Addiction Drug Abuse, Tolerance, And Addiction - 2246 Words

Addiction is a worldwide disease that is not discriminatory against whom it affects. People take drugs because they want to change something in their lives; â€Å"They thinks drugs are a solution. But eventually, drugs become the problem† (â€Å"Truth About Drug Addiction†). This leads people to wonder, What is addiction? Are there treatments for addiction? There are four common steps on the pathway to addiction: drug abuse, tolerance, dependence, and last but not least addiction. (Advert: Substance Abuse.) A person may develop tolerance to a drug when the drug is used repeatedly. For instance, when morphine or alcohol is used for a long time, larger and larger doses must be taken to produce the same effect. For instance, tolerance develops very quickly to the analgesic effects of drugs like morphine or heroin. (The Neurobiology†)According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, some children are already abusing drugs at age twelve or thirteen, which likely means that some begin even earlier. (‘National Survey on Drug†). Drug use early on may involve substances such as tobacco, alcohol, inhalants, marijuana, and prescription drugs such as sleeping pills and anti-anxiety medicines. Some explanations of why individuals become involved and then start abusing drugs proposed by scientists include having a biological cause, such as having a family history of drug or alcohol abuse. Another explanation is that drug abusers often are around other drug abusers, which in turn exposesShow MoreRelatedEssay about Addiction and the Brain1037 Words   |  5 PagesAddiction and the Brain The ponderance that Brain = Behavior and the inherent ramifications of such proves no more fascinating than when addressed in the context of Addiction and the Brain. Essential to consider is: -what exactly is an addictive/abusive substance (drugs of abuse) -what brain center(s)/chemical(s)are involved -what does it mean to become physiologically dependent -how should the concept of addiction be addressed -how might we use animal models -and whatRead MoreEssay Drugs: Tolerance and Withdrawal1254 Words   |  6 PagesDrugs cause an indescribable high, causing the imprisoned individual to be set free from their reality; however, that’s not only what drugs cause. About 200 million people around the world are drug users causing 250,000 deaths each year. Dependency on a drug then leads to a tolerance to the drug, and before the user knows it, they are addicted. Drugs are like a black hole that vacuums the user into a state of addiction which makes it even more difficult to escape and quit. However, addiction canRead MoreDrugs -Tolerance,Dependence,Addiction and Treatment1184 Words   |  5 PagesDrugs -Tolerance,Dependence,Addiction and Treatment. There can be a great deal of confusion surrounding the words addiction, physical dependence, and tolerance. People will use these words as if they are referring to the exact thing, but there is a significant difference between them . Misunderstandings about these terms can not only be confusing for the general public but also many in the medical profession. One of the main culprits blamed for this confusion is the fact that the Diagnostic andRead MoreLove Is a Natural Drug1415 Words   |  6 PagesLove Is a Natural Drug John-Mark I. Chambers The University of the West Indies Mona Campus Abstract Love addiction and substance dependence have similar characteristics, namely, the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine, the presence of tolerance and withdrawal symptoms, and the negative influences they have on a person’s life. Love addiction is similar to addictive drugs such as alcohol, cocaine, marijuana and heroin because of the effects that dopamine have on the addict’s mind and bodyRead MoreDrug Abuse And Its Effects On The Brain1535 Words   |  7 Pagesbrain the same. That is not the case. Drugs are a colossal problem nowadays for teenagers and adults, Drugs can alter the brain permanently, and it can be almost impossible to recover from addiction, especially as a teen. Addiction is a chronic relapsing disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and abuse and long lasting chemical changes in the brain. People who are addicted to certain kinds of drugs are lead onto a long and hard path of drug abuse and dependence. Whether or not someoneRead MoreUse And Prescribing Methods Of Opioids1158 Words   |  5 Pagesopioid use disorders occur in up to one-third of patients on chronic opioid therapy. So abuse and addiction are likely to occur in people taking opioids long term. Overall, evidence on long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain is very limited but suggests an increased risk of serious harms that appears to be dose-dependent. More research is clearly needed to scientifically prove and understand abuse and addiction.â€Æ' Opioids: Long Term Solution or Short Term Killer Opioids are a type of pain medicationRead MoreAddiction Is The Most Common Addiction991 Words   |  4 PagesAddiction is more of a condition than a disease, and can be considered to be a behavioral disorder that stems from personal choice. Addiction is a controversial issue, and many people debate on whether addiction is seen as a disease or a personal choice. There has been many studies that have proven addiction to be a disease that stems from personal choice. Addiction is a chronic brain disease that causes habitual drug use ( Drug abuse, 2012). Over time the brain changes, and the person who is addictedRead MoreAddiction : The Problem Of Addiction Essay1198 Words   |  5 PagesAddiction Students stroll in to class, their Venti iced soy vanilla lattes in hand rather than a notebook and pen. Keurig coffeemakers are commonplace in college dorm rooms. Colleges boast the number of Starbucks shops they have on campus. Just a month into the school year, and already many students’ bodies are becoming tolerant to caffeine, needing more and more of it to achieve the desired boost of energy, and if not given their fix, rebelling by causing headaches and irritability. Could itRead Moredrug addiction1059 Words   |  5 PagesReseach Paper About Drug Addiction Introduction These days, drugs can be found everywhere, and it may seem like everyone s doing them. Lots of people are tempted by the excitement or escape that drugs seem to offer. But learning the facts about drugs can help you see the risks of chasing this excitement or escape. And just as there Premium4645 Words19 Pages Research Paper About Computer Addiction CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION A. Background of the study It is known that we are living in technologicalRead MoreThe Problem Of Chemical Dependency1527 Words   |  7 Pagesover with any illicit drug use in the past month: was 9.4%. The statistics also show people 12 years of age and over with any nonmedical use of a psychotherapeutic drug in the past month was 2.5%. These rates are significant. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH, 2014) found abuse of and addiction to substances costs Americans more than $700 billion a year in increased health care costs, crime, and lost productivity. Unfortunately, each year illicit and prescription drugs and alcohol contribute