What is Addiction?

What exactly is an addiction? An addiction is when you are physically and mentally dependent on a particular substance, and unable to stop taking it without incurring adverse effects. We all get addicted to things: food, shows, the internet. It’s normal to have an addiction. But what about those addictions that have long-term effects? Like drinking and smoking, the effects from that are life taking. Some people become addicted in the easiest ways. But is it easy enough to stop?

Tobacco is the second leading addiction in America with about 70.9 million people smoking. It can cause lung cancer, coronary heart disease, strokes, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. The reason it can get so addictive is because of a substance in it called nicotine. As like chocolate, caffeine, and alcohol enhance our mood, nicotine has a bigger boost which makes us want more of it. Although it’s bad, there are many organizations to help stop. For example, the Arizona Department of Disease Prevention and the Smoke Free Coalition Tucson. There are also nicotine patches that help calm the craving on needing to smoke.

Drinking is also a highly ranked addiction in America. People do it to relief stress, from peer pressure, or to even act cool. Similar to smoking, millions of people drink. It becomes legal at the age of 21. Alcohol contains ethanol, a depressant, which causes changes in the mood of how people are affected when taking it. In some cases when people are depressed, they drink alcohol to cope with their emotions. Although drinking maybe somewhat helpful, it can causes problems such as liver disease. Being drunk also triggers you to vomit. Some people are even too drunk to realize they’re throwing up that they choke on their own vomit. Also, more ...

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...dal is lead to from self-harm.

To conclude, addictions are easier to start than to stop. They come in various forms from harmless to deadly. Just like any addiction though, there are ways to quit. Even though it’s a long process and involves much patience, the outcome is best. First, make sure you want to quit, do it for yourself. Do things that are the opposite of what triggers you to do this addiction. Like with drinking, don’t go out to parties or things that influence your drinking. Or with self-harm, try and think about the positive in life. Become more active, do things you wouldn't regularly do. It will focus you attention to something other than your addiction. Be in charge of what you want to change in your life. And remember, an addiction is never a disease, because there could always be a healthy cure. The best way to overcome something and never give up.