drug addiction
Not everyone who uses drugs becomes addicted, and the line between drug use and drug abuse is a very fine one. Surprisingly, addiction isn’t a function of the number of times you use drugs, or the specific drug you use (although some drugs, such as narcotics, have a higher potential for creating physical dependence). Some people are convinced that occasional drug use won’t result in addiction—that they possess the will power to quit whenever they choose. If this were true, chances are there would be far fewer drug addicts out there.
What happens when that fine line is crossed? Addiction is defined as “compulsively seeking to use a mind-altering substance, regardless of the potential for negative social, psychological and physical consequences.” Ironically, some say that this is the point where the addict stops searching for the drug and the drug starts searching for the addict.
Addiction combines physical dependence (a need for the effect the drug produces) with a psychological dependence (the belief that without the drug, life is either unpleasant or unbearable). This is what drives addicts to use more frequently, and in greater quantities.
In addition to the phenomenon of chasing the high that makes users continue on the downward spiral of addiction, doctors at the Mayo Clinic have identified several risk factors that essentially “stack the deck” against those who experiment with drugs:
- Personality: psychological conditions, such as depression,
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and post-traumatic stress
disorder make individuals more likely to become drug dependent.
- Social Environment: Peer pressure, particularly among young
people, is a strong factor in encouraging drug experimentation. The younger
a person is when he or she first tries drugs, the higher the probability of
drug problems later in life.
- Anxiety, Depression and Loneliness: In the absence of appropriate
medical treatment for these painful psychological feelings, many people self-medicate
with drugs to avoid facing them.
- Genetics: Drug abuse tends to run in families, although
the specific genes involved have not yet been identified. An individual with
a family history of drug problems is more likely to develop addictions.
- Type of Drug: While every drug carries some potential for
abuse and addiction, central nervous system stimulants (such as cocaine) and
opioids (such as heroin) can cause physical addiction more quickly than others.
