step 3: drug addiction

Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is a disease that affects a person's
brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug
or medication. When you're addicted, you may continue using the drug despite the
harm it causes.

Drug addiction symptoms and behaviors:

● Feeling that you have to use the drug regularly — daily or even several times a
day
● Having intense urges for the drug that block out any other thoughts
● Over time, needing more of the drug to get the same high effect.
● Spending money on the drug, even though you can't afford it
● Not meeting obligations and work responsibilities, or cutting back on social or
recreational activities because of drug use
● Continuing to use the drug, even though you know it's causing problems in your
life or causing you physical or psychological harm
● Doing things to get the drug that you normally wouldn't do.

Health effects of drugs

● Cocaine — Risk of heart attack, stroke and seizures

● Ecstasy — Risk of liver failure and heart failure
● Inhalants — Risk of damage to heart, lungs, liver and kidneys from long-term use
● Marijuana — Risk of impairment in memory, learning, problem solving and
concentration; risk of psychosis — such as schizophrenia, hallucination or
paranoia — later in life associated with early and frequent use
● Methamphetamine — Risk of psychotic behaviors from long-term use or high
doses
● Opioids — Risk of respiratory distress or death from overdose
● all drugs can cause problems in the functions: learning, judgment, decision
making, stress, memory, behavior.
 Substance use disorders can lead to multiple behavioral problems, both in the short-
and long-term, which can include: paranoia, aggressiveness, hallucination, addiction,
impaired judgment, impulsiveness, loss of self control.

the factors that increase risk of addiction:

biological factors-
Biological factors that can affect a person's risk of addiction include their genes, stage of
development, and gender or ethnicity. Scientists estimate that genes, including the effects
environmental factors have on a person's gene expression, called epigenetics, account for
between 40 and 60 percent of a person's risk of addiction. Also, teens and people with mental
disorders are at greater risk of drug use and addiction than others.

environmental factors -

● Home and Family. The home environment, especially during childhood . Parents or
older family members who use drugs, misuse alcohol, or who break the law and a lack
of a stable home or family, exposure to physical or sexual abuse can increase children's
risk of future drug problems.
● friends and School. Friends and other peers can have an increasingly strong influence
during the teen years. Teens who use drugs can sway even those without risk factors to
try drugs for the first time. Struggling in school or having poor social skills can put a
child at further risk for using or becoming addicted to drugs as well.

other factors

● Early use. Although taking drugs at any age can lead to addiction, research shows that
the earlier people begin to use drugs, the more likely they are to develop serious
problems. This may be due to the harmful effect that drugs can have on the developing
brain. Early use is a strong indicator of problems ahead, including addiction.
● How the drug is taken. Smoking a drug or injecting it into a vein increases its addictive
potential. Both smoked and injected drugs enter the brain within seconds, producing a
powerful rush of pleasure. However, this intense high can fade within a few minutes.
Scientists believe this powerful contrast drives some people to repeatedly use drugs to
recapture the fleeting pleasurable state.
statistics of drug use in the united state at 2017:

ages 12-17:

● approximately 4% suffered from a substance use disorder. 1 in 25 people in this age

group.
● An estimated 3% suffered from an illicit drug use disorder

ages 18-25:

● About 5.1 million battled a substance use disorder ,about 1 in 7 people.

● About 2.5 million had an illicit drug use disorder , about 7.3% of this population
● Heroin use doubled in the past decade

Over age 26:

● Approximately 13.6 million struggled with a substance use disorder or 6.4% of this age
group.
● About 4.3 million had an illicit drug use disorder, or 2% of this age group
Elderly individuals (65 and older):

● More than 1 million had a substance use disorder

Men vs. women:

● About 9.4% of men and 5.2% of women aged 12 and older had a substance use disorder.
● Men may be more likely to abuse illicit drugs than women, but women may be just as
prone to addiction as men when they do abuse them.

Ethnicity/race:

● American Indians and Alaska Natives age 12 and older had the highest rate of
substance abuse and dependence ,at 12.8%.
● Whites had a 7.7% rate of substance abuse.
● About 6.8% percent of African Americans struggled with substance use disorders,
while the percentage of Hispanics or Latinos who suffered from substance use
disorders was 6.6%.
● Approximately 4.6% percent of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders suffered from
substance use disorders.
● Asian Americans had the lowest rate of substance use disorders at 3.8%.

Criminal justice/employment status:

● Almost twice as many people who are unemployed struggle with addiction than those
who are full-time workers, CNN Money reports around 17% of the unemployed and
9% of the employed population struggle with a substance use disorder.
● Around 75% of individuals in a state prison or local jail who suffer from a mental
illness also struggle with substance abuse, and the opposite is also true.

Withdrawal:

Over time, the brain adapts to the different environment created by the introduction of a drug.
The brain adjusts to the increases in dopamine and other neurochemicals.
Over time some people who are dependent on drugs say taking them just makes them feel
“normal”. This is because their brain and body have adapted to the effects of the drug. This is
known as “tolerance”.

If you develop tolerance to drugs, when you stop using you might go into withdrawal. As the
drug leaves your system, your body starts to react to no longer having the drugs in your
system. Withdrawal is often physically and psychologically uncomfortable and sometimes can
be painful.

suggested ways to prevent drug addiction:

1. Learn to Deal With Life’s Pressures- For many people, drug consumption is a way to
escape the harsh realities of life. Learning to cope with life’s pressures will go a long way
when it comes to helping people stay away from drugs.

2. Don’t Give in to Peer Pressure- Some people, particularly teenagers and young adults,
experiment with drugs just to portray a cool image in front of others. They do it to fit in among
their circle of friends. Some kids wrongly believe that doing drugs or consuming alcohol will
make them more acceptable and popular with other kids. Not giving into peer pressure can and
will prevent drug addiction

3. Develop Close Family Ties- Research indicates that people who share a close relationship
with their families are less likely to become drug addicts. The guidance and support provided
by the family makes it easier for a person to deal with life pressures .

4. Develop Healthy Habits- Eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly is another way of
preventing drug addiction. Being healthy and active makes it easier for people to deal with life
stresses. A healthy diet and regular exercise promotes feel good chemicals in the brain.

recognition and treatment:

In 1864, the New York State Inebriate Asylum, the first hospital intended to solely treat
alcoholism as a mental health condition, was founded. As the public began to view alcoholism
and related drug abuse more seriously, more community groups and sober houses began
appearing.

Treatment for drug abuse and addiction is delivered in many different settings using a variety
of behavioral and pharmacological approaches. In the United States, more than 14,500
specialized drug treatment facilities provide counseling, behavioral therapy, medication, case
management, and other types of services to persons with substance use disorders.

Along with specialized drug treatment facilities, drug abuse and addiction are treated in
physicians' offices and mental health clinics by a variety of providers, including counselors,
physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, and social workers.

Because drug abuse and addiction are major public health problems, a large portion of drug
treatment is funded by local, State, and Federal governments.

bibliography:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/drug-addiction/symptoms-causes/syc-
20365112

https://www.gatewayfoundation.org/faqs/effects-of-drug-abuse/

https://vertavahealth.com/blog/how-long-addiction-classified-disease/

https://www.inspiremalibu.com/blog/drug-addiction/4-ways-to-prevent-drug-addiction/

https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-
based-guide-third-edition/drug-addiction-treatment-in-united-states

https://theconversation.com/health-check-what-makes-it-so-hard-to-quit-drugs-69896

https://americanaddictioncenters.org/rehab-guide/addiction-statistics

https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/drug-
misuse-addiction