Understanding Drug Abuse and Addiction
It is very important that people have information available that will help them to understand what addiction is and how the abuse of drugs and alcohol can easily turn into an addiction. Some people mistakenly believe that drug addiction is a choice, and that people who abuse drugs could stop if they had the desire to do so. The truth is that while some people choose to initially use or abuse drugs, that eventually with all drugs or alcohol use, chemical changes occur in the brain and body in a way that is not consciously controlled. These chemical changes lead the individual to crave the drug which leads the person to taking more of the substance.
Some individuals start using addictive drugs as a result of a medical or psychological problem. Drugs like prescription painkillers, barbituates for sleep problems, or anti-anxiety medications are addictive, and addictions to these drugs can occur within a week or two of taking the medication. Individuals suffering from prescription medication addictions, do not abuse drugs, but become addicted none the less. The reason for this is the chemical and physiological changes that the drugs create in the body of the user. Though these individuals will normally be weened off the medication under supervision from a medical professional, some may seek the help of a drug and alcohol rehabilitation treatment center to heal them from their addiction.
Many times drug abuse is in reaction to a painful or stressful situation that leads individuals to find “escape” with drugs or alcohol. Since all drugs are essentially pain relievers that trigger the pleasure center of the brain, effective drug and alcohol rehabilitation will look to find the root of the addiction and work from there. Drug rehabilitation treatment will address both the psychological and physiological issues of drug addiction.
