WHAT IS DRUG ADDICTION
Drug addiction is a condition that affects a person’s brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of legal or illegal drug or medicine. When you are addicted to drugs, you continue to use them despite their negative consequences. A lot of people that get addicted to drugs start it as experiments. The risk of addiction and how fast you can become addicted varies to the drug.
RISK FACTORS
A lot of people wonder why some people get addicted to drugs while others don’t. There is no one factor that determines if a person can be addicted to drugs. The factors include:
- Development: Genetic and environmental factors interact with critical developmental stages in a person’s life to affect addiction. Taking drugs at an early stage will more likely progress into an addiction. This is risky in teens as areas in their brains that are responsible for decision making are still developing.
- Environment: The surroundings of a person may affect their risk to become addicted to drugs. For example, a teen who stays in a drug infested community is likely to be addicted to drugs.
- Genes: A person’s genes affect the person’s risk for addiction.
SYMPTOMS OF DRUG ADDICTION
- Having intense urges for the drug that block out any other thoughts
- Using the drug regularly
- Spending a lot of money on it even if you can not afford it
- continued use of the drug despite its negative effects
- Making certain that you always have a supply of the drug
- Engaging into risky activities under the influence e.g. driving
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you attempt to stop
How do I know if my loved one has an addiction?
- problems at school/ work
- neglected appearance
- money issues
- changes in behavior
- physical health issues e.g. weight loss, red eyes, lack of energy
CAN DRUG ADDICTION BE TREATED
Drug addiction has no cure but can successfully be treated and managed. The treatment of drug addiction is tailored to suit each individual.
