National Institutes of Health. Drug Topics. More Drug Topics. Quick Links. About NIDA. Points to Remember Drug addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences. This is why drug addiction is also a relapsing disease. Relapse is the return to drug use after an attempt to stop.
Relapse indicates the need for more or different treatment. Most drugs affect the brain's reward circuit by flooding it with the chemical messenger dopamine. Surges of dopamine in the reward circuit cause the reinforcement of pleasurable but unhealthy activities, leading people to repeat the behavior again and again. Over time, the brain adjusts to the excess dopamine, which reduces the high that the person feels compared to the high they felt when first taking the drug—an effect known as tolerance.
They might take more of the drug, trying to achieve the same dopamine high. No single factor can predict whether a person will become addicted to drugs. A combination of genetic, environmental, and developmental factors influences risk for addiction. Drug addiction is treatable and can be successfully managed. Read on to learn more. Addiction is a chronic condition in which a person is unable to stop taking a substance or engaging in an activity despite negative effects on their….
The onset of addiction might at first be slow and unsuspecting. But addiction has clear physical, psychological, and social effects that can indicate…. What causes addiction? Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph. Why does addiction occur? What makes addiction grow worse?
Takeaway Substance-related and addictive disorders are complex and often and can result in significant consequences for the individual. Share on Pinterest Addiction alters the function of reward circuits in the brain.
Latest news Scientists identify new cause of vascular injury in type 2 diabetes. Adolescent depression: Could school screening help? Related Coverage. What is alcohol abuse disorder, and what is the treatment? What are the treatments for addiction? What is addiction? What are the complications of addiction? If you have a severe addiction, you may need hospital-based or residential treatment.
Residential treatment programs combine housing and treatment services. Drug use and addiction are preventable. Prevention programs involving families, schools, communities, and the media may prevent or reduce drug use and addiction. These programs include education and outreach to help people understand the risks of drug use. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.
Resources Reference Desk Find an Expert. What are drugs? What is drug use? Drug use, or misuse, includes Using illegal substances, such as Anabolic steroids Club drugs Cocaine Heroin Inhalants Marijuana Methamphetamines Misusing prescription medicines , including opioids. This means taking the medicines in a different way than the health care provider prescribed. This includes Taking a medicine that was prescribed for someone else Taking a larger dose than you are supposed to Using the medicine in a different way than you are supposed to.
For example, instead of swallowing your tablets, you might crush and then snort or inject them. Using the medicine for another purpose, such as getting high Misusing over-the-counter medicines, including using them for another purpose and using them in a different way than you are supposed to Drug use is dangerous.
What is drug addiction? Does everyone who takes drugs become addicted? Who is at risk for drug addiction? Various risk factors can make you more likely to become addicted to drugs, including Your biology.
People can react to drugs differently. Some people like the feeling the first time they try a drug and want more. Others hate how it feels and never try it again. Mental health problems. This can happen because drug use and mental health problems affect the same parts of the brain.
Also, people with these problems may use drugs to try to feel better. Trouble at home.
0コメント