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Published: July 15, 2023
Addiction is a widespread issue in the U.S. that countless people battle on a daily basis. Some people may not even know they have an addiction.
When it comes to addiction, it can be difficult to ask for help or know where to start. Understanding addiction can be a struggle in itself.
If you or someone you love is looking to learn more about the challenges of addiction, keep reading to learn everything you need to know.
Addiction, or substance use disorder, is a medical condition that causes a person to become dependent or reliant on a substance such as drugs or alcohol.
Addiction can also occur with other types of substances, objects, or even behaviors. People with addictions often need the addictive substance in order to perform certain tasks, work, or even just get through the day.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V), a substance use disorder (SUD) involves patterns of symptoms caused by using a substance that an individual continues taking despite its negative effects.
The DSM-V refers to an addiction as a SUD. But what is the difference between substance abuse and SUD?
Substance abuse is the act of abusing substances (which can occur in isolated instances), whereas a SUD is a pattern of compulsive substance use. When it comes to SUDs, the individual will typically experience recurrent consequences in the social, legal, occupational, or personal areas of their life.
For example, substance abuse may present as binge drinking, which occurs when a person drinks a lot of alcohol in one period of time. While this act does qualify as substance abuse, it doesn’t mean everyone who binge drinks has an alcohol use disorder.
Another important differentiation is addiction versus dependence. Addiction is a mental reliance on something, whereas dependence is a physical or chemical reliance.
A mental reliance causes the individual to feel as though they can only get through certain situations, emotions, or tasks if they are using the substance they’re addicted to.
On the other hand, a physical or chemical dependence causes the individual’s body to rely on the use of the addictive substance to function. Dependence is what makes quitting addictive substances dangerous, as the body will start to experience withdrawal symptoms.
Dependence only occurs with opioids and alcohol. That being said, some people with addictions do not have a dependence, but everyone who has a dependence has an addiction.
There are three main categories of addiction: alcohol addiction, drug addiction, and behavioral addiction.
Alcohol addiction (alcohol use disorder, or AUD) is a medical condition that causes frequent or heavy alcohol use. As with substance use disorder, alcohol addiction is not the same as just alcohol abuse.
Alcohol abuse is the act of misusing alcohol, while alcohol addiction refers to a disorder caused by compulsive use despite negative effects.
Variations of alcohol abuse:
Alcohol addiction can appear very different from person to person, and some people may not even realize they have an addiction because of these differences. Yet any kind of alcohol addiction is dangerous and should be treated.
Drug addiction refers to frequent and uncontrolled use of any kind of drug, illicit or prescription. Drug addiction can occur with countless different substances.
Addictive drugs can include:
Behavioral addiction is different from substance addiction. Behavioral addiction is a condition in which a person becomes addicted to a specific behavior or action. The behavior acts as a stimulating activity, which can result in addiction.
Some behavioral addictions include:
Aside from knowing the various behaviors and substances that can spiral into addictions, it’s essential to also understand the signs and symptoms of addiction.
Many people don’t even know that they are developing an addiction. That being said, knowing the signs and symptoms can help you identify addiction in yourself or your loved ones.
Common symptoms and signs of addiction include:
There are a multitude of ways addiction can present in different people, some more obvious than others.
Researchers believe that the cause of addiction can be traced to the way that a substance, object or behavior affects the brain.
That is, the substance or behavior works on the reward pathways in the brain, causing the brain to emit feel-good chemicals when a person takes the substance or performs the behavior.
With time and repeated use/behavior, this leads to the development of addiction — a mental reliance. Because of this, there is actually no certain cause of addiction, but rather, risk factors.
Risk factors are characteristics, situations, or circumstances that can make addiction more likely.
It is impossible to predict 100% accurately if someone will cause addiction. Read on to learn about factors in one’s life that may lead them toward addiction.
Risk factors are characteristics in different parts of your life — biological, psychological, family, cultural, etc. — that are linked with a higher likelihood of addiction.
Some addiction risk factors include:
Disclaimer: someone who has these characteristics will not inevitably develop an addiction, they’re just more likely to.
The effects of an addiction can differ very greatly from person to person based on countless factors. First and foremost, the type of addiction can determine which effects someone will experience.
For example, someone who is addicted to heroin will experience very different effects than someone who is addicted to alcohol.
Another factor that can affect the outcome of addiction is the length of time someone has spent abusing the substance. The longer you abuse a substance, the riskier the addiction typically becomes. This can create different effects.
On a similar note, those who are abusing multiple drugs at once or drugs and alcohol will have a different experience than those who are addicted to one substance.
If the person has co-occurring mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or obsessive compulsive disorder, addiction can worsen these issues or feed off them.
That being said, there are several widespread effects that many people experience with addiction.
There are many general, short-term effects people experience when addicted to a substance.
Short-term effects of addiction include:
While short-term effects of addiction can be dangerous, long-term effects can also pose serious health problems.
Long-term effects include:
There are many ways to diagnose addiction. Whether you feel comfortable seeking professional help or just want to determine if you may have an addiction from home, there are countless options to identify a substance use issue.
Two main diagnosis methods are medical evaluations and self-assessments.
If you’re comfortable with it, the best way to get an addiction diagnosis is to see a healthcare provider. They can determine if you have a SUD and offer recommendations for programs to help you understand how your addiction may be affecting you.
If you’re not comfortable seeing a healthcare professional quite yet, there are countless self-assessments available for free online.
For example, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers a free booklet for families to learn about substance abuse, its symptoms, and more. Health clinics can use substance use assessments provided for free by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) online.
While these assessments will not provide an official diagnosis, the results can help you understand whether your substance use is dangerous or abusive.
In order to enter an inpatient rehab program, you may be required to get a referral from a doctor. In other words, you will need to have a doctor diagnose your addiction and send you to a particular facility.
It can be hard to know when it may be time to get help for your addiction. To make things a little more clear, here is a list of questions you can ask yourself to determine if you may need to seek addiction recovery help.
Ask yourself:
After receiving a diagnosis or determining that your substance abuse is dangerous, it’s essential to seek treatment to help you start your journey toward recovery. Here are some of the most effective treatment program options.
There are several different kinds of addiction treatment rehab centers commonly offer.
Addiction treatment options include:
Each treatment option offers different kinds of support, so one type may be more well-suited to your substance abuse needs.
Two of the most common addiction treatment types are inpatient or residential and outpatient treatment.
Inpatient treatment is a kind of treatment that offers 24-hour supervision by requiring that the individual stays in a designated facility for an extended period of time.
On the other hand, outpatient treatment does not require the individual to stay at a facility for an extended amount of time. Instead, this kind of addiction treatment is either completed from the person’s home or at a facility for a portion of each day or week.
Inpatient treatment is recommended for individuals with an addiction that is severe enough that they feel they need full-time support or supervision. It can also be the best option for people who live alone or don’t have anyone such as a family member to help them through recovery.
Outpatient treatment may be better for people who have already gone through inpatient treatment or who have a mild case of addiction.
Aftercare is another important part of addiction recovery. Aftercare services are provided after someone has completed addiction recovery. They are intended to help support the transition out of addiction treatment and encourage people to stay in recovery.
For those in inpatient treatment, aftercare may be an outpatient or step-down program. These programs often require the individual to check in periodically or come to a facility for a short part of each day or week to continue their journey toward recovery.
Another great resource following addiction recovery is a sober living house, halfway house, or support groups.
Sober living houses are typically a transitional living option for people who have just finished addiction treatment. As the name suggests, they are free of drugs and alcohol which can help reduce the risk of relapse during this transition.
Halfway houses are similar, however, they are a transitional living option for people in other situations as well, such as those who have just gotten out of prison.
Lastly, support groups are groups designed for individuals either going through addiction treatment or those who have completed treatment to discuss the challenges, successes, and emotions related to recovery.
All of these options can help provide support as well as safe environments to reduce the risk of wanting to turn back to your addiction.
Prevention should always be the first step when it comes to avoiding addiction and fostering harm reduction. So how can you prevent addiction?
Addiction prevention methods can include:
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 40-60% of people with SUDs relapse. Put another way, 40-60% of people recover from addiction.
Stress cues and contact with the addictive substance are the most common causes of relapse, so it’s important to be mindful of these things as you recover.
All of this being said, addiction is a manageable condition with the proper support and can be a thing of the past.
Addiction is a complex and personal health condition. It can occur with the use of countless substances and even behaviors. It can also present very differently between people.
There are numerous short-term and long-term harmful consequences that may come with addiction, but diagnosis and treatment options are widely available.
If you or someone you know is facing alcohol or drug addiction, call our helpline today to learn about treatment options near you.
Addiction is defined by repeated and excessive use of a substance or performance of a behavior. Being unable to stop using a substance is typically defined as an addiction.
Addiction is a condition that causes a person to compulsively use a substance. Scientists believe addiction occurs due to the way a substance or behavior affects the brain with the first use, but there are many risk factors that can make addiction more likely to occur.
Simply put, no. While there are healthy habits you can work into your life that can have a positive effect, anything you do or use addictively is not healthy, as addiction will interfere with other parts of your life.
Medication-assisted treatment (like buprenorphine) alongside therapy or counseling has been shown to be the best treatment for opioid and alcohol addiction, according to research. Inpatient treatment is the most effective treatment for addictions overall.
Addiction treatment cost can vary greatly, but many facilities accept health insurance, offer scholarships, or provide sliding scale pricing.
Addiction cannot be cured, but it can be treated. This is because we don’t know what causes addiction. Through treatment, it is possible to stay in recovery from addiction.
Relapse is not inevitable for addiction. However, it is an expected side effect of recovery. It can be challenging to stay in recovery, but it is possible with the right treatment, support, and mindset.
Substance Use, Abuse, and Addiction.
Addiction: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms, Types & Treatment.
Alcohol Use Disorder: What It Is, Risks & Treatment.
Drug addiction (substance use disorder).
Drug Use and Addiction.
Physical and Psychological Effects of Substance Use.
Drinking Levels Defined.
Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction.
Behavioral Addiction versus Substance Addiction: Correspondence of Psychiatric and Psychological Views.
Table 3, DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for Diagnosing and Classifying Substance Use Disorders.
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