The Oxford dictionary explains addiction as “the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance or activity” and it defines an addict as” a person who is addicted to a particular substance, typically an illegal drug:” These words only go a little way in describing an illness that affects multitudes of people, directly, and multitudes more indirectly. To get a better understanding of the meaning of addiction one can look at the criteria which are present when a person is considered to be’ in addiction’ What defines an addict? There are three conditions present when a person
When alcohol acts on the CNS, intoxication occurs, affecting emotional and sensory function, judgment, memory and learning ability. Smell and taste are dulled. The ability to withstand pain increases as the BAL rises. Different parts of the brain seem to be affected by alcohol at different rates, creating alternate periods of restlessness and stupor. Long-term effects of alcohol on the central nervous system include tolerance, dependency, and irreversible damage.
Addiction: A Disease or a Moral Deficiency? There are several models that have been developed to explain drug use and its associated problems such as addiction. The most dominant models are: moral model; disease model; pharmacological model or social control model; and the social learning model. This article, however, focuses on the explanation of addiction on account of disease model or moral deficiency. Moral model gives a plausible explanation for addiction.
This behavior is attributed to a void still afflicting an addict going through the recovery process. According to drugaddictioncenter.org, the following addictions generally are associated with addiction transfer: Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulants such as methamphetamine, cocaine, Ritalin, or nicotine. CNS depressants, such as alcohol, sedatives, hypnotics, or Xanax, are additional addictions. Narcotics, opium, Vicodin, and Oxycontin are well-known opiates contributing to addictive personalities. Cannabis (such as THC, marijuana, and hashish) is also an addiction with the capability of addiction transfer (although mainstream may not always believe this
Substance Abuse Substance abuse is a pattern in which people rely on a drug excessively and regularly, bringing damage to their relationships, functioning poorly at work, or putting themselves or others in danger. The causes of substance related to disorders are as follows: Sociocultural views- Propose that substance abuse and dependence are more likely to appear in families, and social environments where substance use is valued, or at least accepted. Psychodynamic views- people who abuse substances have powerful dependency needs that can be traced to their early childhood. Cognitive-Behavioral views- the temporary reduction of tension or rising of spirits produced by drug has a rewarding affect, thus increasing the likelihood that the user will seek this reaction again. Biological views are a genetic predisposition and biochemical factors.
However, it was very beneficial for an adolescent to have support from others when recovering, along with encouragement, comfort and guidance. The definition of addiction is the state of being enslaved to a habit/practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit forming (such as drugs, alcohol, other narcotics, etc. ); to such an extent that its cessation can cause severe trauma (Merriam- Webster’s, 2000). There are many different types of addictions, from drug addiction to alcohol addiction to even small addictions (such as a shoe or shopping addiction), but for this paper, it will involve drug addiction in adolescence from the early stages to their later years. Drug addiction in adolescence has been an ongoing problem for a number of years
This essay hopes to look into the many different factors surrounding addictive personality for alcohol dependency within bio psychosocial and biological models. Addiction is a condition, produced by repeated consumption of a natural synthetic substance, in which the person has become physically and psychologically dependent on the substance. (Edward P. Sarafino 2008). So what makes young people to start to drink alcohol in the first place? With most people it can be either social behaviours or genetics, with also the environment playing an important role.
When people do not develop within these four groups, they turn to other relationships, such as addiction which is a relationship with an object or an event that takes place within the person. There are three stages of addiction. Stage One is where the personality becomes altered. The mood changes become more intense. The addictive personality comes into existence as it emerges from the addictive process.
It helps curb negative feelings such as anxiety, depression, and loneliness (Nevid & Rathus, 2010, p. 181). However, when used in place of functional, healthy, coping mechanisms, alcohol dependency or alcoholism has a variety of negative consequences, such as loss of career, family, and in many cases, life. Treatment approaches to alcoholism vary. One such approach widely used in North America originating from the disease model of addiction blended with a faith-based approach is the abstinence model, more commonly recognized in the form of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) (Nevid & Rathus, 2010, p. 183). Other models exist, such as cognitive-behavioural or motivational-enhancement therapy (Nevid & Rathus, 2010, p. 183).
SUBSTANCE VS NON-SUBSTANCE ADDICTION An addiction is continued involvement with a substance or activity despite any ongoing negative consequences that appear. This definition of addiction includes not only substances as in drug addiction or alcohol addiction, but behavioral addictions also, with non-substance addiction components, as with gambling, kleptomania, pyromania, or even anger (intermittent explosive disorder). Non-substance addictions are built out of a habit. Like other habits, addictive behaviors are learned behaviors that we gain through trial and error or through observing others. The pleasures of an addiction can be widespread.