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Drug Addiction |
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Addiction is often characterized by a craving for more of the drug or behavior, increased physiological tolerance to exposure, and withdrawal symptoms in the deficiency of the urging. Many drugs and behaviors that provide either pleasure or relief from pain pose a risk of addiction or dependency. Physical Addiction Various drugs induce physical dependence or physiological toleration - but not addiction - for instance innumerable laxatives, which are not psychoactive; nasal decongestants, which can cause rebound congestion if used for supplementary than a few days in a row; and numerous antidepressants, most notably Effexor and Paxil, as they possess quite short half-lives, so ceasing them abruptly causes a more quick replacement in the neurotransmitter balance in the brain than many alternate antidepressants. Innumerable non-addictive prescription drugs should not be suddenly stopped, so a physician should be consulted before abruptly discontinuing them. The speed by which a given person becomes addicted to various substances varies depending on the substance, the frequency of use, the means of ingestion, and the individual. Some alcoholics report they exhibited alcoholic tendencies from the instant of first tipsiness, while most people can drink socially free of ever becoming addicted. Because of this variation, some men and women hypothesize that physical dependency and addiction are in large part genetically moderated. Nicotine is one of the most addictive psychoactive substances: although 35 million smokers contrive an attempt to quit every day, less than 7% accomplish even one year of abstinence. Eating disorders are involved pathological mental illnesses and so are not considered addictions.
Psychological Addiction Psychological addictions are a dependency of the mind, and lead to psychological withdrawal symptoms. Addictions can theoretically form for any rewarding behavior, or as a ordinary means to avoid unpleasing activity, but customarily they only do so to a clinical level in men and women who have emotional, social, or psychological dysfunctions, taking the setting of normal positive stimuli not otherwise attained. Mental addiction, as contrary to physiological addiction, is a person's need to use a drug or engage in a behavior dispite the harm caused out of desire for the paraphernalia it produces, rather than to soften withdrawal symptoms. Instead of an actual physiological dependence on a drug, such as heroin, psychological addiction customarily develops out of habits that relieve symptoms of isolation or anxiety. As the drug is indulged, it becomes associated with the discharge of gratification-inducing endorphins, and a course is started that is equivalent to physiological addiction. This cycle is often exceptionally laborious to break. It is also considered possible to be both psychologically and
physically addicted at the same time. Some doctors make little
distinction between the two types of addiction, for the result
--
drug
abuse -- is the same.
Regardless, the cause of the addiction in either case is
quite different, as is the type of
management preferred. |
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