongoing personal problems. Medical professionals use
a questionnaire developed for alcoholism as a screening tool for addiction. The
questionnaire, called CAGE, asks these four questions:
Have you ever felt you ought to Cut down on your drinking/drug use?
Have people ever Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking/drug use?
Have you ever felt bad or Guilty about your drinking/drug use?
Have you ever had a drink or taken a drug first thing in the morning to steady your
nerves or get rid of a hangover (Eye-opener)?
Answering yes to one or more of these questions may indicate a problem with drug
abuse or addiction.
4. People often develop addiction in a day or two.
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How quickly a person can become addicted to a drug depends on that person's sensitivity
to the drug, but it usually takes longer than a few days. Some drugs are more addictive than others.
5. Addiction can cause a lack of control over thoughts, feelings, ideas, or behaviors.
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This is the defining feature of addiction.
6. People have addiction when their use continues despite negative effects
on their life.
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Besides causing problems such as loss of a job or relationship, drug addiction can
cause wide-ranging health problems. These are among the health problems related
to drug abuse and addiction: heart disease, stroke, cancer, AIDS, hepatitis, and
lung disease, according to the NIDA. Brain changes that occur with addiction can
affect memory, attention, and decision-making.
7. Whether physical and/or psychological, addiction can be overcome.
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Most people addicted to drugs need treatment to overcome their addiction. The goal
of treatment is lasting abstinence, the NIDA says, but initial goals are to cut
back on drug use, improve a person's ability to function, and reverse or stop any
medical problems associated with drug use. Several types of treatment are available:
short-term methods lasting less than six months and longer-term programs such as methadone treatment for people addicted to opiate drugs such as heroin.
8. An addict in recovery should recognize that owning up to the addiction doesn’t mean
he or she is a bad person.
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Being addicted merely reflects the fact the person has used a substance to the point
at which he or she is now unable to control the use of that substance.
9. An important step toward recovery is accepting that change must occur.
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If a person doesn’t start change, it’s highly unlikely recovery will occur. The process has several steps. The first step is when the person is not interested
in changing behavior. Through education and help, the person can move to the second
stage. He or she now thinks about changing in the next six months. From there, the
person can move to getting ready to make the change, action, and maintenance (continuing
the behavior change beyond six months).
