What is Addiction?
Tarih: 15.11.2023
What is Addiction?
Addiction refers to the inability to stop using a substance despite its harmful effects on a person's mental, physical, or social well-being, the desire to quit, and the inability to control the urge to use the substance. Addiction was once perceived as a moral issue, weakness of willpower, or character flaw for many years, but scientific advancements have shown that addiction reflects a different reality. Today, addiction is recognized as a chronic brain disease that can be treated like other chronic illnesses, with recovery and relapses, but cannot be completely cured.
What are the Characteristics of Addiction?
It is a chronic brain disease.
It lasts a lifetime.
It disrupts social life.
Loss of friends and environment.
Family problems are experienced.
There are economic losses.
Health deteriorates.
Life revolves around the substance.
What are the Types of Addiction?
Tobacco Addiction
Alcohol Addiction
Substance Addiction
Gambling Addiction
Technology Addiction (Internet, Gaming, Social Media, Smartphones, etc.)
Who Can Become Addicted?
Addiction can affect anyone. So, "anyone can become addicted." Addiction is a brain disease, and our brains may crave the substance from time to time, even if we don't want it. Addiction can develop in different ways depending on the type of substance used, its purity, duration of use, and personal characteristics. Therefore, we cannot predict when a person will become prone to addiction.
The addiction cycle typically begins with curiosity. A person may use the substance with the thought that "it won't hurt to try it once." At the initial stage, nobody aims to become addicted. Later on, the belief that "I will definitely not use it again" prevails. The person starts to believe they can control occasional use. They make several attempts with the thought "I can quit anytime, I won't become addicted," but quitting becomes difficult. After several unsuccessful attempts, the person succumbs to the thought "this stuff can't be quit" and starts seeking a solution. Various problems in personal and social life may lead the person to say "I should quit." They make the decision "I will quit now" and implement their decision with the belief "I will never start again." However, the next step often begins with the thought "one more time won't hurt" and resuming substance use. At this point, addiction can become a vicious cycle, which can be repeated multiple times. As a result, addiction can affect anyone, and there are many factors influencing this process. Factors such as genetic predisposition, gender, mental health status, personality traits, environment, family history, childhood experiences, and social circle can increase the risk of addiction. The misconception that initial substance use can be controlled also increases the risk.
Who Is at Risk?
Risk factors related to alcohol and substance use include various factors that determine individuals' susceptibility to these types of addictions. These factors can generally be categorized into two main categories: biological and environmental factors.
Biological factors are related to individuals' own characteristics and inherent tendencies. For example, genetic predisposition is a significant biological factor that can increase the risk of addiction. Research shows that certain genes can increase a person's likelihood of developing an addiction. Additionally, family history can also influence the risk of addiction; individuals with a family history of addiction problems may themselves be at a similar risk.
Gender, according to social research, shows that alcohol and substance use is more common among men than women, and men tend to start using these substances at a younger age than women. Therefore, men are at a higher risk.
Psychiatric disorders can also increase the risk of addiction. Especially individuals with psychological disorders such as depression, social anxiety, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or schizophrenia may turn to alcohol or substance use rather than coping with these problems. This increases their likelihood of developing addiction.
Impulsivity is considered a risk factor for addiction because it makes it difficult for individuals to control their behavior. It often comes with behavior problems such as difficulty controlling anger, defiance of authority, and harming others.
Additionally, starting alcohol or substance use at an early age is another significant risk factor associated with behaviors such as novelty-seeking and thrill-seeking. Individuals with such behaviors are constantly seeking different experiences, which may lead them to turn to different substances.
Environmental factors, especially during childhood and adolescence, play a significant role in determining individuals' risk of developing addiction. For example, family conflicts, alcohol or substance use within the family, can put children at risk. Additionally, peer group, school environment, and the society in which they are raised are also important factors. Individuals influenced by their friends' alcohol or substance use are at a higher risk.
As a result, young people should be especially considered, and individuals at risk of addiction should be closely monitored. Especially between the ages of 12 and 16, inadequate supervision by parents can increase alcohol and substance use behaviors among young people. Therefore, risk factors at an early age should be evaluated and precautions should be taken.
What Is the Starting Age?
There are statistical studies conducted in many countries about when addiction starts. The ESPAD study conducted among 16-year-old students in six provinces selected from different regions in Turkey in 2003 shows that the age of substance use is decreasing. This study provides an important clue as to when addiction begins.
How Long Does It Take to Become Addicted?
Many factors determine how long it takes for a person to become addicted to a substance or alcohol. The speed of addiction development depends on factors such as the type of substance used, its purity, quantity, frequency of use, and duration of use. Additionally, the age at which a person starts using a substance also plays a significant role in the formation of addiction. The earlier a person starts using a substance, the higher the risk of addiction.
Individual characteristics of the person are also an important factor in determining the development of addiction. For example, a person who displays impulsive behavior, has low coping skills with stress, or has a tendency to take risks may become addicted more quickly than others. The time it takes for addiction to develop can vary for each individual because this process depends on many variables.
How Do You Know If You Are Addicted?
Addiction is not a disease that develops suddenly; it usually develops gradually over a period and cycle. People often become aware of it when they are in the midst of it. Therefore, early detection of addiction can increase the likelihood of successful treatment.
There are specific criteria to identify addiction. Let's talk about these criteria;
- Using more than intended and for longer periods
- Desire to quit or control use, but unsuccessful efforts
- Spending a lot of time obtaining, using, or recovering from the substance
- Intense craving for the substance
- Inability to fulfill responsibilities due to repeated use
- Continuing use despite negative consequences
- Decreased involvement in daily activities / cessation of activities due to use
- Continued use in risky situations
- Inability to stop using despite physical and mental consequences
- Tolerance to the substance
- Increased substance need
- Decreased effect of the amount used, increasing the dose
- Showing withdrawal symptoms
For a person to be diagnosed with addiction, they must meet at least three of these criteria within a 12-month period.
In addition to these criteria; evaluating whether usage has negative effects on family, friendship relationships, or school-work life,
Checking whether there is use even during daytime hours,
By looking at the method of use, addiction is assessed.
"Is Addiction a Habit?
Habit refers to the regular and periodic performance of behaviors acquired by a person in the past. A person can control their habit whenever they want and manage this behavior firmly. However, addiction refers to the situation where a person continues to use a certain substance or behavior despite suffering harm. During addiction, a person may experience withdrawal symptoms when unable to access the substance and may gradually increase the amount of substance used. At this point, a habit turns into an addiction.
Habits can be changed over time using one's own will. This means that habits can be kept under control. On the other hand, addiction is not a matter of willpower but a brain disease, and a person loses control. Addiction indicates a situation where a person loses control over themselves and often requires professional help.
How Does it Affect Our Brain?
Addiction is actually a brain disease. This means that when people use alcohol or drugs for a long time, it leads to different effects and changes in the cells inside the brain. People often start using alcohol or drugs thinking they can control it. However, after a while, the use of alcohol and drugs becomes out of control, and even if a person does not want to use them, their brain continues to demand it. This intense usage disrupts the brain's ability to control itself, and when faced with alcohol or drugs, the brain can only send the message to "go and use" but cannot send the "stop" message. Therefore, a person continues to use them, following the brain's "go and use" message, even if they don't enjoy it anymore.
Our brains are made up of nerve cells, and these nerve cells enable us to perceive our environment. However, alcohol and drug use disrupts communication between nerve cells in the brain, leading to a range of negative effects. For example, alcohol use reduces brain function, impairs memory, and can cause balance problems and dementia. Drugs can mechanicalize the normal functioning of the brain by disrupting the communication between nerve cells. Some substances can cause blockages in brain blood vessels and lead to strokes. Additionally, some drugs can cause the perception of voices in the brain and initiate mental illnesses.
Research shows, for example, that marijuana use can increase the risk of schizophrenia by seven times. Alcohol and drug use can slow down brain function by disrupting communication between nerve cells. A person may experience difficulties in learning new things and solving problems. Additionally, it should not be forgotten that these substances can greatly impair reflexes, so it can be very dangerous to engage in tasks that require attention under the influence of these substances. Also, it is known that some substances can cause sudden deaths.
Structural changes in the brain and damage to nerve cells do not immediately heal when alcohol and drug use is stopped. The healing process in the brain can take a long time. Therefore, it is important to remember that addiction is a brain disease beyond a person's control and willpower. Avoiding these substances and reminders of them is a critical step for brain recovery.
How Does the Addiction Process Work in the Brain?
The brain is made up of billions of nerve cells called neurons, and these neurons communicate with each other through chemical substances called neurotransmitters.
Neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the second neuron when released by one neuron. However, drugs and alcohol change communication between neurons and cause unnatural activities in cells. Neurons adapt to this change by reducing the production of natural neurotransmitters and reducing their sensitivity. This results in the person developing "tolerance" to the substance, which requires more substance consumption. Long-term use of drugs and alcohol can cause permanent damage to brain structure and neural functions.
Drug use increases the release of a neurotransmitter called "dopamine" in the brain. Dopamine is an important chemical with many functions, especially affecting the reward system. For example, dopamine comes into play during eating or sexual activities and plays a key role in the learning process. The brain associates the substance with a feeling of reward through dopamine activity, so addicts constantly crave the substance.
As addiction progresses, advanced brain regions that help control impulsive behaviors become impaired. Even if a person consumes more substance, they no longer feel good; instead, the connection between the substance and reward strengthens further, and the person finds it difficult to find happiness without the substance. In the advanced stages of addiction, people use substances not to feel good but to alleviate the negative emotional effects of withdrawal.
Research shows that substance-induced damage to the brain of a sober individual can be restored to a certain extent. The duration and level of recovery depend on factors such as the person's age, level, and duration of use. As a result, the most effective medicine for addiction disease is the daily decisions the person makes to stay sober.
What are the Common Characteristics of Addictive Substances?
When a substance is consumed, it changes behavior, thoughts, and mood; although addictive substances may have different characteristics, their effects on human brain functions such as emotions, thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors are almost the same.
The person becomes detached from reality shortly after taking the substance; due to the relief, calmness, pleasure, intoxication, stimulation, drifting into the dream world, satisfaction, and many other symptoms that occur when the substance is first taken, the person may start to prefer this false dream environment instead of the real world. This leads to the person being detached from reality. So while there are healthy ways to experience certain satisfactions in the real world, they may not make the effort to do so.
The person gets into a behavior of seeking the substance with a very difficult desire to resist; the desire to repeatedly obtain the fake sense of well-being created by substance use will lead to a greater desire to use the substance. As a result, the person may find it difficult to resist the desire to seek the substance.
The amount of substance taken increases over time; the person has to increase the frequency and amount of substance use. Because the dose and frequency taken will not be able to create the sought-after, needed fake sense of well-being.
The result is addiction; when all these processes come together, addiction develops.
What Makes People Addicted?
People can be addicted to anything in life. It could be a substance, a cigarette, an object, or a behavior. While some are substances taken into our bodies from the outside, some addictions can form in behavior. Any substance or behavior used uncontrollably carries the risk of addiction.
First of all, if we are going to list addictive substances, we can list them as follows:
Tobacco (cigarette), Alcohol, Opiates (morphine, heroin, codeine, methadone, meperidine), Stimulants (amphetamines, cocaine, ecstasy, caffeine), Central nervous system suppressant drugs (benzodiazepines, etc.) Hallucinogens Volatile substances; such as Bali, thinner, lighter gas, adhesives Marijuana and similar substances; marijuana, bonzai, Jamaican, etc., Phencyclidine. Many substances are referred to as "drugs" in our language, but while some create a narcotic effect, others are stimulants. Likewise, cigarettes and alcohol are not in the same category as drugs, but they carry similar risks in terms of addiction potential. Their legality does not mean that the risk of addiction is lower.
Another misconception is that natural substances do not cause addiction. For example, morphine, marijuana, and cocaine come from natural sources
If you have concerns or suspicions about this,
