Addiction to something like alcohol, drugs, or cigarettes is not easy to get rid of, and if not taken in time, it can be the cause of many illnesses.
Drugs are not just limited to cocaine, heroin, and illegal drugs; you can get addicted to nicotine, sleep, anti-depression pills, and even alcohol.
In countries like the United States, this problem is at an epidemic level; at first, you choose to take those drugs because it makes you feel good, but over time the drugs change your brain’s functionality. These physical changes last long and lead to damaging effects.
Drug abuse in the US has skyrocketed over the last decade. This is especially worrying because of the types of drugs that are gaining popularity. Synthetic opioids seem to be the new craze among drug users. This is partly due to the fact that they are cheap to produce and are oftentimes much stronger than their organic cousins. Fantanyl for example, is 50-100 times stronger than heroin, and is produced much cheaper. This means fentanyl use has increased exponentially. Fentanyl overdose deaths reached close to 100K in 2020 alone, and 2021 rates are expected to be even higher.
What Happens to The Brain of An Addicted Person!
Drugs often affect the brain’s ‘reward circuit,’ causing euphoria and increasing the dopamine level. The normal function of the brain lets a person repeat behaviors that are needed to thrive. However, a high level of dopamine increases pleasurable, but unhealthy behaviors like excessive use of drugs. As the person continues to take drugs, their tolerance decreases, and they become addicts.
What Are the Signs of Drug Addiction?
- Behavioral Changes: The addict person’s behavior changes are visible clearly. You may notice that the addict becomes irritable and impulsive. You may also see them isolating themselves and neglecting their presence. There could also be hygiene issues.
- Lack of Interest in Anything: Drug addiction can change any person’s interests. It can change the activities and hobbies in which the addict was once popular.
- Physical Symptoms: Sometimes, addicts may have red eyes or dilated pupils. It can also be due to less sleep and great fatigue. You may also notice dry mouth, confusion and fumbling in words, and impromptu hand moments.
Who Is More Prone to Drug Addiction:
According to the alcohol rehab center in Boston, anyone can become an addict, there are some factors that make you more vulnerable. Some of them are:
- If you have a family history of substance abuse or drug addiction
- You may have suffered any traumatic situations, including emotional and physical abuse
- You suffer from anxiety, depression or may have other mental disorders
- You are into drugs from an early age
The Myths and Realities of Drug Addiction
Myth # 1: Drug addicts don’t have jobs and are lazy:
This is the most common myth. Indeed, anyone can become addicted to drugs, including doctors, lawyers, and teachers. The causes of addiction vary with each person.
Myth # 2: There are no solutions available for people with drug addiction:
Although addiction is a chronic illness that can come back at any time, treatments like medical detox help regaining control of one’s life are effective. People addicted to drugs change their lifestyles and, with the help and treatment available, can overcome their greatest demon.
Types Of Treatments
Drug Addiction Treatment is a complex problem, and treatment must take into account its psychosocial, spiritual, behavioral, and biological components.
Often, the most effective treatment will be that which integrates several treatments modalities, among the following:
- The initial period of detoxification under medical
- supervision
- Total abstention from psychoactive substances
- Raining in cognitive-behavioral adaptation
- Counseling (individual or group)
- Psychiatric assessment and treatment
- Drug therapy from a drug rehab center
- Environmental therapy; relapse prevention
- training; conscious attention and meditation program; exercise and physical
- training.
Drug addiction not only takes a toll on the addict’s health but also affects the relationship with the family and friend.
