There is only a thin line between using substances or drugs for the first time as a pleasure-seeking entity and becoming hooked on the same. Substance abuse may likely not mean addiction, but it is one of the major ways addiction set in.
What is Addiction
Addiction is the dependency of an individual regularly on a substance or drug just to feel like himself or living.
Using ten dosages of prescription medications instead of five may tend to be abuse but unlikely to result in an addiction. Why? Because sometimes, one can get hold and control over such substance abuse in the long run.
Addiction could only suffice when due to pleasure-seeking, an individual uses or indulges in a substance (drugs, alcohol, and other activity). And for a very long time trying to recreate the same level of dopamine as at the first usage over and over again, till dependency sets in. That is to say from the first usage till when the users lack control over the usage of such drug or substance. If you’re in Washington and need rehabilitation, see drug rehab washington dc.
What causes addiction?
Addiction could be a result of peer pressure, working experience, family history, and can also serve as a coping mechanism in times of duress. But how does addiction starts?
Below are five ways that addiction starts.
Family History
Individuals whose parents suffered from any form of addiction in the past are at higher risk of being addicted to any substance use. Though there has been disparity among the professionals about what causes this it is said to be a genetic disorder of some sort. The genetic disorder has really not been medically ascertained, which poses a lot of questions as to why and how. Probably in future times, through extensive scientific research, the cause of this will be further unveiled.
Mental Illness
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Bipolar Disorder are major constituents to an individual abuse of substances. This condition makes them not being in tune with reality, passing through a lot of pains and as such, they turn drugs into a coping mechanism. Drugs or substances are then used to fight stress and trauma, and gradually they become hooked on the same.
Distress
Psychological distress such as mood swings, anxiety, emotional trauma, pains and physical distress such as stress, fatigue, severe medical conditions are what causes addiction in many. People tend to abuse drugs when they are in so much pain which may unfold to regular usage then whoof, depending on such drugs to function very well. It is the very acute and continual usage of this substance that causes addiction.
Distress could also be a sign of withdrawal symptoms from a previous addiction but stress unarguably is one of the reasons why addiction starts.
Loss
When encountered with loss, either of loved ones or a job, in the feats of grief, some take solace in substance use. Continual usage when they are down, blaming themselves for the cause of their unfortunate circumstances would really cause addiction to such substance.
How we react to grief is different, why some people show their grief through crying and throwing tantrums some bottled theirs up. This eating into them till they take a wrongful step toward substance usage to feel better. Of which from then on, the substance will have them under control.
Recreational Purpose
Using a substance under the influence of a peer group, going back home to experiment the same process, feeling the euphoric states it possesses, continual usage of same. The rate at which the brain produces dopamine under the influence of a substance is higher than the natural cause of production. And as such, individual trying a substance for the first time at a party of friends, will want to feel the same when alone. But in a subsequent time, the brain will need a greater amount of such substance used in the first place to recreate the same euphoric states over again. This then results in addiction and dependency on such a substance to feel ‘good’.
