What is Drug Addiction



Drug Addiction and Recovery

Connie Reynosa

Axia College of University of Phoenix

Drug Addiction has been for as time could tell a varied opinion and facts based argument that tends to leave for the most part people confused and left up to their own ways of thinking. Perception vs. reality has taken the place of facts and the belief of drug addiction as an actual disease. Society views addicts as a flawed individual who lacks constant willpower; however addiction is a disputed disease that changes the brain structure and how it works, but as with other chronic diseases addiction can be managed successfully. Many points of views have spawned the question of what truly is Drug Addiction? The subject matter has a two-fold meaning and when combined it is defined to a more definite conclusion. Through much evidence based research the argument of what is Drug Addiction has tilted more towards the disease belief system.

Drug Addiction by definition has many different interpretations in regards to what is truly an “addiction”. There has been many points of views and opinions that have either supported or debated the essence of what can and cannot be considered an addiction. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary the word addiction has very precise meaning and clearly confirms the need to address the double negative of “drugs” and “addiction”.

The following comes directly from the Merriam-Webster dictionary:

ad·dic·tion Pronunciation:\ə-ˈdik-shən, a-\Function: noun Date: 1599

1: the quality or state of being addicted

2: compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance (as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal; broadly: persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be harmful.

In order to fully understand what a negative impact of having an addiction can have when it comes to Drugs it is best to first address the fact that anything that can be abused for purposes to enhance or alter the normal functions of the human body is more a harm then a benefit. Drug Addiction is most visibly seen through two separate but obvious aspects of human nature. We notice negative alterations in physical appearance and mind alterations. These changes have a very defined “look” and “act” in how a person carries themselves out in public.

The mind is severely affected by the many chemicals that are used and/or combined in substance abuses. With this being said, depending on the type of substance/drug your outcome or resulting effects vary. In this overview three separate forms of drugs will be discussed, which include marijuana, cocaine, and inhalants.

Marijuana

“The parts of the brain that control emotions, memory, and judgment are affected by marijuana. Smoking it can not only weaken short-term memory, but can block information from making it into long term memory. It has also been shown to weaken problem solving ability.”

Cannabis and Cognitive Functioning, Nadia Solowi, Cambridge Univ. Press, 1998.

Cocaine

“Both in powder form and as crack, is an extremely addictive stimulant. An addict usually loses interest in many areas of life, including school, sports, family, and friends. Use of cocaine can lead to feelings of paranoia and anxiety. Although often used to enhance sex drive, physical effect of cocaine on the receptors in the brain reduce the ability to feel pleasure (which in turn causes the dependency on the drug).”

Cocaine: Effects on the Developing Brain, (Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences), John A. Harvey and Barry E. Kosofsky, Eds., New York Academy of Sciences, 1998.

The Neurobiology of Cocaine Addiction: From Bench to Bedside, Herman Joseph and Barry Stimmel, Eds., Haworth Press, 1997.

Inhalants

“Inhalants, such as glue, gasoline, hair spray, and paint thinner, are sniffed. The effect on the brain is almost immediate. And while some vapors leave the body quickly, others will remain for a long time. The fatty tissues protecting the nerve cells in the brain are destroyed by inhalant vapors. This slows down or even stops neural transmissions. Effects of inhalants include diminished ability to learn, remember, and solve problems.”

National Institute On Drug Abuse

People take Drugs for many different types of reasons. Reasons that factor usually are poverty and culturally related. People in sub-cultures of poverty tend to turn to Drugs for a means of escaping reality of living in a poor uneducated environment. In some instances people in poverty stricken neighborhoods turn to Drugs to establish revenue to an otherwise non-productive financial establishment. For others, Drugs bring forth a sense of physical euphoria that one can never achieve through natural experience. Stress, anger, and life issues all play determining factors in people using substances. The question would be, “ Why would someone knowingly negatively harm their body with the simple desire to feel pleasure?” This a question that is frequently asked yet each time has a different response due to the lack of understanding when it comes to the history of drug use. Having a proper knowledge of the history of drug use creates a developed level of understanding and separates opinions and facts.

Throughout American and World history there is stand alone points which define the makeup of the drug culture and becomes a demonstrating gateway of drug addiction and its negative impact of substance addiction. One particular point in history is the Anti-Drug Abuse Act Of 1986.

“The Anti-Drug Abuse Act strengthened federal efforts against drugs in many ways. One provision allows the president to increase tariffs (taxes on imports) on products from countries that do not cooperate with the U.S. efforts to stop drug imports into the United States. Another provision makes seizures of drug offenders' assets (houses, boats, cars, and money) easier. The part of the act with the most far-reaching impact, however, reinstated mandatory prison sentences for drug possession. Until 1986 the federal government had virtually no mandatory minimum sentences for drugs. In the 1986 act, Congress reinstated mandatory prison terms by defining the amounts of various drugs that it believed would be in the hands of drug "Lords” or high-level drug dealers. Those amounts include 1,000 grams of heroine or 5,000 grams of powder cocaine. Offenders possessing, with intent to distribute, these “Drug Lords” amounts face a minimum ten-year prison sentence. Offenders possessing smaller amounts that would generally be possessed by "mid-level dealers"—such as 100 grams of heroin or 500 grams of powder cocaine—face a minimum five-year sentence.”

Kennedy, Randall. Race, Crime, and the Law. New York: Pantheon Books, 1997.

Massing, Michael. The Fix. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1998.

So it’s clear to see that this Ant-Drug Act of 1986 was primarily geared towards combating illegal trafficking and sales that were running rampant across America in the 1980’s. In 1988 the Anti- Drug Abuse Act of 1986 was enhanced in 1988 with the passing of legislation of Congress to establish harsher penalties to anyone committing a crime that has is related or influenced by drugs.

There really is no way for a person to determine why another person gets addicted to drugs. Drug addiction is commonly looked upon as a negative response to negative environments and circumstances. Circumstances otherwise know as “life issues” happens everyday where people turn to drugs to get away from those particular “life issues”. Stress and anger are common ingredients that act as triggers into the thought process of doing negative things or simply a “not caring attitude”. Many people fall into the trap of drug addiction by default, not really understanding what their fully getting themselves into, they lose a sense of reality and act on an impaired sense of judgment. Drug addiction is a result of numerous circumstances but ultimately it was a choice that was made by that person. Peer Pressure is sometimes related to drug use amongst teens as growing up as a teenager most find themselves trying to fit in.

When people are addicted to drugs they tend to act out of impulse and make negative decisions that are directly influenced by drug use. The alteration of thinking tends to create an imbalance in decision-making and everyday actions. The saying A mind is a terrible thing to waste speaks volumes when it comes to drug addiction. Given the fact that the brain is extremely sensitive and delivers a form of sense and touch it is was controls our Central Nervous System and once that is altered or damaged it is completely subject to lasting effects. Noticeable changes through outward appearances are results from inward changes in the mind.

Anything can really be abused negatively if not used in its proper context, focusing on drug related abuses, such as marijuana, cocaine, inhalants, extacy, and heroin. There’s much to be learned. Given the fact that all the substances that have been stated are commonly abused the symptoms tend to be more of a result of continual use vs. the casual user.

Throughout the Drug Addiction span some symptoms are noticeable from the beginning of use and some symptoms are a generally act in a progressive manner. The determining factor for this is body weight, drug type, amount used, and the degree of severity in the drug. For an example of effects, marijuana use is highly destructive yet most people don’t realize it.

“Marijuana affects more than the brain of the person using the drug. The heart and lungs are also affected. There are both short term and long term effects on the heart and lungs from smoking marijuana. With marijuana in the blood stream, the ability of the blood to carry oxygen is restricted. This means that vital oxygen is not flowing to the heart properly. This can lead to elevated heart rate and higher blood pressure. Continued use of marijuana can ultimately increase the chances of heart attack. On the lungs, there are a number of problems. Since marijuana is most often smoked, it is not surprising that many of the problems found in tobacco smokers are also found in marijuana smokers. The lungs serve as the entry point for the THC from the marijuana smoke into the blood.

In the short term, smoking marijuana can result in a feeling of stinging and burning in the mouth and in the throat. A marijuana user may develop a cough and other respiratory problems, such as increased production of phlegm. Long term effects of marijuana substance abuse can result in lung and throat cancer, as well as less severe respiratory illnesses and problems.”

Marijuana Addiction

Recognizing abuse is sometimes considered a two edged sword because there is really no evidence based aspect to discern what is being abused, unless its having a negative effect upon ones life physical or mental. For each person it’s a different reality and can only really be examined on a per case basis.

Trying to understand the full scope of what is taken into consideration when it comes to recovery is a tall task and varies upon the specific aspect of recovery your dealing with. Four aspects of recovery that come into crucial play are Detox, Inpatient, Outpatient, and Sober living.

Every area of recovery plays a vital role in properly treating someone with an addiction, knowing this its is even more crucial that the person is properly placed in the right category for delivering a healthy way of developing a new beginning in a drug free environment. Establishing proper care can at times be hard to come by because there is so few financial resources and far to much of a need in addiction circumstances. Through much debate and open discussion this is an area where most find an uncommon ground on how to effectively administer drug addiction recovery tools. Treatment is a scope of services that needs to be established through research and society based feedback.

Defining what is truly drug addiction helps better guide society in treating a person who has fallen victim to an addiction that cannot recognizably be identified. You cannot force someone to stop in their behaviors but you can most certainly help educate them to make healthier life choices. Recovery is a choice that is continually being processed, educated, and refined. The reward of living sober and maintaining healthy living is greatly shown and developed in building a positive peer support.

References

Cannabis and Cognitive Functioning, Nadia Solowi, Cambridge Univ. Press, 1998.

Cocaine: Effects on the Developing Brain, (Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences), John A. Harvey and Barry E. Kosofsky, Eds., New York Academy of Sciences, 1998.

The Neurobiology of Cocaine Addiction: From Bench to Bedside, Herman Joseph and Barry Stimmel, Eds., Haworth Press, 1997.

National Institute On Drug Abuse

Kennedy, Randall. Race, Crime, and the Law. New York: Pantheon Books, 1997.

Massing, Michael. The Fix. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1998.

Marijuana Addiction

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