DRUG ADDICTION

 

By: Halima Tatabo

Addiction is a disease that affects both the brain and behavior. It's characterized by the inability to resist the urge to use drugs, despite the harm they may cause. Getting treatment for drug addiction at an early stage can help prevent some of the more severe consequences of the disease. It's worth noting that drug addiction is not limited to illegal drugs like heroin or cocaine; legal substances like alcohol, nicotine, sleep, and anti-anxiety medications can also be addictive. Additionally, prescription or illegally obtained narcotic pain medications or opioids can also be addictive, and this problem has reached epidemic levels in the United States, with opioids playing a role in two-thirds of all drug overdose deaths in 2018.

Initially, individuals may choose to use drugs because of the pleasurable sensations they provide. They may believe they can control how much and how often they use them. However, over time, drugs alter the functioning of the brain, resulting in physical changes that can be long-lasting. Consequently, drug addiction can lead to a loss of control and damaging behaviors.

It's essential to distinguish addiction from drug misuse and tolerance. Drug misuse is when individuals use legal or illegal substances in ways they shouldn't. For instance, taking more than the recommended dose of pills or using someone else's prescription. Individuals may misuse drugs to feel good, relieve stress, or avoid reality. However, with drug misuse, individuals can change their unhealthy habits or stop using the drugs altogether. In contrast, addiction is when individuals cannot stop using drugs, even if it puts their health in danger or causes problems for them or their loved ones. Individuals with addiction have a constant urge to get and use drugs, which can fill up every minute of the day, even if they want to quit.

Physical dependence or tolerance is also different from addiction. Physical dependence results in withdrawal symptoms when individuals suddenly stop using the substance, while tolerance occurs when a drug dose becomes less effective over time. For instance, individuals who use opioids for pain management for an extended period may develop tolerance and physical dependence, but it doesn't necessarily mean they're addicted. In general, when narcotics are used under proper medical supervision, addiction happens in only a small percentage of people.

The drugs that are most likely to be addictive target the brain's reward system. They flood the brain with a chemical called dopamine, triggering an intense feeling of pleasure. Individuals keep using the drug to experience that same high. However, over time, the brain gets used to the extra dopamine, requiring individuals to use more drugs to feel the same level of pleasure. Other enjoyable activities, such as food or spending time with loved ones, may give less pleasure.

Not everyone who uses drugs becomes addicted, but it can happen to anyone, regardless of age. Several factors can increase an individual's likelihood of addiction, including a family history of drug or alcohol problems, early drug use, mental disorders, a history of trauma, and troubled relationships.

Several warning signs can indicate addiction, including an urge to use drugs every day or many times a day, using more drugs than intended and for longer periods, carrying drugs all the time, and buying them even if they cannot afford them. Other signs include using drugs despite trouble at work or with family and friends, spending most of the time alone, neglecting self-care, stealing or lying, and engaging in dangerous behaviors such as driving while high or having unsafe sex. Individuals may also feel sick when they attempt to quit.

Growing up with family troubles and being distant from your parents or siblings can increase your likelihood of addiction. If you are concerned about addiction, there are warning signs to watch out for, such as:

Having a daily or frequent urge to use drugs

Using more drugs than intended and for longer periods

Carrying drugs with you at all times and buying them even if you cannot afford them

Using drugs despite negative consequences at work or in relationships

Isolating yourself from others and neglecting personal care

Engaging in risky behaviors, such as stealing or driving while high

Spending most of your time obtaining or recovering from drug use

Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit.

If you are taking prescription painkillers, it is essential to use them as directed by your doctor. Most people who take pain medicine as prescribed do not become addicted, even if they use it for an extended period.

However, if you have a history of drug or alcohol misuse or addiction in your family, you may be at a higher risk.

To reduce your risk of pain medicine addiction, follow these tips:

Take your medication precisely as your doctor prescribes.

Inform your doctor about any personal or family history of drug misuse or addiction. This information will help them determine the best medication for you.

Keep in mind that developing a tolerance to pain medication is common and does not indicate addiction. If you need higher doses to manage pain, talk to your doctor.

Don't let fears of addiction prevent you from using pain medication to alleviate pain, but use caution and follow your doctor's instructions.

Halima Hassan Tatabo,

Mass Communication department, Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi.

Haleeymatoutatabo@gmail.com