Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center in Artondale
Drug addiction does not refer to heroin, cocaine, or any other illegal drug. You can become addicted to alcohol and nicotine as well as sleep and anti-anxiety drugs and other legal substances.
Opioids, which are prescription and illegally obtained pain medication medications, can also lead to addiction. This problem is epidemic in the United States. Two-thirds (33%) of all drug overdose deaths in 2018 were caused by opioids.
At first, you might choose to take a drug because it makes you feel good. You might think that you can control how many times you take it. Over time, drugs can change the way your brain functions. These physical changes can last for a long time. These physical changes can make it difficult to control your behavior and could lead to other negative consequences.
Addiction vs. Addiction vs. Tolerance. You might use a prescription or take more than your regular dosage. You might use drugs to get high, reduce stress, or escape reality. You may be able to stop using or change unhealthy behaviors.
Tolerance results from the brain's gradual adaptation towards the additional dopamine. This reduces the amount of high that the user experienced before they started taking the medication. You could use more medication to get the same dopamine high.
One element does not determine the likelihood that someone will develop a drug dependence. A combination of environmental, genetic, and developmental factors can influence the risk for addiction. As an individual's risk factors increase, the probability of developing addiction to drugs rises.
You can effectively treat and manage drug addiction.