DAY 2:WHAT

IS ADDICTION
 What is
Addiction?
The National Institute on Drug Abuse
(NIDA) defines addiction as a “chronic,
relapsing brain disease that is
characterized by compulsive seeking and
use despite harmful consequences”
The brain is made up of many parts with
interconnected circuits that work together.

Addiction is considered a brain disease

because it changes brain circuits involved in
reward, stress, and self-control.

SUD disrupt the normal healthy functioning

D a n d t h e
of the brain and have serious harmful
effects.
SU
B ra i n
 Neurons
To send a message, a neuron releases
a neurotransmitter (chemical) into the
gap (or synapse) between it and the
next cell.

Substances interfere with the way

neurons send, receive, and process
signal via neurotransmitters.
 i c ti o n i s
d
Ad rized by
ar ac t e l u d e :
ch s that inc
eh av io r e
b n t ro l o v e r s u b s t a n
s
c e u s

i r e d c o b s t a n c e e n c e s
• I m p a e o f s u o n s e q u
s i v e u s r m f u l c
o m p u l p i t e h a
• C u s e d e s
n t i n u e d n c e s
• Co for su bsta
ra vin gs
• C
 What Causes
Addiction?
Biological Factors Environmental
• genetics • Factors
early use
• availability
• gender • chaotic home and abuse
• mental disorders • peer influence
• community attitude
 What Is an
SUD?
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) occur
when the recurrent use of substances
cause clinically significant
impairement, including health
problems, disability, and failure to
meet major responsibilities at work,
school, or home.
 Risk Factors For
Problematic Substance
Use
Psycholog
3 ical
1 Genetics
Age at first factors
A person’s genetics can 2 Psychological factors,

account for 40-60% of use

Using at an early age
their risk of developing
can be a risk factor
problematic substance
use.
including the presence of
other mental disorders (for
example, depressian, post-
traumatic stress disorders,
and etc.) can increase the risk
of problematic substance use
 Risk Factors For
Problematic Substance
Use
Environmen Family
6 Environm
4 Gender 5 tal ent
Men are more likely than Influences Parental substance use or
Peer group pressure lack of family
women to have
Exposure to traumatic involvement, support, or
problematic substance
events parental supervision can
use.
Substance availability also be risk factors
 Characteris
tics of
Addiction
1 • CHRONIC
4 • FATAL

2 • INCURABLE
5 • INCURABLE

3 • PROGRESSIVE
6 • LOSS OF CONTROL
 MYTH: Those
with SUD must
MYTH: hit “rock bottom”
Willpower is all before they can
one needs to beat
addiction get help
Recovery can begin at any
Prolonged substance use time. Given the impacts on
alters the way the brain the brain and consequences
works. The brain of SUD, the earlier one can
changes make it get treatment, the better.
extremely difficult to The longer the SUD
quit, and often treatment continues, the harder it is to
program is required. treat. Get help early, rather
than holding out.
MYTH: Severe
SUD is a disease;
there’s nothing
you can do about
it
It is possible to recover
from an SUD, the brain
changes related to SUD
can be treated and
reversed through therapy,
medication, exercise, and
other treatments.
 MYTH: People
can’t force
MYTH: someone into
Addiction is treatment; if
lifelong. treatment is
forced, it will
SUD is different in fail.
Treatment doesn’t have
every person, where to be voluntary to be
some can deal with it successful . People who
for years and others are pressured into
manage to treatment treatment are just as
quickly. likely to benefit as those
who enter treatment
The process of recovery voluntarily.
is life long.
 Developing a
Understand balanced
i ng lifestyle, which
cravings includes healthy
leisure and
recreational
activities
A d d r e ss i n g
Managing
health and
withdrawal t h r o u g h
wellnes s
symptoms
nutrition,
a c ti v it y,
p in g physical
D ev e l o
Enhancing and sleep
coping and self-
efficacy to d
stress- eal
e n t with high-ri
ma n a g e m sk
situat
Thanks
!