The term ‘addiction’ itself finds its root in a Latin word which can be loosely translated as ‘bound by’. This very definition could reveal very clearly how very ensnaring the addiction to anything could be. There was a time in the past when the majority held the opinion that it was only alcohol and other potent drugs which could result in a person becoming addicted. It was not until fairly recently that research revealed to us that even other very congenial activities could also end up being an addiction. Examples of the same include gambling, shopping, and even sex.
Addiction has become a very serious problem for our population because the very recent government statistics reveal that very close to 23 million Americans which makes one in every ten, are enmeshed by addiction to alcohol and to other drugs. This is the precise reason why we are trying to understand why addiction happens in the first place so that we can find a way out of this predicament.
There are many people who live for the thrill of certain activities. Like, some people like the rush of fear when they partake in dangerous activities like bungee jumping or cliff diving, and this is why they keep returning to those activities in pursuit of the same feeling. This is more or less what happens with the use of drugs too. The first use of any drug brings the user unnaturally intense feelings of desire, and this activates the reward circuitry in the brain. So despite the uneasy feeling that comes alongside the effects of drugs including nausea, headaches, and the coughing, the feelings of pleasure have the user returning for more every time.
While the feeling of pleasure is only one effect of the drugs on the human brain, there is also one other. After the use of drugs on multiple occasions, it starts to change the basic structure of the brain because of the flood of neurotransmitters. Therefore, while the drugs make a person feel pleased, they could also take away that ability by momentarily flooding the brain with a chemical called dopamine and thereby reducing its overall effect on the brain. So when a person after experiencing the influence of drugs a number of times is not on them anymore, their life may seem uneventful and free of emotion and feeling.
Consequently, this is how the drug once taken, alters the brain in such a way that it no longer operates normally if not under the influence. The changes in the brain which make a person want the drugs more and more are what we call the state of addiction.
Experts are also of the view that some people are more likely to become addicted to drugs after using them compared to others. One reason they present for this is the biology. Some people have the gene structure which makes the body more inclined towards addiction to certain substances. The person’s age, race, ethnicity, and their mental conditions have a huge part to play in their inclination towards addiction.
Experts also say that a person’s environment has a part to play in his/her inclination towards addiction to drugs. People who lack a remarkable quality of life or those who are under a great deal of economic or social pressures also have a predisposition towards the continued use of drugs.
Despite all of these factors which work against the person, there are ways in which the addiction to drugs can be cured. It is, however, essential to ascertain that the participant actually wants to be cured of the problem himself. Since addiction to drug involves a change to the brain, the brain has to agree with the willingness to find a cure for a person or close family members can go out and do something about that addiction.
Works Cited
Harvard Health Publications. Understanding Addiction. n.d. 28 August 2016 <http://www.helpguide.org/harvard/how-addiction-hijacks-the-brain.htm>.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. DrugFacts: Understanding Drug Use and Addiction. August 2016. <https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/understanding-drug-use-addiction>.
National Institute of Drug Abuse forTeens. How Does Someone Become Addicted to Drugs? 26 August 2016. <https://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts-detail/how-does-someone-become-addicted-to-drugs>.
