Addiction is a long-term (chronic) disease. You may also hear it called substance use disorder. It involves seeking out drugs and using them even when the results are harmful. Over time, addiction changes the structure and function of the brain. Find out more about addiction by taking this quiz.
1. Addiction can begin when a person uses drugs, but addiction is more than just using a lot of drugs.
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With addiction, changes occur in the brain over time. Some abused drugs bring on a feeling of intense pleasure. Other drugs will cause a person to feel or do things better, as well as feel less stressed. No one thing makes a person become addicted to drugs. Genes, environment, and life stages can be key factors in whether a person will become addicted to drugs.
2. Addiction most often gets worse over time.
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Addiction can range from mild to severe. Repeatedly using drugs or alcohol leads to changes in the brain. These changes make it hard for the person to stop, even if they want to.
3. One symptoms of addiction is needing to use more of the drug over time.
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Someone with an addiction needs to use more of the drug because their body develops a tolerance for it. The person also has withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop using the drug. Other addiction symptoms are:
The person can't cut back on the amount of the drug used
The person wants to use the drug
The person cannot stop using the drug
The person spends a lot of time looking for, using, or recovering from using the drug
The person keeps using the drug even when it causes personal problems, work problems, or both
Doctors use screening tools to help identify addiction in patients. These tools use special questions that look at alcohol and drug abuse.
4. People often become addicted only a day or 2 after first using a drug.
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How quickly a person can become addicted to a drug depends on the drug used and the person's sensitivity to the drug. It usually takes longer than a few days. Some drugs are more addictive than others.
5. Addiction causes a lack of control over thoughts, feelings, ideas, and behaviors.
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This is how addiction is defined.
6. People are addicted when they keep using a drug even when it causes problems in their life.
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Besides causing problems such as loss of a job or relationship, addiction can cause wide-ranging health problems. These are among the health problems related to drug abuse and addiction: heart disease, stroke, cancer, AIDS, hepatitis, and lung disease, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Brain changes that happen with addiction can affect memory, attention, problem-solving, and decision-making.
7. Addiction can be managed with treatment.
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Most people with addiction need treatment to deal with it. The goal of treatment is to stop using the drug in order to help the person get back to normal life and to reverse or stop any health problems caused by drug use. It's important to remember that addiction can be managed successfully. This happens when the person stays with treatment, becomes drug free, and participates in ongoing support. Addiction is a chronic illness. Just like a person with diabetes or heart disease, a person with an addiction needs ongoing support and monitoring to remain drug free.
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