The Truth Behind Drug Addiction
Many people like to place the blame of drug addiction on the addict. These people have a great misunderstanding of the problem and often have moral opinions that cloud their judgments. They believe that the addict has a lack of judgment, no willpower at all and does not care about the important aspects of life, like employment and family. The truth is addiction is a disease and drug treatment is necessary. It is a chronic illness just like epilepsy or multiple sclerosis.
According to Alan Leshner, Ph.D., director of the federal government's National Institute on Drug Abuse, scientific advances over the past 20 years have shown that drug addiction is a chronic, relapsing disease that results from the prolonged effects of drugs on the brain. This does not mean that the addict does not have to take responsibility for his recovery. It only means that the illness needs to be viewed like any other disease. Addiction should be diagnosed and treated accordingly.
A drug addict may have first begun using drugs occasionally in social environments and we can all agree that it was a voluntary choice made by that person. But as time passes and the drugs begin to change the brain in drastic ways that more often than not lead that person to excessive and compulsive drug usage. The usage of drugs then becomes uncontrollable and becomes the chronic disease known as addiction.
Drug addiction changes the structure and function of the brain. Drugs affect the opioid receptors in the brain and cause surges of dopamine that produces pleasurable feelings. These receptors are responsible for controlling the pain your body feels and with repeated usage of drugs these receptors start to desensitize. They will stop producing the dopamine, without the help of drugs, which your body needs to feel good. This is why an addict will experience the sickness and pain of withdrawal when they stop taking drugs. This is one of the main reasons that drug addiction is so hard to cure. The addict, unable to withstand the pain and cravings, will begin searching for more drugs so that he can feel better again. Most people suffering from drug addiction do not mean to put their drugs above everything else in their life but without them they are not be able to function. They may want to stop but find that no amount of willpower can help them accomplish their goal.
It is not impossible to achieve complete sobriety, however the process will be a long and difficult task. There are many treatment options for addiction and finding the right one can be a daunting task. The trick is to never give up. As mentioned before, addiction is a chronic illness and relapse is not only likely but highly probable. Avoiding stressful situations and the people the addict did their drugs with can reduce the chances of relapse and also improve their chances for recovery. After detox and drug rehab, a sober living facility is often recommended before attempting to return home. Support from their family and friends who are not users can also help them to achieve sobriety. If they do have a relapse, they need to start over and try again. Once they have achieved their goal of total sobriety, they can then become a functioning member of society again.
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