Addiction can be described as the inability of an individual to prevent the urge of using drug substances or other activities that cause both physical and psychological harm. It can be classified as a behavioral addiction in cases where an individual develops an inability to withdraw from activities such as gambling. The other form of addiction is chemical, which occurs when someone fails to stop taking a specific type of drug.
Mental illness is one of the psychological causes of addiction. It prompts people to engage themselves in harmful behaviors such as taking harmful drugs. The environment is a factor as it influences individuals in a society to engage in behaviors that are regarded as unhealthy. The environment is made up of peer groups, and social and other stressors. An individual can be influenced to take drugs if he is exposed to an environment where drugs are available and easy to access. Families that believe in drug-taking as well as peer groups that abuse drugs will cause addiction. Lastly, the thoughts and beliefs of a person can cause addiction. Created feelings after the process of thought and belief determine an individual’s behavior (Pence, 2020). Unrealistic thoughts influence negative behaviors that will influence the use of drugs.
The symptoms of addiction include the inability to stop taking a particular substance because of overdependence. Addicted individuals take large doses of drugs to gain a good feeling and feel the drug effect. The individuals are also unable to avoid a particular drug despite being knowledgeable of the drug’s harmful effects. Another symptom of addiction is the ability to use a particular drug for one to manage to solve a particular problem. An increase or decrease in appetite is a symptom of addiction as irregular sleeping patterns lead to sleeplessness (Pence, 2020). Obsession and taking risks are other symptoms of addiction.
Addiction can be treated in different ways; one way is treatment by the administration of medicine and drugs. Psychotherapy is offered to addicted individuals and, in the end, it helps to restructure cognitive and personality functioning. Different medical devices have been developed to treat individuals that have withdrawn from the use or abuse of a particular substance. Several care interventions have been introduced to provide behavioral therapy and counseling services (Pence, 2020). The move will help to increase stress management and depression.
Reference
Pence, G. E. (2020). Overcoming addiction: Seven imperfect solutions and the end of America’s greatest epidemic. Rowman & Littlefield.