Why does substance abuse happen

Ongoing outreach and education among vulnerable populations is essential. In spite of all of these compelling factors, drug addiction is a treatable disease. Whether it is nicotine , alcohol, heroin, or any other drug, help is available to those who want to quit. Contact Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic at for more information on addiction medicine, rehabilitation, and recovery.

We perform more than 11, procedures each year. We treat conditions of the brain, skull base, spine, and nerves, including the most complex disorders. Whether your condition requires surgery or not, we strive to provide the most advanced, complete care possible. Our surgeons are developing new techniques and tools, including minimally invasive treatments.

We also rank among the top neurosurgery departments in the U. Some people have described feeling addicted from the first time they use a substance. A high is the result of increased dopamine and opioid peptide activity in the brain's reward circuits.

When the activity is repeated, the same level of euphoria or relief is not achieved. Simply put, the person never really gets as high as they did that first time.

Added to the fact that the addicted person develops a tolerance to the high—requiring more to try to achieve the same level of euphoria—is the fact that the person does not develop a tolerance to the emotional low they feel afterward. When becoming addicted, the person increases the amount of drugs, alcohol, or the frequency of the addictive behaviors in an effort to get back to that initial euphoric state.

But the person ends up experiencing a deeper and deeper low as the brain's reward circuitry reacts to the cycle of intoxication and withdrawal. To put it another way, the addicted person finds himself compelled—despite his own intentions to stop—to repeat behaviors that are no longer rewarding to try to escape an overwhelming feeling of being ill at ease but find no relief.

According to ASAM, at this point addiction is no longer solely a function of choice. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. For many addicts, addiction can become a chronic illness, meaning that they can have relapses similar to relapses that can happen with other chronic diseases—such as diabetes, asthma, and hypertension—when patients fail to comply with their treatment. The addict can take action to enter remission again.

But he remains at risk of another relapse. The ASAM notes "Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death.

Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. National Institute on Drug Abuse. The science of drug use and addiction: The basics. Updated July Ouzir M, Errami M. Substance abuse and dependence are caused by multiple factors, including genetic vulnerability, environmental stressors, social pressures, individual personality characteristics, and psychiatric problems.

But which of these factors has the biggest influence in any one person cannot be determined in all cases. The following are the most common behaviors that mean a person is having a problem with drug or alcohol abuse.

But each person may have slightly different symptoms. Symptoms may include:. Continually using drugs or alcohol even though it is causing or adding to physical or psychological problems. Developing tolerance or the need to use more drugs or alcohol to get the same effect. Or using the same amount of drugs or alcohol, but without the same effect. Having withdrawal symptoms if not using drugs or alcohol. Or using alcohol or another drug to avoid such symptoms. The symptoms of drug or alcohol abuse may resemble other medical problems or psychiatric conditions.

Always consult your doctor for a diagnosis. Starting drug use when you're young. When kids use drugs, it affects how their bodies and brains finish growing.

This increases your chances of becoming addicted when you're an adult. What are the signs that someone has a drug problem? Signs that someone has a drug problem include Changing friends a lot Spending a lot of time alone Losing interest in favorite things Not taking care of themselves - for example, not taking showers, changing clothes, or brushing their teeth Being really tired and sad Eating more or eating less than usual Being very energetic, talking fast, or saying things that don't make sense Being in a bad mood Quickly changing between feeling bad and feeling good Sleeping at strange hours Missing important appointments Having problems at work or at school Having problems in personal or family relationships What are the treatments for drug addiction?

It can help you Understand why you got addicted See how drugs changed your behavior Learn how to deal with your problems so you won't go back to using drugs Learn to avoid places, people, and situations where you might be tempted to use drugs Medicines can help with the symptoms of withdrawal. Can drug use and addiction be prevented? Start Here.

Diagnosis and Tests. Prevention and Risk Factors. Treatments and Therapies. Living With. Related Issues. Health Check Tools. Statistics and Research. Clinical Trials. Article: Consequences of psychoactive substance use: a comparative study of two services Article: Mediation pathways for reduced substance use among parents in South Africa Drug Use and Addiction -- see more articles.