Drug addictions affect more than just the person suffering the addiction. The situation also harms the people who care for the addicted person, such as family, friends... even coworkers are affected. In this article, we hope to offer some helpful information concerning drug addiction through common questions and answers so that you will be informed and able to approach situations in your own life with both sensitivity and realism.

What is drug addiction?

Drug addiction is a physical and mental condition characterized by habitual and uncontrollable drug intake, involving craving and seeking, even despite the negative consequences associated with drug use.

Drug addiction is different from drug dependence, though. For instance, someone who is taking a drug to treat a disease or illness may have trouble functioning without the drug, but the person may see an improvement in the medical condition while taking the drug. They are only dependent, however, because they are not taking the drug compulsively. Persons addicted to a drug exhibit compulsive behavior towards the drug, and unlike the medically dependent drug user, they are unable to quit the use once the drug has performed its intended effect.

What scientific theories exist concerning drug addiction?

Evolutionary theory suggests that the capacity to be addicted to drugs is a side effect of something that was selected, though certainly not directly considering the adverse affects addiction brings. Some theorists have suggested that the capacity for addiction is a side effect of social attention rewards. They propose that social rewards cause the release of endorphins and dopamine into the brain's reward circuits. If a social creature is rewarded for a certain activity, they will form a habit to maintain that potential for reward. It appears that addictive drugs activate the same reward circuits that are activated by social attention. Researchers observing primates noted hunting males receive additional mating opportunities, thus they hunt more. An addictive drug will bypass the need for such an activity as hunting, or some productive human activity, and an addict will be "socially rewarded" when taking the drug.

What are some other viewpoints concerning the reason for drug addiction?

More are beginning to think that drug addiction is a form of dysfunctional learning. Much of what people do is based on motivation and reward. Abused drugs take over the parts of the brain that are involved in motivation and reward. The drug user relearns, erroneously, motivation stimuli and the subsequent rewards. Drug-associated cues will then cause the desire to use to flare up in the addicted person. This will also lead to unconscious and/or compulsive drug-seeking behavior, such as lying, stealing, and even physical violence. The addicted drug user will lose the sense of voluntary control over the use of the drug. The continued use of drugs strengthens the neurological pathways in the brain, and their activation quickens with each use. The quicker the "high" is achieved, the stronger the dysfunctional learning.

What are some of the methods of recovery from drug addiction?

The methods will vary based on the substance abused, the duration of the addiction, the medical situation, and the social needs of the recovering addict. One of the common types of recovery programs are the twelve step programs, including Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. These programs are used for a variety of addictions. Alcoholics Anonymous' website is www.aa.org and Narcotics Anonymous' website is www.na.org. Substance-abuse rehabilitation centers often offer residential treatment where seriously addicted individuals can be isolated from drugs and interaction with other users and dealers. It is also important that those affected by the individual's addiction seek treatment. They too have been harmed by the addiction and need to relearn how to deal with the recovering addict.

Is it possible to use a controlled substance and not be addicted?

Use of a drug that is not an addictive practice is sometimes known as "chipping." Here, a user has control over the use of the drug, meaning they are able to avoid influences that reinforce dependence. The drug is used often for relaxation and not for escape. Social drinking may be an example of such a practice. The drinker is not an alcoholic and is able to control the amount he or she drinks, knowing when to stop, or better yet not even getting to a place where that is a question. Some would argue that the same kind of practice is possible for a drug like marijuana. Even some mood and mind-altering drugs have been shown to not contain in themselves addictive chemical properties, but there are other undesirable side effects that may be associated with such drugs. One example is the flashback that is associated with LSD. The distributors will lace often-illegal drugs not addictive in themselves with addictive properties.