Drug addiction destroys lives

Once of the most destructive social problems that society faces today is drug addiction. Those who suffer from this condition (some points of view consider it to be a disease, while others say it is more of a destructive behaviour pattern).

What is drug addiction, exactly? Simply, it is the compulsion to use drugs even without consideration for the negative consequences. It also involves the inability to control that use.

In most cases, the addict cannot kick their drug addiction without outside help. This might come in the form of a drug rehab, psychological counselling, medication prescribed by a physician or a 12-step program.

The roots of drug addiction are debated even among experts. Some say the evidence points to a genetic explanation, some say that addictions result from childhood abuse or some other trauma. Others might discount the early life factors and focus on the powerfully addictive properties of certain drugs.

Many professionals in the field will concede that there might be elements of more than one – or all – of these factors in drug addiction.

Some common examples of drug addiction

There are many kinds of drug addiction, but some of the most common include addictions to:

Cocaine: This is a strong stimulant that affects the central nervous system. It produces a euphoric feeling that results from the artificial release of dopamine in the brain. It directly increases the heart rate, increases temperature and blood pressure, and suppresses appetite.

There are several ways one can consume cocaine. It can be injected (the produces the most immediate and most powerful “high.”); snorted or smoked. When the drug is smoked, it must first be turned into “crack” by a chemical process.

Often over time, the euphoric effects of cocaine will diminish, as will the brain’s capacity to feel pleasure. As a result of this kind of drug addiction, dopamine receptors disappear and the brain’s circuitry becomes impaired. This damage can be reversed, however, following a period of abstinence during which the brain has the time to recover.

Alcohol: This is the most common substance that is abused. It is socially acceptable form of drug addiction, in the way that addiction to cocaine and heroin are not. It is often very difficult to tell when the social use of alcohol turns into an addiction.

Alcohol abuse is a form of drug addiction that involves the escape from reality, from one’s feelings, and from one’s problems. As the addiction progresses, it can involve binge drinking, blackouts, and a complete inability to function without alcohol.

Heroin: This is one of the most difficult drug addictions to overcome because the physical toll the drug takes on the body is a powerful one. The drug creates a very intense euphoria, as well as a consuming physical dependency. It is most often injected although it can also be snorted or smoked.

Withdrawal from the drug is one of the most difficult to endure. Unlike cocaine, heroin involves a physical ordeal that involves intense pain and suffering. Scenes in movies of addicts going through an agonizing withdrawal from drugs are usually depicting the ordeal of a heroin addict.