Introduction
Drug addiction is a complex condition that includes a variety of aspects that create dependency in a person. Often such dependency may have highly negative consequences for both the person and their family. Non-drug addiction does not include dependency on a chemical from an outside source, but consequences of gambling addiction, sex addiction, and other non-drug addictions may be similar in their severity. However, it is important to establish the differences in these conditions before attempting to equate them. This paper will examine the nature of drug addiction and its influences, as well as provide my personal opinion on non-drug addictions.
The Nature of Drug Dependency
Drug dependency is often described as a chronic brain condition that causes the patient to seek out drug substances without control or consideration for their negative effects. The nature of the disease is in the changes that addictive drugs facilitate in its users’ brains. These changes cause users to engage in a variety of harmful activities that develop into consistent habits. There are four main concepts that surround drug addiction. Tolerance, withdrawal, physical dependence and biological dependence are present in the majority of drug addiction cases. In addition, three types of influences affect drug addicts: biological, psychological, and social (Everitt and Robbins 23).
Tolerance
One of the core concepts of drug addiction lies in the idea of tolerance to drugs. While an organism that was never exposed to addictive substances would have a strong reaction even to a small dose of the drug, over time, the body will stop reacting to the same dose in the way desired by the user. Then a larger dose becomes required. The same effect occurs even with non-addictive drugs, but in those cases, consequences are much less severe. Tolerance often develops due to the chemical compounds of the substance becoming attached to receptors that initiate a chemical reaction within the body. Subsequently, larger doses become required to gain the same reaction, and a stronger addiction develops because of it (Wise and Koob 254).
Withdrawal
Withdrawal is also a core consequence of drug addiction. It is represented by a multitude of symptoms that appear after the user abruptly stops or decreases the use of addictive substances such as drugs and medications. The symptoms themselves may vary between substances and people. Addicts may experience shaking, fatigue, headaches, irritability, nausea, insomnia, vomiting, anxiety and a great number of other negative conditions which may threaten their well-being and health (Wise and Koob 254).
Physical Dependence
When tolerance to a drug becomes high, people start to experience physical dependence on it. It is closely tied to tolerance and withdrawal because it is the mechanism by which the increased tolerance to a drug starts to cause an increased severity of withdrawal symptoms. The symptoms of physical dependence affect physiological processes of the body. Any type of pain, nausea, or another withdrawal symptom that affects the person physically belongs to it. Physical dependence is often caused by opioids, nicotine, and various mood-altering drugs (Everitt and Robbins 24).
Psychological Dependence
The second type of dependence is psychological in nature. It is related to emotional symptoms of withdrawal. As it was previously stated, a person may become irritable, anxious, depressed, and lose motivation due to psychological dependence. It often develops alongside physical dependence, and when combined it can exacerbate the condition of the patient. Both types of dependency play a large role in drug addiction and have to be carefully considered during the rehabilitation process (Everitt and Robbins 24).
Biological Influences
A number of biological influences may cause a person to become addicted to a substance. The unique nature of each person’s genetics leads to each set of biological influence factors being distinct for everyone. Some researchers find that varying impulsivity caused by differences in brain function may make a person more vulnerable to drug addiction. Other genetic factors can also affect addiction such as a history of addiction in the family (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Office of the Surgeon General 30).
Psychological Influences
Psychological influences also play a major part in the development of drug addiction. People may hold beliefs that enable addictive behaviors. In such cases, the process of rehabilitation becomes especially difficult. When an addicted person believes that they are lost and have no way to return to normal life, it prevents recovery procedures from being effective. The habits people learn due to the addiction may also exacerbate their condition. In addition, the immaturity of the person may also enable addiction (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Office of the Surgeon General 30).
Social Influences
By surrounding themselves with people involved in drug production, selling, or use, the person may start to normalize the use of addictive substances. People tend to form habits that suit their environment, and if drugs are always available to them, they may start using them. Social gatherings can also create peer pressure which forces a person to partake in drugs even if they were not planning on it. These elements may be especially affecting with legal substances such as nicotine and alcohol (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Office of the Surgeon General 30).
Non-Drug Addiction
Non-drug addiction usually does not have physical dependence and physical withdrawal symptoms due to the differing nature of such addictions. However, it shares some of its core concepts with drug addiction. Social and physiological influences are just as present in the majority of non-drug addictions such as gambling, sex, and gaming addictions since these activities may force consistent habits, and are considered entertaining and pleasurable by society at large. They may also be influenced by biological influences as impulsivity can just as likely lead a person to gamble as seek drugs. Psychological withdrawal symptoms are also present in non-drug addicts which often manifest in the form of anxiety, irritability, and depression. However, I believe that the separation between drug and non-drug addiction should be made clear. The concept of tolerance development is not a consistent issue in most non-drug addictions due to the subjectivity of the effect that the user experiences. The increase of dosage is also inconsistent as some activities cannot be increased in any way but through larger time commitments. Perhaps it would be more accurate to consider such people “susceptible to the development of harmful habits” instead of “addicted.” A more streamlined terminology would be needed in the future, however.
Conclusion
Addiction can destroy a person’s life. Both drug addiction and non-drug addiction can lead a person to ruin their relationships, career, and health. In the modern era, despite the increased awareness of the danger, many people still become addicted to legal and illegal substances due to a variety of influencing factors. Non-drug addictions may hold similar consequences for the affected, but the nature of their affliction is different, and it should be considered before they are labeled as “addicts.”
Works Cited
Everitt, Barry J., and Trevor W. Robbins. “Drug Addiction: Updating Actions to Habits to Compulsions Ten Years On.” Annual Review of Psychology, vol. 67, no. 1, 2016, pp. 23–50.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and Office of the Surgeon General. Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health. US Department of Health and Human Services, 2016.
Wise, Roy A., and George F. Koob. “The Development and Maintenance of Drug Addiction.” Neuropsychopharmacology, vol. 39, no. 2, 2014, pp. 254–262.