Addiction

Substance abuse impacts the way that individuals think and behave. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse1, drugs and alcohol imitate the natural chemicals in the brain or they cause the brain to release too many natural hormones. The "high" that a loved one experiences relates to that over-stimulation of chemical responses in the brain. When a tolerance and dependence develops, a loved one can start craving the drug or alcohol.

While the way the brain functions dictates behavior, certain behavior will also dictate the development of the brain. This puts drug users and those prone to addiction in a delicate situation. Brain development can be dictated by drug abuse, which will then encourage more drug usage and lead the user to full blown addiction. How exactly does this happen? It’s all due to the very way the brain functions.

Are you concerned that someone you love is becoming dependent on alcohol? Have you spotted the hallmark signs of addiction and don't know what to do next? Alcoholism is a terrible condition that can tear apart an individual's personal, career, physical and emotional functioning. There is effective treatment for alcoholism. Help your loved one get the professional care they need today by changing the way you view and understand this debilitating condition. Learn more about the disease theory of alcoholism below.

The complexity of substance abuse stems from the primary causes that contribute to an addiction. Schizophrenia and related mental health disorders often complicate the treatment process because the disorder contributes to addiction. The National Institutes of Health (1) state that nearly half of the men and women with schizophrenia also abuse drugs or alcohol throughout their lifetime. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of a dual diagnosis helps identify the right treatment program for a loved one or for personal recovery goals.

Addiction devastates the lives of millions of Americans each year. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, up to 43.7 million Americans suffer from an addiction, yet only a minute portion of them receive any assistance in overcoming their addiction. Unfortunately, many people continue to see non-substance addictions, such as impulsive gambling, shopping, stealing, or failure of sexual impulse control, as theories, and not actual addictions. However, psychological associations, mental health facilities, and researchers have compiled a massive database defining how and why these non-substances, more widely known as process or behavioral addictions, occur. In fact, the results of research studies and findings draw conclusions similar to risk factors for developing substance abuse addictions. Before you embark on a journey to help a loved one or yourself with a process addiction, you need to know how process addictions arise, especially from a genetic standpoint.

Barbiturates act as a depressant to the central nervous system and are sometimes used for sedation/anesthesia in surgery, seizures or to treat insomnia for the short-term. Unfortunately, street use of barbiturates has been a concern for some time.

It surprises some people to learn that workaholism is an actual condition rather than simply a catchphrase used to convey to others how much time you spend working. You may joke about being a workaholic, but if you have trouble separating yourself from your work and it's negatively impacting your life, you may find that you actually suffer from this condition and are at risk of suffering the dangers associated with a work addiction.

While many people may think of amphetamines as illegal drugs, there is also a variety of prescription amphetamine drugs. One of the most commonly prescribed drugs in this category is prescribed to patients who are diagnosed with ADHD. The prescription Ritalin is an amphetamine drug used to decrease hyperactivity and increase focus in children and adults suffering from ADHD. While the medication may have a calming effect on those with ADHD, it has an opposite effect on those without the disorder.

While the occasional drink causes very few physical and psychological effects, prolonged use of alcohol can have many negative effects throughout your life. Alcohol abuse and addiction affects you both physically and psychologically. It can also affect the people you care most about.

Several types of drugs can be used by people to change their perception of reality, and not all of them are illegal. Many people think of substance abuse issues as only pertaining to street drugs, but this is not the case. Prescription drugs also have the potential to lead to addiction, and all addictions stem from the same type of disease. There is no variety that is "better" or "worse" than another.