What is Drug Dependence? (Drugs abuse)

The Drug addiction Or drug abuse is an addiction, specifically based on drug abuse, in its frequent consumption and bearing its consequences.

If you are drug dependent, you need increasing amounts of a substance to experience its effects.

This is known as tolerance , Ie your body has become accustomed to the effects of the drug / substance and needs larger quantities to produce its effects.

On the other hand, if you are a drug addict you will experience abstinence ; Negative responses and discomfort when you do not consume the substance.

This you can easily observe in everyday life:

• If you have headaches when not drinking coffee in the morning.
• If you are nervous about not smoking for several hours.

There are also much more serious abstinence:

• At Delirium tremes (Abstinence from alcohol), in which you may experience hallucinations and strange bodily sensations.
• In cocaine withdrawal you experience anxiety, boredom and lack of motivation.

However, not all substances cause abstinence. For example, leaving marijuana or LSD It does not produce physical abstinence.

Something important to note is that there may be dependence without abuse. For example, cancer patients can become dependent on morphine and not abuse it.

On the other hand, there may also be drug use without any dependency being believed. For example, there are people who drink alcohol socially or who occasionally use cocaine.

1-How is drug addiction developed?

If you experiment with a drug and continue its use is because the substance makes you feel better or a pain diminishes.

There is a fine line between people who are addicted and those who consume in the normal way. In addition, some addicts have difficulty recognizing that they have crossed that line.

1- Drug use tends to increase gradually : You can start consuming a small joint of marijuana, then start doing it weekly and then daily.

2- If the drug meets a need, it is more likely that its use will increase . For example, if you lack energy or feel depressed and a drug makes you feel more energetic, you are more likely to become addicted to it.

3- When drug use becomes necessary to solve the problem (Depression, anxiety, loneliness, lack of energy...) and can not control its use, comes the depedence.

4- Tolerance of the organism towards the drug . That is to say, it is necessary that you take bigger amounts so that the drug provokes its benefits in you (to feel you more animated, without anxiety, calm, energetic...).

5- Increasingly large quantities , Which makes you more dependent and more difficult to leave the vicious circle. Tolerance and dependence make the consumption can be daily and up to several times per day.

6-Increased consumption and dependence Deteriorates social functioning : Work life, social life, family...

7- Deteriorating operation can lead to more problems , Which makes drug use more likely.

As you can see, drug use can become a vicious circle. A simple step like testing a small amount can lead to frequent consumption.

The good news is that it has a solution with the correct effort, support and treatment.

The first step is to admit that you have a problem and allow close and interested people to help you overcome addiction.

2-Why do some people become addicted and others do not?

People take drugs for very different reasons:

• Curiosity.
• Have fun or feel socially accepted.
• Improve physical performance.
• Relieve anxiety or depression stress.

It does not matter how many drugs you are consuming. If your use is causing problems in your life, you probably have an addiction problem.

The vulnerability to becoming addicted is different from one person to another. The risk factors that increase your vulnerability are:

• Traumatic experiences in childhood, abuse or neglect.
• Family history of addictions.
• Disorder such as anxiety or depression.
• Early use of drugs.

3-Symptoms of drug abuse

If you are a drug dependent person the dependency will show three main effects: psychological dependence (psychological symptoms), substance / drug seeking behavior (behavioral symptoms) and physical symptoms.

Symptoms of psychological dependence

• Anxiety .
• Depression .
• Changes in personality or attitude.
• Periods of hyperactivity or unusual agitation.
• Lack of motivation.
• Inability to concentrate.
• Social isolation.
• Fearful, anxious, paranoid appearance.
• You may want to stop the consumption even if you can not.

Physical symptoms

• Muscular weakness.
• Nightmares.
• Body pain.
• Perspiration.
• Sickness.
• Vomiting.
• Frequent nose bleeds.
• Changes in appetite or sleep patterns. Sudden weight loss or gain.
• Eyes"injected in blood".
• Seizures without a history of epilepsy.
• Impaired physical appearance.
• Injuries or accidents without explanation.
• Smells in body, clothing or breath.
• Tremors, difficulty speaking, unstable coordination.

Behavioral symptoms

• Desperate need to ingest more substance.
• Financial problems, stealing money to consume drugs.
• Decreased attendance at work, school or university.
• Shortage of realization of leisure activities, sports, exercise.
• Complaints from co-workers, supervisors or teachers.
• Social isolation, engaging in suspicious or extraneous behavior.
• Sudden change in personal relationships, friends or hobbies.
• Frequently participate in problems: discussions, accidents, illegal activities...

Signs of Common Drugs

• Marihuana : Red eyes, loud talking, inappropriate laughter, drowsiness, loss of interest, lack of motivation, weight gain or loss.
• Tranquilizers (Valium, xanax): contracted pupils, difficulty concentrating, poor judgment, drowsiness, difficulty speaking, clumsiness, lack of judgment.
• Stimulants (Amphetamines, cocaine): dilated pupils, hyperactivity, euphoria, irritability, anxiety, talk too often followed by depression, long periods of time without sleep or eating, weight loss, dry mouth and nose.
• Inhalants (Aerosols, glues): watery eyes, vision changes, nosebleeds, headaches, nausea, drowsiness, muscle control, changes in appetite, irritability.
• Hallucinogens (LSD, PCP): dilated pupils, irrational thinking, paranoia, aggressions, hallucinations, mood swings, detachment from people, absorption with objects or with themselves, confusion, speech difficulties.
• Heroin : No pupil response to light, pupils contracted, needle marks, sleeping at inappropriate times, vomiting, coughing, loss of appetite, spasms, mucus.

4-The most addictive drugs

The following classification (Franklin, 1990) is based on the inherent addictive potential of substances.

The vulnerability of a person to develop dependence depends on individual traits; Physiology, psychology and social and economic pressures.

Although there are drugs in the list, it must be borne in mind that they are also drugs, because they produce changes at the neural level.

1. Nicotine.
2. Inhaled methamphetamines.
3. Crack.
4. Methamphetamine injected.
5. Valium (diazepam).
6. Metacualone.
7. Seconal (Secobarbital).
8. Alcohol.
9. Heroin.
10. Crank (amphetamine ingested by the nasal route).
11. Cocaine.
12. Caffeine.
13. Phencyclidine.
14. Marijuana.
15. Ecstasy (MDMA).
16. Psilocybin fungi.
17. LSD.
18. Mescaline.

5-Types of drugs / substances

• Tranquilizers : They are substances that produce a sensation of tranquility and a behavioral sedation. They may be barbiturate anxiolytics, Benzodiazepines , alcohol, Hypnotic .
• Stimulants : Substances that increase the physiological activation and the possible increase of the mood. They can be cocaine, amphetamines, nicotine and caffeine.
• Opiates : Substances that produce euphoria and a temporary reduction of pain. They can be heroin, codeine, morphine and opium.
• Hallucinogens : Substances that alter the temporal perception and can cause delusions, delusions and paranoia. They can be LSD and marijuana.
• Others : Drugs with or without prescription, inhalants (glue), anabolic steroids.

6-Effects at brain level

Although each drug produces a different physical effect, all substances abused have one thing in common: their repeated use can alter Brain structure and functioning .

• Take drugs Recreational activities may lead to an increase in the Dopamine In the brain, which triggers feelings of pleasure. Your brain becomes dependent on those sensations.
• When you become addicted, the substance becomes as important as other behaviors like eating or drinking.
• Changes in your brain interfere with your ability to think clearly, control your behavior, or feel emotionally balanced.
• The use of the substance becomes uncontrollable and becomes increasingly important, including work, friends or family.
• You can deny or rationalize your addiction.

7-Diagnostic Criteria for Drug Dependence

A maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant deterioration or discomfort, expressed by three (or more) of the following items at some point in a continuous period of 12 months:

1) Tolerance, defined by any of the following items:

A) a need for markedly increasing amounts of the substance to achieve intoxication or the desired effect.

B) the effect of the same amounts of substance clearly decreases its continued consumption.

2) Abstinence, defined by any of the following items:

A) the withdrawal syndrome characteristic of the substance.

B) the same substance is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms.

3) The substance is often taken in larger quantities or for a longer period than originally intended.

4) There is a persistent desire or inflated efforts to control or disrupt the consumption of a substance.

(5) A lot of time is spent in activities related to obtaining the substance, the consumption of the substance or the recovery of the effects of the substance.

6) Reduction of important social, labor or recreational activities due to substance use.

7) The substance continues to be taken despite being aware of relapsing or persistent psychological or physical problems, which seem to be caused or exacerbated by substance use.

Specify if:

• With physiological dependence: signs of tolerance or abstinence.
• No physiological dependence: no signs of tolerance or abstinence.

References

1. DSM-IV & DSM-IV-TR: Substance Dependence.
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7. Image source.