Drug Addiction

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According to mayoclinic.org, a drug addiction is a dependence on an illegal drug or a medication. When addicted, the person may not be able to control their drug use and they may continue using the drug despite the harm it causes. Drug addiction can cause an intense craving for the drug. In 2012, an estimated 23.9 million Americans aged 12 or older had used an illicit drug or abused a psychotherapeutic medication. Drug addiction is a serious problem that can affect the person's body and mind, there are many factors that lead to addiction, and simple treatments to help an addict recover and keep away from relapsing. There are two types of addictions: psychological and physical. When a person is psychologically addicted they believe that they need the drug in order to live. A user gets attached to the drug thinking its normal during their daily routines. “A user may associate certain actions or rituals with taking drugs” (Nagle 22). Drug addicts think it’s necessary to get high before they do certain things. For example, some may get high before eating a meal or before going to bed, they get a feeling of accomplishment as if they’ve done something good, the drug rewards their nerve system. Drug users alter the way their brain works by the constant use. However, “if a person takes a drug often enough the brain changes so it can handle all of the changes” (Nagle 16). Just as you can get mentally addicted, the body as well can become addicted. This type of addiction is labeled “physical addiction.” Just like the brain, if you take an illicit drug long enough your body changes to accept the feeling as “normal.” “The body and brain come to accept certain levels of the substance as normal” (Nagle 23). The body will now require more and mo... ... middle of paper ... ... addiction, and simple treatments to help an addict recover and keep away from relapsing. The fact that anyone can fall into drug addiction and how dangerous addictions can be should scare everyone straight to stay away from drugs. Works Cited Gerdes, Louise I., ed. Addiction: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego: Greenhaven, 2005. Print. Henderson, Harry. Drug Abuse. New York: Facts On File, 2005. Print. Isralowitz, Richard, and Darwin Telias. Drug Use, Policy, and Management. Westport, CT: Praeger, 1998. Print. Milhorn, Howard T. Drug and Alcohol Abuse: The Authoritative Guide for Parents, Teachers, and Counselors. New York: Plenum, 1994. Print. Nagle, Jeanne. Everything You Need to Know about Drug Addiction. New York: Rosen Pub. Group, 1999. Print. Sussman, Steven Yale., and Susan L. Ames. The Social Psychology of Drug Abuse. Buckingham: Open UP, 2001. Print.

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