Drug Information
What is Drug Addiction?
Misconceptions
Once it was thought that a person was a drug addict or alcoholic only if he
needed the drug daily, or if he went through withdrawal symptoms (vomiting,
seizures, cramps, death) when he abruptly stopped using the substance. It was
thought that alcoholics and drug addicts were unemployed, poor, and from the
inner city.
These are misconceptions. Many drug addicts do not use drugs or alcohol daily
and do not experience physical withdrawal when they stop using. The majority of
addicted people are employed and appear to be functioning normally.
Characteristics of Addiction
Three aspects that characterize addiction are:
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Loss of control: The user cannot predict what will happen when he uses the
substance. One day he may be able to stop after one drink, or after one line of
cocaine; the next day he may not be able to control his use at all.
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Compulsive preoccupation: The addict spends a great deal of time thinking about
the substance.
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Continued use despite negative consequences: If drinking or drug use causes
problems but one continues to do it, one is tempting addiction or is already
addicted. The person has lost voluntary control of the use of that substance.
A nonuser or casual alcohol/drug user may have difficulty understanding why
addicts don't just stop. Use and abuse of psychoactive (mood-altering) drugs
seem to be voluntary; addiction seems to be characterized by involuntary,
compulsive use. In most cases, drug addicts don't stop because they are
addicted. They cannot stop on their own.
What Causes Addiction?
There has been controversy over the cause of addiction. Historically, it was
thought that addiction was caused by lack of willpower, by poverty, moral
weakness, mental illness, genetics, family socialization, anti-social
personalities, and societal problems. Some scientists believe drug addiction is
a disease, although the evidence to support this theory is weak.
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The Drug: Some drugs are more addictive than others. This is due to the
pharmacology of the substance, and how it affects the mood of the user.
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The Addict: People who have low self-concepts, who feel bad about themselves,
have a higher rate of addiction. People with low self-concepts use psychoactive
substances either to enhance or create pleasure in their lives, or to decrease
the constant emotional pain they live with. The better a person feels about
himself, the less likely he will be to use or abuse psychoactive substances. A
society that has easy access to drugs, that has a population that is
"addiction-prone" due to physical or emotional pain, and that has
pro-use or unclear norms, is a society prone to addiction.
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The Environment: In our biochemical society, we hear mixed messages about the
use of psychoactive drugs. Some, such as alcohol and tobacco, are accepted,
while use of hard drugs is condemned. Some drug use is glamorized in the media,
while different parts of the country have different standards for public
intoxication. All of this makes it easier for people to accept drug use as
"normal".
Conclusion
Drug abuse is the excessive use of legal mood-altering substances and the use
of illegal drugs. Drug addiction is the extreme end of a continuum that starts
with the first use of drugs or alcohol, and progresses through experimentation
and abuse to addiction.
Professional treatment and prevention programs and community-based
organizations are available to help the addict and his family. These resources
can help with education, intervention, and treatment of the addict and those
who care about
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