What Is Drug Addiction?
By Dr.Fourkan Ali
Human beings, since they first
appeared on the planet, have been experimenting with consciousness-altering and
pleasure-inducing drugs. The stresses and strains of modern living appear to
have contributed to the problem of drug addiction for
a proportion of today’s recreational drug users.
Drug addiction appears to be fuelled by the dual processes
of growing chemical dependency on a substance and the search to repeat the pleasurable
experience it induces. Typically, the chemical dependency is caused by
biochemical changes in the user’s brain, which in many instances lead to an
increased tolerance for the drug of choice. Choice, perhaps, becomes a
progressively less straightforward term: the increased tolerance means that
bigger doses are required in order to achieve the sought after effects, with
the result that the drug acquires an importance in the user’s life unmatched by
other simpler pleasures.
Personality and behavioural changes often occur during drug
addiction, as users become more and more preoccupied with obtaining their next
“hit” of the drug. Many people, it should be said, do not become addicted, but
a proportion does, especially when using drugs known to rapidly induce a
chemical dependency, such as heroin.
It is notoriously difficult to
self-treat a drug addiction, and most who reach the point of serious dependency
require carefully devised drug addiction treatment programmes. These drug
addiction treatment programmes may be residential or community-based and
usually begin with a period of detoxification to achieve a drug-free state.
Subsequently, users then progress onto treatments that encourage the
maintenance of drug-free living and the management of contingencies, such as
stress, unforeseen setbacks, and boredom.
Dangers of Drug Addiction
There are a multitude
of dangers associated with drug addiction, from the obvious physical and psychological
dangers to the social and emotional problems that face many addicts and their
families.
Physical Dangers
Whether you are taking medication that is not
prescribed for you or street drugs bought illegally, you are putting your body
at risk. There are often side effects associated with any kind of drug use,
which is why people should only take medications that have been prescribed for
them. Illegal drugs are not regulated, which means there is no way to be sure
of what you are taking. The example of teenager Leah Betts, who died after
taking her first ecstasy tablet, serves as a reminder of these dangers.
Psychological Dangers
Prolonged drug addiction can bring about all
kinds of psychological dangers to a person. Hallucinations or a blunted view of
reality can be developed over time. Drug use often clouds judgement and this
poor decision-making can lead you into danger. Depressant or barbiturate drugs
can slow reflexes, making everyday tasks like driving potentially lethal.
Social and Emotional Dangers
In addition to the
effects that drug addiction has on the body and brain, there is a real risk of
other potentially more damaging problems. A drug addiction can affect your
work, possibly leaving you unemployed or even unemployable. Likewise, drug
addictions will almost certainly put a strain on relationships between family
and friends. This social alienation can lead to depression over the situation,
which perpetuates a vicious cycle of drug abuse and addiction.
Drug Dependency in Women
Somewhat surprisingly, drug dependency in women
was not looked into until the 1990’s. The National Centre for Health Statistics
show that before this time many women were not even included in studies
relating to drug or alcohol abuse. This is amazing considering the damage a
woman’s addiction can have on the entire family, for it is not only the addict
who will suffer, but also their partner and children.
Government research shows that it is often a
traumatic event, such as physical or sexual abuse, which will entice a woman
into taking drugs.It is at times like this that women are more likely to be at
their most vulnerable and feel that drugs or alcohol are the only way they can
cope. The studies also show that women who use mind-altering drugs are more
likely to suffer from liver disease and substance abuse than men who take the
same drug
Drug addiction can cause many physical problems for women, such as making
their periods more erratic or stopping them altogether.It can also affect their
reproductive organs, making it harder for them to conceive.Menopause usually
starts between the ages of 45and- 55, but with drug abuse it can occur in the
30’s.
Surveys show that
women often turn to drink and drugs as a means of combating depression.
However, Home Office studies show that the effects of drugs and alcohol
actually make the depression worse, therefore creating a vicious circle for the
unsuspecting addict.
Effects of Drug Use
The effects and risks of heroin addiction are
well documented and everyone is well aware of the resultant breakdown in
relationships, financial problems, physical and mental disorders.Drug users put
themselves through all of this, and for what?
Studies by the Information Centre for Health
and Social Care have shown that most people who have started taking drugs do
not do so with the intention of becoming hooked or to become habitual users who
cannot start the day without a fix.Social use becomes the norm, while peer
pressure and the need for relief from a stressful home life or difficult job
add to the pressure.The addictive nature of heroin means that it rapidly
becomes a necessity rather than a recreation and left unchecked can take over a
person’s life, as they have to strive ever harder to reach a ‘high’.
Heroin is a fast acting
opiate that once it has entered the blood stream leaves users with a feeling of
euphoria, a ‘high’ or a ‘rush’ of well being.Heroin abuse leads to a tolerance
of the drug’s effect, so heroin addicts have to use ever more to reproduce that
initial ‘high’.This can rapidly lead to a state of drug dependency and serious
physical and psychological problems, as the person becomes increasingly immune
to the effects. Drug addiction is never without side effects.
There are a series of
side effects associated with heroin withdrawal. As a long time addict comes
down from heroin use they may experience dilated pupils, goose bumps, watery
eyes and a runny nose.There will also be a loss of appetite, shivers and nausea,
muscle pain and difficulty sleeping.
Effects of Drug Dependency
Drug addiction affects both the individual concerned and has implications
for the wider society as a whole.As a result of the general increase in
instances of drug dependency in the UK, it follows that more and more people
are finding that drug abuse has a direct implication on their own lives, even
though they may not actually be drug addicts.
Home Office figures show that, in the UK, an
astounding $13 billion is dedicated to dealing with the effects of antisocial
behaviour and crime and of this, around 90% can be directly linked to drugs.A
staggering 46% of people who admitted using drugs also said that they had
committed a crime at the same time.The survey also showed that vulnerable
groups, like homeless people, those in care and those excluded from schools,
constituted 61% of Class A drug users
The effects extend from elderly people who are
afraid to leave their homes, because of crime and antisocial behaviour, which
is destroying neighbourhoods, to the impact of people that operate machinery or
drive cars whilst under the influence.Despite the constant messages on the
dangers of driving whilst using drugs there still seems to be a sector of
society that is oblivious to the message.
On a personal level,
drug dependency can lead directly to financial hardship, unemployment and
homelessness.A criminal record and severe health problems can occur as a result
of drug use and the addict’s desperate attempts to support their habit.Innocent
people also get caught up as victims of crime, injured in accidents or infected
during irresponsible sexual encounters.
Sources: Website
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