Addiction Essay

Addiction is a very funny topic, not literally, but just in general. There are so many different types of addictions and many question whether or not it is a disease. Addiction is a condition that results when you or someone else ingests a substance such as alcohol, cocaine, nicotine, caffeine, etc. It could also happen when engaging in an activity like gambling that can be pleasurable but the continued use of which becomes compulsive and interferes with your ordinary everyday life such as responsibilities, work, relationships, or even your health. Most users are completely unaware that their behavior is out of control and causing problems for themselves and many others. First off, the word addiction is used in many different ways. One definition describes and physical addiction. This is a biological state in which the body adapts to the presence of a drug so that the drug no longer has the same effect as the first time. This would be known as tolerance. Tolerance plays a big role in addiction. Because of your tolerance to the drug, there is a biological reaction when you withdraw the drug. Another form of physical addiction is the phenomenon of overreaction by your brain to drugs. For instance, if I were an alcoholic and walked into a bar, I would feel the need to drink because of some sort of cue.
Next, most addictive behavior is not always related to physical tolerance or a response to cues. People compulsively use drugs, gamble, or whatever it is they may be addicted to, is usually in reaction to being emotionally stressed, whether or not they have physical addiction. Since these addictions are not based on drug or brain effects, they can account for why certain addicts frequently switch addictive actions from one drug to a completely different kind of drug, or even to a non-drug related behavior. The focus of addiction isn’t what matters, it’s the need to take action under certain kinds of stress. To treat this kind of addiction requires an understanding of