Drug Addiction

Drug addiction
By AMIR TRIGUI
Introduction
Drug addiction is a chronic, often
relapsing brain disease that causes
compulsive drug seeking and use,
despite harmful consequences to
the drug addict and those around
them. Drug addiction is a brain
disease because the abuse of
drugs leads to changes in the
structure and function of the brain.
Introduction
Although it is true that for most
people the initial decision to take
drugs is voluntary, over time the
changes in the brain caused by
repeated drug abuse can affect a
person's self-control and ability to
make sound decisions, and at the
same time create an intense
impulse to take drugs.
introduction
Dependence :
- Psychological dependence is the
subjective feeling that the user
needs the drugs to maintain a
feeling of well-being.
- Physical dependence is
characterized by tolerance (the
need for increasingly larger doses in
order to achieve the initial effects ) .
Drug types
• Hard drug : lead to severe
physical addiction.
Exemple : Heroin ,cocaine.
• Soft drug : lead to psychological
dependence. Exemple : cannabis.
Risk factors
• Peer pressure
• Lack of family involvement and
parental supervision
• Anxiety, depression, loneliness
• Social environment
• Research of self-esteem and
escaping reality
• Genetics
Effects
• Coma, unconsciousness or
death :overdose.
• Some diseases : people who
inject drugs have a risk of
developing HIV/AIDS or
hepatitis if they share needles.
• Suicide : the risk of suicide is
significantly higher for a person
who is addicted to a drug,
Effects
• Accidental injuries /death :
people with a drug/alcohol
addiction have a higher risk of
falling over, or driving
dangerously when under the
influence.
• Relationship problems
• Unemployment, poverty and
homelessness
Effects
• Changes in the brain :
Drugs contain chemicals that tap
into the brain’s communication
system and disrupt the way nerve
cells normally send, receive, and
process information. Drugs cause this
disruption: by imitating the brain’s
natural chemical messengers and by
overstimulating the “reward circuit”
of the brain.
Effects
Some drugs (e.g., marijuana and
heroin) have a similar structure to
chemical messengers called
neurotransmitters, which are
naturally produced by the brain.
This similarity allows the drugs to
“fool” the brain’s receptors and
activate nerve cells to send
abnormal messages.
Effects
Other drugs, such as cocaine or
methamphetamine, can cause the
nerve cells to release abnormally
large amounts of natural
neurotransmitters (mainly
dopamine) or to prevent the
normal recycling of these brain
chemicals, which is needed to shut
off the signaling between
neurons.
Treatment
As an illness drug addiction need to
be treated and the users need to be
rehabilitated .
The treatment depends upon the
severity and nature of the addiction ,
motivation and the mental health of
the patient.
Typically, treatment includes a
combination of physical and
psychological care.
Treatment
Detoxification : a pharmacological
treatment that aims toto enable
the addict to stop taking the
addicting drug as quickly and
safely as possible.
It may involve gradually reducing
the dose of the drug or temporarily
substituting other substances.
Treatment
Counseling : Help with coping
with cravings, avoiding the
substance, and dealing with
possible relapses are key to
effective addiction programs. If
the patient’s family can become
involved there is a better
probability of positive outcomes.
Treatment
Self-help groups : these may help
the patient meet other people
with the same problem, which
often boosts motivation. Self-help
groups can be a useful source of
education and information too.
Self-help support groups can
decrease the sense of shame and
isolation that can lead to relapse.
Prevention
Drug addiction is a preventable
disease. education and outreach are
key in helping youth and the general
public understand the risks of drug
abuse. Teachers, parents, and
medical and public health
professionals must keep sending the
message that drug addiction can be
prevented if one never abuses drugs.
Prevention
Family :
• a strong bond between children
and parents
• parental involvement in the
child’s life clear limits and
consistent enforcement of
discipline.
• Setting a good exemple by not
consuming drugs
Prevention
Society ,school and government:
• Educate and aware the youth
about the drug’s harm
• anti-drug media campaign
• Strict laws against drug dealers
and smugglers to reduce the
amount of drugs in the street.

Drug Addiction

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