Effects Of Drug Addiction

Addiction is a strong and harmful need to have or do something. Although the severity of it ranges, addiction affects everyone. Someone could have a minor nail biting addiction, while another person could have a very serious cocaine addiction. It is possible to become addicted to just about anything: food, gambling, porn/sex, cell phones and other technology, drugs, and alcohol are just a few examples. When people are addicted to something, they feel as though they need it to survive. This is because in the middle of the cranium, there are a series of circuits called the Reward System. It contains links that are scattered throughout the brain, connected to the memory, movement, pleasure and motivation regions (Faerber, 2013). When someone does

In 2013, the percentage of illegal drug use on people 12 years of age and older was 9.4 percent, and the percentage of non medical use of a psychotherapeutic drug was 2.5 percent, and there are only a handful being treated. Drug addictions can be caused by the same reasons as alcohol addictions. They provide an “easy escape” from reality, and provide a temporary happiness. Whether it is illegal drugs, such as cocaine, crystal meth, or ecstasy; or prescription drugs, such as Vicodin or other pain medications, drug addictions are very dangerous and have a very negative impact on health. Just like overcoming an alcohol addiction, the first step in overcoming a drug addiction is to come out of denial and admit that you have one. The second step is to immediately seek treatment. While under the influence of drugs, the brain’s decision-making center is impaired (Bellum, 2011). Treatment will help the recovering person make decisions for the best possible recovery. Treatment options include medications, behavioral counseling, rehabilitation centers, and other types of therapy. During recovery, it is normal to experience relapses. Behavioral counseling teaches the person to avoid triggers and learn new coping skills to avoid as many relapses as possible (Bellum, 2011). Recovery from drug addiction takes time; at least 90 days. It is a process that should be taken one step at a time, and in order to avoid relapses

Every state, except Utah and Hawaii, have some type of gambling available. There are currently around two million people addicted, and unfortunately, only eight percent of these people never seek treatment (Faerber, 2013). Gambling addictions and drug addictions operate in a very similar way. They both seek some of the same predispositions for impulsivity and reward seeking (Faerber, 2013). Just as recovering from alcohol and drug addictions, the first step is for the recovering person is to admit that they have a gambling problem. From there, seeking treatment is a must. For gambling addictions, medications and therapy work best to tame compulsions. Opioid antagonists, such as Naltrexone, indirectly inhibit brain cells from producing Dopamine, thereby reducing cravings for gambling (Faerber, 2013). The best therapy for gambling addictions is a cognitive-behavior therapy. It teaches people to resist unwanted thoughts and habits, therefore teaching them how to stay away from gambling. Casinos are also taking charge of gambling addictions by looking out for unhealthy patterns of gamblers - such as showing up multiple times a week and spending increasingly large amounts of