Embedded Files
Addiction is a chronic (lifelong) condition that involves compulsive seeking and taking of a substance or performing of an activity despite negative or harmful consequences. Addiction can significantly impact your health, relationships and overall quality of life. It’s crucial to seek help as soon as you develop signs of addiction.
Addiction is a chronic (lifelong) condition that involves compulsive seeking and taking of a substance or performing of an activity despite negative or harmful consequences. Addiction can significantly impact your health, relationships and overall quality of life. It’s crucial to seek help as soon as you develop signs of addiction.
Addiction is a disease, it’s a chronic condition. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) defines addiction as a chronic brain disorder. It doesn’t happen from having a lack of willpower or as a result of making bad decisions. Your brain chemistry changes with addiction.
Addiction is a disease, it’s a chronic condition. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) defines addiction as a chronic brain disorder. It doesn’t happen from having a lack of willpower or as a result of making bad decisions. Your brain chemistry changes with addiction.
There are two main groups of addiction:
There are two main groups of addiction:
- Substance addictions (substance use disorders).
- Non-substance addictions (behavioral addictions).
Substance addicitions
Substance addicitions
Substances are drugs that have addiction potential. They can be prescription medications or non-medical drugs and include:
Alcohol.
Caffeine.
Cannabis (marijuana).
Hallucinogens, such as PCP and LSD.
Hypnotics, sedatives and anxiolytics (anti-anxiety drugs), such as sleeping pills
Inhalants, such as paint thinners, aerosol sprays, gases and nitrites (poppers).
Prescription and non-prescription opioids, such as codeine, oxycodone and heroin.
Prescription and non-prescription stimulants, such as Adderall, cocaine and methamphetamine.
Tobacco/nicotine, such as smoking cigarettes and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or vaping).
While these substances are very different from each other, they all strongly activate the reward center of your brain and produce feelings of pleasure. Use of these substances can lead to substance use disorders (SUDs) — but not always. SUDs can be mild, moderate or severe. Addiction is the most severe form of a substance abuse disorder.
Non-substance addictions
Non-substance addictions
Behavioral addictions can occur with any activity that’s capable of stimulating your brain’s reward system.
Examples of potentially addictive activities include:
Gambling.
Eating.
Exercising or dieting.
Shopping.
Shoplifting or other risky behaviors.
Video gaming (internet gaming disorder).
Using the internet (such as on your phone or a computer).
Symptoms of addiction vary from person to person and based on the substance or activity. In general, signs include:
Inability to stop
Increased tolerance
Intense focus on the substance or activity
Lack of control
Personal problems and health issues
Withdrawal
There’s not a single cause of addiction, it’s a very complex condition. A significant part of how addiction develops is through changes in your brain chemistry.
Substances and certain activities affect your brain, especially the reward center of your brain.
Humans are biologically motivated to seek rewards. Often, these rewards come from healthy behaviors. When you spend time with a loved one or eat a delicious meal, your body releases a chemical called dopamine, which makes you feel pleasure. It becomes a cycle: You seek out these experiences because they reward you with good feelings.
Other factors that contribute to the development of addictions include:
Genetics
Mental health conditions
Environmental factors
Addictions can be treated with the following (keep in mind, these are not all of the solutions):
Hospital management
Medications
Rehabilitation (rehab
Therapy
Support groups
There are steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing an addiction, including:
Avoiding or limiting substances that have addiction potential
Knowing your family history
Healthily managing stress
It can be very challenging and stressful to learn that someone you love may have a behavioral addiction or substance use disorder. Here are some tips to help your loved one and yourself:
It can be very challenging and stressful to learn that someone you love may have a behavioral addiction or substance use disorder. Here are some tips to help your loved one and yourself:
Speak up sooner rather than later
Practice empathy
Be patient
Take care of yourself
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse