Causes of Addiction
What Is meant
by Addiction?
Addiction is a condition that results when
a person ingests a substance (alcohol, cocaine, nicotine) or engages in an
activity (gambling) that can be
pleasurable but the continued use of which becomes compulsive and interferes
with ordinary life responsibilities, such as work or relationships, even
health. Users may not be aware that their behavior is out of control and
causing problems for themselves and others.
The word addiction is used in several
different ways. One definition describes physical addiction. This is a
biological state in which the body adapts to the presence of a drug so that
drug no longer has the same effect; this is known as tolerance. Because of
tolerance, there is a biological reaction when the drug is withdrawn. Another
form of physical addiction is the phenomenon of overreaction by the brain to
drugs (or to cues associated with the drugs). An alcoholic walking into a bar,
for instance, will feel an extra pull to have a drink because of these cues.
However, most addictive behavior is not
related to either physical tolerance or exposure to cues. People compulsively use drugs, or gamble or
shop, nearly always in reaction to being emotionally stressed, whether or not
they have a physical addiction. Since these psychologically based addictions
are not based on drug or brain effects, they can account for why people
frequently switch addictive actions from one drug to a completely different
kind of drug, or even to a non-drug behavior. The focus of the addiction isn't
what matters; it's the need to take action under certain kinds of stress. To
treat this kind of addiction requires understanding of how it works
psychologically.
No matter which kind of addiction is meant,
it is important to recognize that its cause is not a search for pleasure, and
addiction has nothing to do with one's morality or strength of character.
Experts debate whether addiction is
a "disease" or a true mental illness, whether drug dependence and
addiction mean the same thing, and many other aspects of addiction. Such
debates are not likely to be resolved soon. But the lack of resolution does not
preclude effective treatment.
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