What is drug addiction?
Drug addiction, also known as substance use disorder, is a progressive neuropsychological disorder that affects a person’s brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medication.
The most common types of drugs that cause addiction among their users are alcohol, benzodiazepines, illicit drugs, opiates, sleeping pills, and stimulants. Inhalants like household cleaners are also some of the most commonly abused substances.
When addicted to drugs, they find it difficult to resist the urge to use them, no matter how much harm the drugs may cause to them, their loved ones, and their community.
Repetitive drug use often alters brain function in ways that perpetuate cravings and weaken one’s self-control. This phenomenon reshapes brain function with habits and patterns typically characterized by immediate gratification, coupled with delayed harmful effects such as long-term costs.
Types of drug addiction and their symptoms
People battle various kinds of drug addictions in their daily lives. There are two categories for the different types of drug addiction: behavioral addiction, in which a person physically does something that leads to a possible chemical release within their brain, and substance addiction, in which they ingest something.
Although behavioral and substance addictions are very distinct, each can tremendously impact a person's life. Most drug and alcohol addictions have the potential to end relationships, result in job loss, and create legal issues. Because of this, it's critical to comprehend the various forms of addictions to get assistance when you need it.
Here are some of the various types of drug addictions:
- Prescription drug addiction
Addiction to prescription drugs might result from using a prescription drug in a way not intended by the prescribing doctor. Everything from using a friend's prescription painkiller to relieve your pain to snorting or injecting prescription medication to get "high" is considered improper or misuse of prescription drugs. Despite the risks, continued prescription drug abuse can develop into compulsive behavior.
The most frequently abused prescription pharmaceuticals include stimulants, opioids, anti-anxiety meds, and sedatives due to their ability to alter consciousness.
Opioids are used to treat pain. They are prescribed as anti-anxiety and sedative medications like alprazolam and diazepams, as well as hypnotics like zolpidem to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. They are also stimulants like methylphenidate, dextroamphetamine, and amphetamine to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and certain sleep disorders.
Symptoms of prescription drug addiction usually depend on the specific drug being abused. The symptoms of opioid addiction include constipation, nausea, euphoria, slowed breathing rate, confusion, poor coordination, the increased dose required for pain relief, and worsening or increased sensitivity to pain with higher doses.
Symptoms of addiction to anti-anxiety medications and sedatives include drowsiness, confusion, unsteady walking, slurred speech, poor concentration, dizziness, problems with memory, and slowed breathing.
Symptoms of stimulant addiction include increased alertness, feeling high, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, high body temperature, reduced appetite, insomnia, agitation, anxiety, and paranoia.
- Heroin addiction
Heroin is an opioid drug made from morphine. Morphine is a natural substance taken from the seedpod of various opium poppy plants, primarily grown in Southeast and Southwest Asia, Mexico, and Colombia.
Heroin is injected, sniffed, snorted, or smoked. Some people speedball it or mix it with crack cocaine. Once consumed, heroin enters the brain quickly and attaches to opioid receptors on cells in brain regions that control heart rate, sleep patterns, breathing, and sections involved in pain and pleasure perception.
Short-term symptoms of heroin addiction include having a constantly dry mouth, a warm flushing of the skin, heavy feelings in the arms and legs, nausea and vomiting, severe itching, and clouded mental functioning.
Reports from the different drug rehab centers near me on the long-term symptoms indicate that insomnia, collapsed veins (for people who inject the drug), damaged tissue inside the nose (for people who sniff or snort the drug), infection of the heart lining and valves, abscesses, constipation, and stomach cramping, liver and kidney disease, lung complications (including pneumonia), mental disorders such as depression and antisocial personality disorder, sexual dysfunction for men, and irregular menstrual cycles for women are pretty rampant among heroin users.
- Benzodiazepine addiction
I recently learned from a drug and alcohol rehab near me that benzodiazepines, or benzos, are medications known as tranquilizers. Although they have a calming effect, benzos are highly addictive, and a person who abuses them experiences a host of symptoms. The healthcare provider I sought help from to understand what benzo addiction is about informed me that benzos belong to the prescription sedative class of drugs.
Some of the physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms of benzo addiction that have been reported by alcohol and drug treatment centers near me include weakness, blurred vision, drowsiness, poor judgment or thinking, doctor shopping, mood changes, seizures, muscle spasms, anxiety, and risk-taking behaviors such as driving under the influence of benzos.
Treatment for drug addiction
At an awareness workshop organized by leading drug rehab centers in Hillsboro, college students in the area were introduced to the treatments available for drug addiction. The overarching message was that a good treatment for drug addiction must help the addicted person stop using drugs, stay drug-free, and be productive in their family, work, and society.
No single treatment is suitable for everyone. That is why treatment must be customized to an individual’s needs. A range of care with a tailored treatment program and follow-up options can be crucial to successful recovery from drug addiction.
Treatment should include medical and mental health services diagnosed at the initial stage of the addiction recovery journey. Many options have successfully treated drug addiction by leading drug rehab centers near me. They include:
- Medication
- Behavioral counseling
- Medical devices and applications treat withdrawal symptoms or deliver skills training.
- Evaluation of and treatment for co-occurring mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.
- To prevent relapse, long-term follow-up includes community- or family-based recovery support systems.
How can I find a good drug rehab near me?
Finding a good drug rehab near you can sometimes be pretty challenging. That is why Another Chance helps individuals with information about excellent drug rehab centers in Hillsboro and other areas like Portland, Beaverton, etc. If you need help regarding drug addiction, they are always on hand to provide the necessary assistance. You can connect with them today by calling (971) 272-8968 or via email at [email protected].
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