Recognizing the problem of addiction can be harder than what it looks like. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) states addiction as a chronic disease that affects the brain’s rewards, motivation, and memory functions. Addiction forces cravings and other behavioral habits. Our doctors from the sublocade treatment center emphasize general addiction signs as

• Lack of control, decreased socialization like abandoning commitment, ignoring the relationship
• Incapability to stay apart from a substance or behaviour
• Physical effects including withdrawal symptoms or the need for a higher dosage

The degree of intensity of each person varies on how long the person has been doing so. Most healthy people identify addiction as a negative behavior and stay away from it. However, this might not be similar in every case. Here’s our podcast on drug abuse and treatment.

An addicted patient may find grounds to sustain and continue the practice rather than acknowledging the problem. The first step to seek help starts with the ability to recognize the physical, emotional, and mental signs. Weight loss, personality changes are a few examples an addict experiences. For treatment, you can seek experts by searching “sublocade doctors near me” or “suboxone clinics near me.” You can also go for a confidential treatment referral.

How Addiction Affects the Brain?

Almost all the drugs affect the brain’s reward circuit bringing euphoric effects by flooding chemical messenger dopamine. A proper functioning system motivates a person to follow behaviors that thrive for basic needs like

• Eating
• Sleeping
• Spending time with the loved ones

The sudden surge of dopamine in the reward circuit of the brain forces unhealthy yet pleasurable behaviors like drug consumption forcing people to repeat the behavior again and again. Once the individual starts the consumption, the brain fails to adapt the reward circuits. As the ability decreases, the lesser the “highs.” Ultimately, the individual seeks more of the drug to achieve the same high. Long term use changes the brain’s chemical system affecting its functioning such as

• Behavior
• Decision-making
• Memory
• Learning
• Judgment

Why Only a Few People Get Addicted?

Research conducted by drug addiction treatment centers has clearly shown that not any single factor can predict if an individual becomes a drug addict. Moreover, the more risk factors a person has, the greater the chance of addiction.

• Biology

The genes that people are born with account for the risk of addiction. Gender, ethnicity, mental disorders are some of the factors behind drug use.

• Environment

The environment has many influences. Family, friends, economic status, and quality of life are some of the active areas. Most addicts have been exposed to factors like physical and sexual abuse, exposure to drugs, stress, and incorrect parental guidance.

• Development

Genetic and environmental factors affect the development stage in a person’s life. Drug usage and addiction may start anytime; however, the earlier the consumption, the more likely the progress to addiction. This is seen particularly amongst teenagers due to their brain development.

Prevention and Cure

Addiction isn’t curable but can be definitely treated and can be managed successfully. However, people recovering from addiction are at the risk of lapse for their whole life. Google “drug addiction treatment centers near me” and you can find a range of organizations and their way of treatment.

Most of the suboxone clinics combine addiction treatment medicine and behavioral therapy to ensure success. Treatment focuses on drug use patterns, co-occurring medical, mental, and social problems for the recovery.

The good news is that drug use and addiction can be prevented. Many organizations are actively running campaigns and programs by including families, schools, and communities for the reduction of drug use and addiction. Doctors have been focusing on various ways to educate vulnerable groups. Here teachers, parents, and health care providers have a crucial role to play.

Conclusion

Drug addiction is a menace that is detrimental to the world. Drug addiction is a chronic disease and has effects not only on an individual but the entire community. To cut the consumption of drugs, it’s necessary to understand the evil effects of drug addiction.