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Addictive Substances: What They Are, Effects & Types

Et al. 2019, titled “Benzodiazepine Use and Misuse Among Adults in the United States,” Misuse accounted for 17.2% of benzodiazepine use overall. The effects of drugs vary depending on the substance, dosage, and frequency of use. Short-term addictive drug meaning effects include euphoria, increased energy, relaxation, or hallucinations. Long-term use causes severe health issues such as organ damage, mental illness, and cognitive impairment.

Changes in the brain

addictive drug meaning

Understanding these cultural nuances is vital for developing effective and culturally sensitive addiction interventions. The misuse of prescription stimulants, antidepressants, sedatives, steroids, or other drugs during adolescence negatively impacts brain and body development​​. Sober living house The symptoms of stimulant addiction include heightened alertness, excessive energy, decreased appetite, increased heart rate and blood pressure, insomnia, rapid speech, paranoia, and hallucinations.

MDMA (Ecstasy) Addiction

While cannabis has medical uses, frequent use, especially of high-potency strains, can lead to addiction. You may want to reach out to a friend or loved one for support as you start your treatment journey. Their encouragement could be the motivation you need to talk to a healthcare provider. A provider will also ask about your mental health history, as it’s common to have an SUD and a mental health condition. A person with addiction is unable to stop using a substance or engaging in a behavior even though it has harmful effects on daily living. Anyone using substances, even socially, should discuss them with a doctor to ensure safe use and monitor for signs or symptoms of addiction.

addictive drug meaning

Dual Diagnosis Treatment for Co-occurring Disorders

  • In just 2 minutes, you can speak with an admissions specialist, verify your insurance, and explore treatment options that work for you.
  • Behavioral therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), group counseling, and relapse prevention strategies are integrated into most programs.

Professional help for addiction offers guidance tailored to your individual needs, helping you navigate the complexities of detox, therapy, and recovery. Support groups, such as Narcotics Anonymous (NA) or Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), provide a sense of community and shared experience, helping you stay accountable and motivated throughout the recovery process. You can rewire your brain after addiction by leveraging the brain’s neuroplasticity to create new, healthier neural pathways. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to adapt and reorganize itself by forming new connections in response to experiences. The transtheoretical model can be helpful in guiding development of tailored behavioral interventions that can promote lasting change. Progression through these stages may not always follow a linear path, as individuals may move back and forth between stages.

addictive drug meaning

Both types of addiction cause significant harm and require professional treatment. Addiction develops in the brain through a complex interplay of neurobiological changes, primarily affecting the brain’s reward system. Repeated substance use overstimulates dopamine, a key neurotransmitter that reinforces pleasurable behaviors. Over time, the brain adapts, reducing dopamine sensitivity, leading to tolerance (needing more substance for the same effect) and cravings. Results from NIDA-funded research have shown that prevention programs involving families, schools, communities, and the media are effective for preventing or reducing drug use and addiction. Although personal events and cultural factors affect drug use trends, when young people view drug https://lasalletarija.org/index.php/2024/11/13/what-does-it-feel-like-to-be-drunk-levels-of-being-12/ use as harmful, they tend to decrease their drug taking.

What Are the Common Causes of Drug Addiction?

Sex addiction, also known as Compulsive Sexual Behavior Disorder (CSBD), is estimated to impact 3% to 6% of individuals in the U.S. Shopping addiction, or Compulsive Buying Disorder (CBD), has a 5.8% lifetime prevalence in the U.S., according to a study published in World Psychiatry. These behavioral addictions, though different from substance use disorders, lead to significant psychological, social, and financial consequences, requiring therapy and professional intervention. Prescription drugs are medications legally prescribed by doctors for various medical conditions but are misused.

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