Addiction hinges on many factors, only some of which have to do with the properties of a drug. It is possible to get addicted to a psychoactive substance that produces a pleasurable effect, but by no means do the majority of people who consume such substances get addicted. For example, many people are medically treated with opioid painkillers for a period of time and easily drug addiction discontinue medication when pain remits. Likewise, alcohol is consumed widely around the world with meals and in social situations without resulting in addiction.

• Not every addiction looks like this, however, with some drugs not producing such intense physical symptoms but instead creating a pull that is mainly psychological.
• Independent of the addictive process, problems can also develop from the taking of any chemical substance.
• At the same time, the repeated use of a substance that delivers the intense (if short-lived) reward of a chemical high weakens the decision-making and impulse-control centers of the brain, making it difficult to resist cravings.
• Low mood, fatigue, lack of motivation, and disrupted sleep make even simple tasks feel difficult.

There’s light waiting on the other side of addiction. Grow toward it.

At the time, Howe was employed by the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health, a statewide organization that represents agencies that focus on prevention, treatment and recovery for addiction. Struggling with alcoholism can feel overwhelming, but https://www.illiana.it/alcohol-interactions-with-medications-effects-and/ support and hope are always within reach. By learning more, you can better support yourself or a loved one on the journey to recovery. Addiction and substance use disorder affects over 17% of the American population.

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• Illegal drugs pose special risks of toxic contamination and/or accidental overdose as a result of substitution with underground agents of unknown potency.
• So now we know how many people are using drugs in the UK, the next step is to see how many of those people have reached the stage of needing treatment.
• Elevate Point is a top-rated alcohol and drug rehab in NYC that helps patients transform their lives for the better.
• Symptoms of withdrawal range from sweatiness, shakiness, tremors, and seizures to upset stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Recovery from addiction is possible — and with the right support, it’s achievable and sustainable. Pune, with its calming atmosphere and advanced rehab facilities, offers a perfect place to begin this journey. Grace Willsher, regional head of young person service delivery at WithYou, believes a ‘zero tolerance’ approach to substance misuse from many schools is also among the barriers to young people accessing timely treatment. Depression increases the urge to use substances, and substance use deepens depression. Low mood, fatigue, lack of motivation, and disrupted sleep make even simple tasks feel difficult. In an effort to cope, some people turn to substances to numb emotional pain or temporarily improve how they feel.

Family and Relationship Strain

Cravings, or deep desire for a substance, arise from alterations in Alcoholics Anonymous reactivity patterns of nerves in the brain’s reward center. Psychological dependence is a term sometimes used to indicate the mental processes of addiction, but it has no real meaning given current understanding of the way the brain works. There is no real difference between physical addiction and psychological addiction.

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They can discuss your problems with you and help get you into treatment. If you’re concerned about your alcohol consumption and want to know more about your relationship with alcohol, you can take our quick online alcohol quiz. When daily routines start unraveling, addiction could be a hidden cause. When broken down further, younger adults between 16 and 24 are significantly more likely to use drugs than older groups, with usage more than double the rate of those aged 25 to 59. Often, an addiction gets out of control because you need more and more to satisfy a craving and achieve the „high“.

Understanding Addiction and Substance Use Disorder

Spotting the signs of drug addiction matters because the earlier they are recognised, the sooner something can be done. The challenge is that in the early stages, signs are often easier to cover up. People can disguise habits behind routines, excuses or even humour, which makes it harder for others to notice what is really happening. In 2023, around 8.8% of adults reported using an illicit drug, which equates to almost three million people. Cannabis was by far the most common drug, used by about 6.8% of adults, while powder cocaine, MDMA and hallucinogens each hovered around the 1-3% mark. These figures show that while cannabis leads in terms of volume, harder substances are far from absent.