Drug Abuse
Throughout history there has been a constant. Substance abuse has been around since the dawn of time, consuming millions of lives in its wake. These people that get addicted are normal, everyday people that lose their way in life. Unfortunately the people that lose their way down this path have a tough time fighting back to normalcy. During this time, they not only affect themselves for the worst, they affect the people around them; the people who care about them. There are many facets to drug addiction, most of them people just don’t understand. Addicts get sucked into a lifestyle that they don’t necessarily want. They go from day to day trying to get by; doing this by any means necessary. By living such a life an addict affects almost everyone he or she comes in contact with. With the drug problem in this country affecting more and more people, there has been a shortage of recovery and detoxification institutes for addicts to turn to. There are over 23.5 million people with addiction problems in this country, and only 1 in 10 get help. Out of that 1 in 10, only half are successful in getting and staying sober.
There have been advances into the insight of a drug addicts mind. The neuroscience, psychology and biology behind what’s happening has shed some light on just how people get addicted, and what happens to them when they do. It has evaluated the progression from one time use, into full-blown addiction and every step in-between. This type of addiction leads to long-term consequences that are both biologically and emotionally taxing. Addicts use drugs for a variety of reasons. The main reason is to induce euphoria, an intense “high” that is associated with the release of endorphins in the brain. This release of chemicals in the brain is due to the brains natural “reward” system that creates that high feeling. Surprisingly, drugs, food and sex all release the same chemicals, dopamine and serotonin, that create a sense of well-being and even euphoria (Anker,
There have been advances into the insight of a drug addicts mind. The neuroscience, psychology and biology behind what’s happening has shed some light on just how people get addicted, and what happens to them when they do. It has evaluated the progression from one time use, into full-blown addiction and every step in-between. This type of addiction leads to long-term consequences that are both biologically and emotionally taxing. Addicts use drugs for a variety of reasons. The main reason is to induce euphoria, an intense “high” that is associated with the release of endorphins in the brain. This release of chemicals in the brain is due to the brains natural “reward” system that creates that high feeling. Surprisingly, drugs, food and sex all release the same chemicals, dopamine and serotonin, that create a sense of well-being and even euphoria (Anker,
References: Anker, J. J. (2012, October 1). Drug Abuse, Dopamine, and the Brain’s Reward System. . Retrieved April 30, 2014, from https://www.hazelden.org/web/public/researchupdates.page High School and Youth Trends (DrugFacts). (2014, January 1). . Retrieved April 30, 2014, from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/high-school-youth-trends A Primer on Drug Addiction. (2000, March 1). . Retrieved April 30, 2014, from http://www.addictionscience.net/ASNprimer.htm Burrell, T., & Cahalan, C. (2013, August 1). Principals of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment: A Research Guide. . Retrieved April 30, 2014, from http://atforum.com/addiction-resources/documents/PrinciplesofAdolescentSubstanceUseDisorderTreatmentAResearch-BasedGuide.pdf Clay, R. A. (2013, November 1). Taking a broad view of addiction. American Psychological Association , 44, 68. Kenan, M. (2013, April 1). Prescription Opioids and Dependence. Butler Center Magazine, 2, 1-4.