Despite its prevalence in most of modern society all over the world, many people still have a hard time understanding addiction. Stigma and prejudice is still widespread.
Understanding Addiction
People mistake people who are addicted to drugs as people who lack willpower or are even depraved. Many also associate addiction with poverty and being useless dregs of society. However, that’s not always the case, as many who are addicted are actually successful and even influential individuals–the functioning addicts.
In reality, addiction is a complex disease that highjacks the brain, often irreparably. No amount of willpower can often succeed in quitting this habit.
Fortunately, there are those who studied addiction and now can offer information and resources, as well as effective treatments that can lead addicted individuals to once again lead responsibly, healthy, and productive lives.
What is drug addiction?
Understanding addiction is important in order to treat it.
Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease. It is characterized by uncontrollable, compulsive drug seeking behavior that persists despite harmful and even life-threatening consequences.
While people who were once addicted can be treated, the possibility of relapse is often there. Still, that doesn’t mean there is no hope–there IS hope.
How drugs affects the brain?
Drugs has an effect on the brain’s reward circuit, rewiring it in ways that can often leave your brain changed irreversibly.
This rewards circuit is responsible for making the person feel pleasure and motivated from repeated behaviors necessary for the person to thrive. The pleasure is often derived from behaviors such as eating, having sex, and being with loved ones. However drugs hijacks all that so that you can only find pleasure in using again and again.
Long’term use can change the brain, affecting its various functions:
- learning
- judgment
- decision-making
- memory
- stress management
- behavior
- attitude
Understanding Addiction: Why do people get addicted?
There are many factors that make a person more predisposed to addiction even after trying a drug just for the first time. These risk factors are combined to predict whether a person has a greater chance for addiction.
1. Biology. The gender, ethnicity, genes, and the presence of mental disorders
2. Environment. The immediate influences, upbringing, childhood, friends and peers, economic status, and quality of life
3. Developmnent. The earlier a person has taken drugs, the more likely it is that it progresses to addiction.
Cure for addiction?
There is no cure-all for addiction, much like other diseases such as diabetes, asthma or any other disease has a drug or antidote.
Addiction usually takes a lifetime of treatment and therapy, but it all depends on the unique needs of a person. Some people go into rehab once and become sober for the rest of their lives, while there are those who had to go back many times for continued recovery.
If you or someone you know has developed an addiction, you should know what your options for treatment are. Call or text us at 09175098826 (Manila) or 09177046659 (Cebu).
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