7 Facts about Drug Addiction

Drug abuse and addiction have turned into society’s major problems for a couple of years, resulting in different forms of abuse, such as health and crimes. Addiction often has harmful results such as domestic violence, child abuse, and failure in school, falling apart from the family, and others. Not everyone that takes drugs turns into an addict eventually. To some, this starts casually and gradually results in drug addiction.

Vital Facts about Drug Addiction

Below are some lesser-known facts about drug addiction,

  1. Get Addicted to Any Form of Drugs – Addiction to drugs often is linked with illegal substances, yet the truth here is any drug, for that matter, can cause addiction. Legally prescribed medications can also be addictive. There are ample reasons why people switch to drugs such as,
  • Chronic illness or pain- Those that suffer from chronic pain often are given painkillers. They are likely to have an addiction to drugs and thus search for more illegal substances.
  • Mental Health- Those suffering from mental health conditions may switch over to drugs to cope with the symptoms.
  • Trauma- People may suffer from severe emotional pain due to past traumatic experiences. So they may rely on drugs to get some relief, but their effects can make them feel more pain.
  • Stressful Life Events- Stressful events in life such as a broken relationship, overwhelming debt, death of a loved one, or loss of a job can compel a person to take drugs to get some temporary relief.
  • Peer Pressure- Often, people get their first exposure to drugs during their teenage years.
  1. It is a Disease –Addiction to drugs is not a choice but a disease. People do not choose to get addicted to substances; those who struggle are dependent on drugs on their own. Here they need to take professional help such as a drug rehab Louisiana. Though people make voluntary choices to begin using, drugs trigger chemical changes within the brain, which can cause addiction. The substance use releases a chemical called dopamine related to pleasurable experiences like consuming a good meal.

Generally, drugs possess powerful effects compared to the generally satisfying experience. These can release more than ten times more dopamine compared to other experiences. It is the surplus dopamine that overwhelms the brain as well as rewires it for craving that substance.

The day-to-day activities that people enjoyed once begin to possess no appeal. Instead, they crave the drug. The brain eventually builds up a tolerance towards the substance, so people use more of it to get that same effect. In other words, people with addiction become forced to use substances due to the changes in the brain, which they do not have any control over. You can learn more in this Hawaii Rehab Guide.

  1. Women and Men are Equally Addicted –The biological differences generally speaking between women and men will not determine which gender is more addicted to drugs. However, environmental and social conditions are likely to influence how both use substances differently. Women, for many decades, were behind men about drug and alcohol use. Substance use in the present culture is a normal thing for both genders, making the substance abuse rate almost equal. Some data predicts that women are likely to surpass men in the upcoming years in substance consumption.
  2. Teenagers at More Risk – More than 80% of teens have tried alcohol, while half of them have taken drugs under seniors’ influence. The adolescent’s brain is still developing, which puts teenagers at a high risk to repeat alcohol and drug use. Often substance abuse results in addiction as well as leads to serious health issues. As the age of the foremost use decreases, addiction risk automatically increases.

Though drug addiction causes are complex, some common factors make teens more prone to addiction, such as psychological, environmental, and genetic factors. Conversely, protective factors decrease the chances of a teen developing an addiction, such as positive peer groups, reliable support from caregivers or parents in childhood, and high self-esteem.

  1. Protective Factors Can Reduce Risk – Every individual experiences protective and risk factors in their life, which impact issues like substance use. Some protective factors can work wonders to reduce the risk of alcohol or drug misuse. They include understanding the symptoms and dangers of drug or alcohol use, developing coping skills, having consistent routines and rules, active participation in positive activities, support from family members and trusted adults, and developing strong relationships.
  2. Recovery is not About Willpower – To overcome drug addiction does not mean stopping substance use. The moment the addiction occurs; it changes how the brain will process information. The truth is no individual starts taking alcohol or drugs to become an addict. Recovery is not only about stopping the intake of substances. It needs therapy and counseling to overcome its psychological impact to reduce the danger of relapse. For fast and effective results, find rehab in Hawaii.
  3. Relapse is not the End – Relapse during the time of recovery is common. Often people may experience more than one relapse due to emotional struggles that trigger alcohol or drug use. It, however, does not mean the recovery is unattainable or the treatment failed. Relapse is never the end but rather is a learning opportunity. People need to learn from this and move on.

These are some of the facts about drug addiction, although the list includes much more. Explore them to stay in the pink of health.

 

 

 

 

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