{"id":11513,"date":"2021-06-30T13:14:46","date_gmt":"2021-06-30T13:14:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/?p=11513"},"modified":"2021-06-30T13:14:47","modified_gmt":"2021-06-30T13:14:47","slug":"what-is-drug-addiction-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ssdev.co.za\/crossroads-old\/what-is-drug-addiction-3\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Drug Addiction?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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What Is Drug Addiction?<\/h1>Reach out now, we can help<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/header>
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What Is Drug Addiction?<\/h3>
30 June, 2021<\/span>Articles, News<\/span><\/div>\n

Drug addiction is a disease that affects your brain and behaviour. When you’re addicted to drugs, you can’t resist the urge to use them, no matter how much harm the drugs may cause to you and those around you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drug addiction isn’t about just heroin, cocaine, or other illegal drugs. You can get addicted to alcohol, nicotine, opioid painkillers, and other legal substances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drug addiction is a complex neurobiological disease that requires integrated treatment of the mind, body, and spirit. It is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain structure and how it works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Individuals struggling with drug addiction often feel as though they cannot function normally without their drug of choice. This can lead to a wide range of issues that impact professional goals, personal relationships, and overall health. Over time, these serious side-effects can be progressive, and if left untreated, sometimes fatal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Addiction vs. Abuse<\/span><\/strong>
Drug abuse is when you use legal or illegal substances in ways you shouldn’t. You may abuse drugs to feel good, ease stress, or avoid reality. However, usually, you’re able to change your unhealthy habits or stop using altogether.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Addiction is when you can’t stop. Not when it puts your health in danger. Not when it causes financial, emotional, and other problems for you or your loved ones. That urge to get and use drugs can fill up every minute of the day, even if you want to quit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Addiction and Your Brain<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The drugs that may be addictive target your brain’s reward system. They flood your brain with a chemical called dopamine. This triggers a feeling of intense pleasure. So you keep taking the drug to chase that high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over time, your brain gets used to the extra dopamine. So you might need to take more of the drug to get the same good feeling. Other things you enjoyed, like food and hanging out with family, may give you less pleasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who is Most Likely to Become Addicted?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not everyone who uses drugs becomes addicted to them. But it can happen to anyone and at any age. Some things may raise your chances of addiction, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n