Drug Addiction

Drug addiction is classified as a physical or psychological dependence on a drug. It can be both. Addiction can occur with drugs as common as aspirin or as insidious as amphetamines, cocaine or heroin. Some people are genetically wired for addiction, while others need several exposures to a substance to become addicted. Very few substances are considered non-addictive, because psychological dependency can occur at any time. For some people, drug addiction is a way of life that will never stop. For others, they have the potential of quitting at any time.

Psychological dependency occurs when the user becomes emotionally attached to the substance. Without it, they may feel strong "comfort cravings", which do not alleviate any pains and provide little, if any physical pleasure.

Physical dependency, on the other hand, happens when the body itself becomes dependent on the drug. After habitual use, body systems become dependent on the drug being in the person's system in order to function correctly. The brain changes its' chemical balance to the point that an abrupt stop of the drug use can cause severe discomfort or even death.

Narcotics are among the most widely abused drug today, bringing with their use both physical and psychological dependencies. Used to create extra endorphins, narcotic drug addiction creates an effect of dependence because, after habitual use, the body no longer produces enough dopamine to satisfy the user's comfort. Whereas “clean” people would be perfectly content without the narcotic, the drug user can plummet into a deep depression when deprived of the drug.

Stimulants such as amphetamines can be equally addictive, although some people say stimulants are the lesser of two evils. The withdrawal symptoms are quite similar, with the exception of the moods produced by each drug. Instead of sinking into deep depression, some people may go into a violent rage.

In any case of drug addiction, treatment is needed. The methods of “kicking the habit” vary widely, as do people's opinions and professional advice on how it should be done. Going "cold turkey" is the immediate cessation of drug use, without being “weaned” off the substance. This is not always the best choice, because without a replacement substance to help the body adjust, body systems can shut down. Most professionals agree that rehabilitation and detoxification programs stand the best chance of success in cases of drug addiction.

Detoxification programs aim to flush the body systems of the drug in a gradual schedule of “drying out”. The drug addiction patient is prescribed drugs which mimic the addictive substance, without the physical and psychological dependency factors.

Rehabilitation programs are more focused on emotional causes of drug addiction, attempting to reveal the emotional sources of the drug addiction, falling more into the classification of therapy versus physical dependence.

Drug addiction is rampant in today's society, for a variety of reasons. If you or someone you know needs help, it's there for the asking.

Drug Addiction Treatment

How is life treating you these days? Are you completely jovial and content with your life overall? Okay, stop right there. The truth of the matter is that most of us are not completely ecstatic about every single aspect of our lives. Sure, a few things can be improved. Whether it's losing that spare tire around your waist, or making some extra income, most of us want more. This is normal in our world. However, when it comes to your life as a whole, you should be fairly satisfied. I know that I am. If you aren't, then I suggest making some changes. Now, don't get me wrong; I'm not referring to illegal changes, such as drugs or criminal activity, but rather to social and/or employment alterations. The last thing you want to do is take up a drug habit in order to achieve some bogus euphoric state of bliss. If you do go this route, you'd better count on future drug addiction treatment or death. That's just reality.

Have you ever acquired or known someone who received drug addiction treatment? This is a sad reality in our sometimes harsh world. So many individuals turn to drugs when things aren't going their way. Get a life, people! Or at least get some will power. The last thing on your mind should be illegal substances. With all that we know regarding drugs these days, you'd basically have to be an ignorant idiot to even try them. This is what I tell my kids so that they never end up needing drug addiction treatment. I sat down with my teenager and wrote out the pros and cons to doing drugs. She was amazed at how many cons there are. And in reality there plain and simply aren't any pros. Therefore, what would anyone want drugs for? It's a no-win situation that only leads to death and destruction of self. Trust me; I've seen others take the drug route. One guy I knew in college was a former cocaine addict. These days he complains of the damage done to his mind. He apparently has reoccurring nightmares about demons trying to get him. Yikes!

Are you in need of drug addiction treatment? Well, if you are, then I would suggest that you get help as soon as possible. The earlier you seek drug addiction treatment and squelch the affliction, the better off you are. Get online and check out all the treatment centers near you. After all, do you really want to be seeing demons for the rest of your life?