Addictions

Addiction, Smoking, and Drinking

Addiction is one of the leading causes of distorted brain functions. It is a brain disease manifested by different substances. Alcohol, drugs, or nicotine stimulate intense feeling, pleasure, or increased senses.

What is addiction?

Addiction is a chronic illness distinguished by drug seeking and use.  It disrupts the normal and healthy brain function. Changes in the brain circuit affect the behaviour and thinking of a person.

Substances like marijuana, heroin, tranquillizers, and cocaine generate intoxication. It gives off an immediate effect such as intense pleasure, calm, and high. These effects are what drive the intense craving for a drug, making it hard to stop.

People with addiction develop tolerance over time. They need more immense amounts of substances to feel the effects of the drug.

What are the reasons for taking a drug?

Here are a few reasons as to why people take drugs:

• To feel good. Drugs such as cocaine produce extreme pleasure known as euphoria. This initial effect is followed by increased self-confidence and energy. In contrast, the high produced by heroin is a feeling of satisfaction and relaxation.
• To feel better. Taking drugs is a voluntary action caused by various reasons. People who suffer from stress, depression, or anxiety are most likely to take drugs. They take drugs to lessen the stress and to feel less anxious.
• Peer pressure. Teens are most at risk considering this factor. Pressure has a strong pull in leading an adolescent for substance use. Adolescence is a crucial period of a child where curiosity takes place.

What is nicotine addiction?

Nicotine is the main component of tobacco that produces pleasing effects. The effects are so pleasant yet temporary, so you want to reach for another one.

They say, the more you taste pleasure, the more you seek for it. Same goes for the nicotine dependence; when you start smoking, you keep looking for it to feel good.

Even if you want to stop, you cannot, because you experience mental and physical changes. This effect is a sign of nicotine withdrawal.

Symptoms of nicotine dependence:

• You cannot quit smoking.
• You keep smoking despite harmful consequences.
• You give up socializing with friends and families.
• You experience withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop.

What is Alcoholism?

Alcohol addiction or Alcoholism is also referred to as an alcohol abuse disorder. It is a kind of alcohol abuse and a failure to control drinking practices. It is categorized into mild, moderate, and severe.

A person who suffers frAlcoholismism cannot function properly without alcohol. Alcoholism can impact personal lives, relationships, and health of an individual.

Signs Alcoholism:

• Always craving alcohol.
• Spending a large amount of money on alcohol.
• Unable to control behaviour after drinking.
• Alcohol consumption is uncontrollable.

When there is an abuse of substance, it always results in complications. Addiction, nicotine dependence, Alcoholism have solutions.

There are treatments for every occurring disease. It may not be seen physically, but it affects you mentally.

It is not too late to turn your back from addiction and abuse. There is no wrong in seeking help.

It is better to ask than to stay in silence.  There are hope and a chance to change your life.