There are people who do not understand how other people can develop a drug addiction, mistakenly thinking that those who use drugs lack moral principles or willpower and they could stop drug use without any kind of trouble.
However, drug addiction is a complex phenomenon, a multitude of factors intervene in the causes and consequences of addiction and stopping use requires more than good intentions or willpower intense. In this Psychology-Online article, we will talk about the drug addiction, its causes and consequences.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an addiction is a physical and psychological illness that creates a dependency on a substance, activity or relationship.
To be more specific, drug addiction is a condition in which a person engages in the use of a substance for which the Rewarding effects provide an incentive to continue that drinking behavior repeatedly despite the consequences harmful. Addiction can lead to the use of alcohol, inhalants, opiates, cocaine, nicotine and other substances.
There is scientific evidence that addictive substances and behaviors share a key neurobiological characteristic: intense activation of the brain's reward and reinforcement pathways, many of which involve dopamine.
Drug addiction has a high probability of being accompanied by different mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety or other problems. In addition, it is characterized by a social deterioration with interruption of activities and daily social relationships, since continuous consumption is usually detrimental to relationships and work or school obligations.
They also often continue to use despite the physical or psychological damage caused by such use. And generally, tolerance to the substance increases as the body adjusts to the presence of the substance.
Effects of drug addiction
Drug use has effects at various levels, from the brain or biological level to contextual effects. Fortunately, research has advanced a lot and today we know some of the effects of drugs on the life of the person who has developed addiction, as well as treatments that can help help people recover from addiction and engage in productive lives.
Not all people who use drugs become addicted. There is not a single factor involved or causing addiction, it would rather be a set of social factors, biological, environmental or contextual that would increase the risk that a person will have addiction to drugs To know in depth the drug addiction, its causes and consequences, we must take into account the following risk factors:
- Biological factors: These factors along with environmental factors increase a person's vulnerability to addiction. Being a man or having a mental health disorder can increase your risk.
- Environmental or contextual factors: family, friends, and socioeconomic status have a significant impact on a person's likelihood of developing an addiction. Domestic violence, physical or sexual abuse, stress, and peer pressure can influence the development of addiction.
- Developmental factors: Although people can become addicted at any age, the earlier substance use occurs, the more likely it is that substance use will turn into addiction.
Today, part of the deaths, illnesses, accidents or others can be caused by substance abuse. Prolonged dependence on drugs interferes with a person's life and has effects on almost every organ in the human body.
Consequences of drug addiction in the body
Although each drug has different harmful effects, here are some of the common conditions that substance use can cause:
- Damaged immune system - increasing susceptibility to various infections
- Cardiovascular conditions- including heart attacks and collapsed veins
- Nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain
- Liver overexertion or liver failure
- Seizures and strokes
- Widespread brain damage It can interfere with memory, attention, and decision-making, as well as even permanent brain damage.
Social consequences of drug use
On the other hand, some of the worst effects of substance use are not related to health. Substance use can have a number of harmful consequences for the psychological well-being and social of the person. Some of these consequences are:
- Job's lose
- Loss of important or appropriate relationships for the person
- Economic problems
- Risk behaviors
- Be left homeless
- Imprisonment
Many of these problems can be reversed or minimized by quitting, but there may be some health and emotional problems that will remain over time. The best way to prevent permanent damage is a prompt professional treatment to overcome addiction.
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
