Understanding Drug Addiction Its Symptoms and Risk Factors

Millions of people in the United States battle with drug addictions. Addiction is a complex, chronic disorder that alters the normal functioning of the brain and body. Addiction causes you to repeatedly involve yourself with a substance or activity despite the psychological and physical substantial harm it causes. While in pursuit of the temporal pleasure that substances such as alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana may offer, areas in your life like your marriage, work, school, and relationships with friends debilitate. Prescribed medications such as opioid painkillers can also cause addiction. Fortunately, your Glendale addiction specialist can help you overcome your addiction and stay drug-free.

How can I tell if I am addicted?

The following practices or behaviors may indicate that you have an addiction and need medical attention from a specialist. They include:

• Having a strong need or urge for the drug to hinder other thoughts or feelings.
• A progressive need to increase the drug amount to attain the same effect
•  The need to use a particular drug every day, several times each day
• Living above your means to get the drugs.
• Exceed the recommended span of drug usage.
• Poor work and school performance while cutting back on social activities like hanging out with friends.
• Engage in acts like stealing to get the drug.
• Maintain a constant supply of the drug.
• Fail in your attempts to discontinue the drug use.

What causes drug addiction?

Since drug addiction is a mental health disorder, different factors may contribute to its development, including environmental and genetic factors. Your family’s beliefs and attitudes play a significant role in initial drug abuse. How fast one can get addicted may be influenced by their inherited genetic traits, accelerating or delaying addiction development. Addiction can be a problem I people of different age groups and economic statuses. Below are the other factors that put you at risk for drug addiction and affect how fast the situation progresses.

Mental health disorder

Mental disorders such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and hyperactivity disorder are associated with negative feelings like loneliness. People with such disorders may resolve to drugs to block feelings of anxiety and sadness. While this may seem like a way of coping, it can worsen the existing condition. People with mental health disorders are prone to drug addiction, as would other individuals.

Family attributes and values

Different family setups have their values, including things they can or can’t do. Children raised in a family where adults smoke or drink alcohol in their midst have a higher chance of drug addiction in the future. Lack of parental supervision or bond with your siblings and other immediate family members also increases drug addiction chances.

Peer pressure

You are likely to develop an addiction if you frequently hang out with your friends or peers who engage in drug abuse. Peer pressure is a common factor, especially among young people, including teenagers, who may be easily influenced. Others may try out using drugs to fit in or seem cool.

Depending on the drug you are addicted to, your specialist may recommend different treatment methods, including detoxification and family therapy sessions. To learn more about drug addiction, consult with your doctor at 2^nd Chance Treatment Center.