Understanding Substance Abuse
Mar 24th, 2010 by JF
When a person takes a drug, it has some sort of effect on the brain. That is the purpose of taking drugs, even medically prescribed ones. However, there are times when a drug can offer feelings of euphoria (or extreme well being) and, like cigarette smoking, can trick the brain into thinking the body must have more and more of it. In an effort to obtain more of these drugs, a person can act in ways that often confuse and hurt their loved ones.
Drug addiction is a physical, mental and emotional dependence on a drug. In fact, the drug becomes the most important thing in the life of an addict. They will let nothing, or no one get in the way of their getting their drug fix. Because of this, their behavior often seems bizarre and very out of the ordinary. Addiction to a drug can bring about some severe personality changes and has been known to tear families apart.
The body and the brain both become dependent on the drug to the point that loved ones become almost unrecognizable in personality. Actual physical and psychological effects are felt if the addict does not get the drug. It becomes their sole purpose in life to obtain drugs and abuse the substance. Once addiction occurs, the only way to stop it is to eliminate the drug from the body and brain. This is often referred to as detox and rehab.
To simply expect the drug addict to stop abusing the substance is not reasonable. Addiction is a very strong condition and affects a person’s very being. Chances are, they did not intend to become addicted and it was not an individual choice. None-the-less, they did become addicted and now their drug is their entire life.
A person with a drug addiction has an uncontrollable craving for the abused substance. Even in the face of danger and negative consequences, the need for the drug pushes them on. It is this need that has torn apart many families and friendships. Although, as noted, it is uncontrollable, it is often too much for loved ones to bear. Drugs have a prolonged effect on the body and the brain. In other words, every inch of the drug addict craves their drug. Nothing will stop them from getting it.
