It is a brain disease that is very difficult to overcome and readily misunderstood.
This is more than the number of Americans with heart conditions, diabetes or cancer.
It is then that health, connections and relationships can be restored.
What exactly is addiction and are you at risk?
Like many other serious and chronic diseases, people with severe addiction become more ill over time.
They may develop other illnesses as a result of the disease and can ultimately die without treatment.
1.Tolerance.Has your use of alcohol or drugs or that of a loved one increased over time?
3.Limited control.Do you or your loved one have trouble limiting how much you drink or use drugs?
Is getting drunk a priority?
Does one drink almost lead to more drinks at times?
Do you think about using?
Do you ever minimize your use?
Do you ever plan how to avoid getting caught?
7.Desire to cut down.Do you tell yourself you gotta cut down on your drinking or controlling your use?
Have you or a loved one tried and failed to cut down or control drinking or drug use?
This lack of inhibition can lead to an increase in aggressive and irresponsible behavior.
What happens to your brain if you drink or use drugs too often?
In recent years, scientists have made a connection between substance abuse and the frontal cortex of the brain.
It also helps medical practitioners better understand why only some users of drugs or alcohol become addicted.
“The cognitive functions that sit in the frontal lobes play a role in drug abuse.”
In fact, relapse is expected and not a failure.
That area of the brain takes over and the person is at the mercy of the brain’s needs.
About half of those addicted have agenetic predispositionto the disease.
In other words, they are born this way.
Research conducted on twins and adopted children has shown just how important the role of genetics plays in addiction.
There is no single gene responsible for addictive behaviors.
This awareness greatly enhances the likelihood of a successful recovery.
While it is unlikely that the disease can be cured,NIDA notes that the disease can be managed.
NIDA also notes that relapse is not a failure.
“Treatment of chronic diseases involves changing deeply imbedded behaviors, and relapse does not mean treatment has failed.
He notes that addiction might be better thought of in different terms.
“Maybe we should call it bonding,” Hari says.
That’s what we want as human beings.”
He cites the television reality showIntervention, in which this very scenario happens episode after episode.
“If you’ve ever seen the showIntervention, it’s a pretty simple premise,” says Hari.
For 100 years now, we’ve been singing war songs about addicts.
The opposite of addiction is connection."
