Addictions are a widespread phenomenon, which destroys lifes of people around the world. What are people’s conscious of term "addictions"? Is addiction disease or harmful habit? There is no consensus to cause, exclusion and treatment method of addictions.
In accepted meaning, an addiction is a state in which someone develops physical dependence on drug addiction. When the drug or substance on which someone is dependent is removed, it will entail characteristic set of signs and symptoms. Addiction is associated with boost of drug tolerates.
Generally, term "addiction" is used to describe an obsession, physical or psychological dependence to drug, alcoholism, overeating, etc.
There is no absolute agreement on the exact nature of addiction. Originally, addiction has been explained by impact of psychoactive substances like alcohol, tobacco and others that having been ingested, cross the blood-brain barrier and temporarily alter the chemical milieu of the brain.
In practice, addictions often have physical and psychological components. Physical dependence is induced by depressants of the central nervous system such as opiates, barbiturates and alcohol as well.
Physical dependence on a substance is defined by characteristic withdrawal symptoms if use of substance ceases. Addition begins with a voluntary decision to use drugs for its ability to induce pleasure. Nobody starts out going to become an addict, but afterwards, he lost control and a voluntary user turns into an addict. The absence of drugs leads to extreme physical discomfort. Thus, the aim of taking drugs turns up to ease the anxiety caused by the absence of them.
In the cases of heavy physical dependence, the human body becomes so dependent on the particular drug that it gives up working out its own natural substances and produces opposing chemicals. Due to brain changes occurred, it qualifies as a brain disease expressed as compulsive behavior.
The quickness of becoming addicted to drugs depends on the substance, the dose of used, the extent of euphoria, and genetic and psychological factors.
Psychological dependency means a dependency of the mind, and results such psychological withdrawal symptoms as depression, irritation, insomnia and so on. A physically dependent person manages to reduce the dose slowly until his recovery. However, in case of psychological dependence the person is under risk to relapse into abuse.
Psychological dependence is not limited to drugs’ application; even person’s behavior can be defined as addiction if it gets uncontrollable such as in the cases of problem gambling, Internet addiction, eating, self-injury, work addiction, shopping and so on. In such cases the addiction describes a compulsion by someone to be occupied with some activity, in spite of harmful outcome to his mental state or health.