Addiction underlies dependency on a particular item. Addiction can be to anything. It comes in various forms. It can start at any age and stage. There can be several reasons for addiction. It is hard to quit when it comes to drug and alcohol abuse. They contain highly addictive substances like nicotine, tobacco, and downers.
What is Addiction Exactly?
Addiction is a dysfunction of the brain. A complex condition manifested by compulsive substance abuse despite drastic and damaging consequences. These consequences leave a lasting impact. The development of addiction gives rise to a set of complex neurobiological and psychosocial factors.
In severe cases, it develops into a mental health condition because of the symptoms it portrays. Addiction ends up controlling an individual’s behavior. Everything an addict thinks about is typically linked to addiction. This makes thinking extremely difficult, influencing work and personal relationships.
Stages of Addiction
While many factors contribute to addiction, like genetics, environmental, socioeconomic, and various health conditions, addiction does not occur overnight. Every addict goes through four stages of addiction: experimentation, from light use to regular use, dependency, and addiction. Let us look at everyone in detail.
First Stage: Experimentation
The first stage starts with curiosity. You become curious about a certain substance. You want to know what it would feel like even though you do not initially have a preconception of regular consumption. You might be able to resist some less addictive substances like cigarettes and marijuana if you have a high tolerance. In the case of LSD, cocaine, and heroin, the initial experimentation stage is highly dangerous. They can take you to the edge!
To learn more about addiction and avoid it, follow this addiction guide to help you through the process. Do not keep your feelings of addiction to yourself. The moment you start feeling drawn toward a substance. No matter what problems you face, resorting to drug abuse can exacerbate them.
Peer pressure is another factor that leads to experimentation. Teenagers and young adults need to feel accepted. Peer pressure can also take adults into its folds. They befriend such people and join clubs. If they are not getting acceptance elsewhere, they seek acceptance in a different crowd.
This is how it all starts. You start hanging out with the crowd because of social acceptability.
Second Stage: Regular Use
Initially, it will feel comforting. It will help alleviate work stress, reduce social anxiety, and make your thinking process faster. You will not believe how good it makes you feel. Therefore, you continue taking the drug. What starts as an experiment turns into regular use. The drug will prove to be life-changing for you. You will feel unable to perform well without taking it.
In other words, life without it will feel boring and monotonous. The drug is a source of thrill in your daily routine. It makes your life feel more fun and exciting. Individuals with regular use report being less interested in activities that used to bring them joy. They may also experience extreme mood swings between doses. These mood swings and negative reactions are signs of dependency.
Third Stage: Dependency
Dependency is the physical and psychological reliance on the drug. You start to feel like you are unable to do anything without it. Small chores will feel like big tasks without taking a dose. It is the effect of the drug on the brain. The brain stops producing natural compound chemicals and relies on an external drug source to dictate its normal functions.
The body will be unable to retain its natural balance without the drug. You will need to take the drug to reach a state of homeostasis. Being sober now goes out of the question.
Dependency leads to tolerance. This is when the brain requires stronger doses each subsequent time to achieve satisfaction. At this stage, the person is more likely to take higher risks. They start making irrational life choices. For example, they will spend the money intended for bills to buy the drug. This means neglecting work and home obligations.
Fourth Stage: Addiction
Dependency and tolerance lead to full-blown addiction! In this stage, the individual becomes highly addicted to the substance. Drug-centered thoughts will become more frequent. Their focus will be on how to obtain the next high. During this stage, quitting will be harder. The chances of a relapse will be a lot higher.
The individual’s entire focus will be on drugs. They will start neglecting their basic needs. The drug will become their basic need. It will feel impossible to remain alive without being high. The drug will be like oxygen to an addict.
The addict reaches such an intense stage that friends and family are likely to distance themselves. This leads to isolation. Then they will experience social anxiety. It will be hard to attend any gathering. The drug will be their only fixer.
Facts and Statistics on Addiction
Let us look at some surprising facts about addiction that you may not know.
Alcohol is the Most Commonly Abused Substance
The fact that alcohol is legal in most parts of the world is not surprising, and its legal distribution makes alcohol easily accessible. Throughout the West and Europe, you can go to any store to buy alcohol. There is a legal market for it in demand.
This means the availability of a wide variety of alcohol. You can get it cheap. Some states have a legal drinking age of 18, while for others, it is 21. You can show your government-issued identity and get as much alcohol as you want.
Also read: How to Manage Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms and Cravings
Addiction Industry Values at $740 Billion
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), addicts collectively spend $740 billion a year on drugs. This statistic comes from US data from all the states.
Out of the $740 billion, tobacco contributes $168 billion a year. Healthcare treatment that stems from tobacco abuse is estimated at $300 billion. While healthcare costs from alcohol abuse are $27 billion a year, the overall cost of damage is $249 billion.
Apart from alcohol and tobacco, Illegal drugs have a market value of $193 billion. Prescription opioids run the government $78.5 billion yearly.
Addiction Can Alter the Structure of Your Brain
As mentioned above, drug abuse causes the brain to stop producing natural chemical compounds. The drug starts controlling normal functions of the brain. It makes your thinking cloudy and irrational. This is also a reason why drug abuse is considered mental dysfunction.
Addictive substances give your brain shots of dopamine. A chemical neurotransmitter that controls the frontal lobe. It is responsible for altering your mood. This is why addicts get mood swings. They instantly feel happy after taking the drug. Missing a dose will lead to fits of mood swings and behavioral dysfunction.
US Citizens Consume 80% of Prescription Pills Worldwide.
While the population of the US is only 5% of the world, they consume 80% of the prescription pills produced each year. A major reason is that US doctors keep prescribing opioids for chronic and acute pain. Ease of availability also leads to excessive use and abuse.
Another alarming fact is that 40% of opioid users are more likely to use heroin. Both heroin and opioids have a similar chemical structure that the brain of an addict can detect.
Conclusion
Addiction is a very powerful and drastically dangerous condition. It can stem from peer pressure, curiosity, prescription drugs, or more. The four stages of addiction are experimentation, regular use, dependency, and addiction.
The US has the highest rate of addiction victims. The addiction industry is a $740 billion market. Even more alarming is that US citizens consume the most prescription drugs worldwide.
These stats and figures suggest that you seek immediate guidance and help from healthcare institutions and professionals. Do not wait for the addiction stage to take over. It’s important to act sooner rather than later, as it’s easier for your life to fall apart to build it up again.
This article is published by our independent team of health and wellness pundits that publish original and informative content to empower readers to take charge of their health and embark on a physically, mentally, and emotionally balanced lifestyle.
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