True Living Counseling

Think, Feel, Be

People often assume that those with addictions should be able to quit by simply making up their minds to do so. Addiction is possible with a wide range of chemical substances. Dependence, most often related to physical symptoms, can occur for a subset of the chemicals that cause addiction. For instance, often an individual is prescribed medication for a legitimate reason (such as pain after an injury) and this can lead to physical withdrawal symptoms if the medication is stopped. This post-medical treatment drug dependence can lead to subsequent drug abuse. People with drug abuse problems are individuals whose brain biochemistry has been altered by alcohol or drugs. The words addiction, drug addiction, alcoholism, and chemical dependency are common terms for abuse of alcohol or drugs.

The current model to explain addiction suggests that addiction begins with the basic pleasure and reward circuits in the brain, which involve the chemical dopamine. These reward centers are designed to activate during pleasurable acts such as eating or drinking. Ingesting a substance causes these reward circuits to activate and in extreme cases addiction and dependence is possible. However, addictive behaviors that are considered damaging or destructive have characteristics that distinguish them from normal behavior. People with addictions often cannot quit on their own. Addiction is an illness that requires treatment. Treatment may include counseling, behavioral therapies, self-help groups or medical treatment.

ADDICTION

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Addiction (or drug abuse) is often confused with dependence.

Many drugs can affect the brain. Some may cause changes in behavior and can result in dependence or abuse.

Dependence is the development of withdrawal symptoms after the use of a substance is stopped. It can happen with the subset of chemical substances that are psychologically or physically habit-forming. Dependence is characterized by tolerance. Tolerance occurs when the body becomes less responsive to a specific amount of a substance, thereby causing the person to increase the amount of drug intake to achieve the previous effect. Well-defined physiological or psychological symptoms may occur upon withdrawal.

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