Drug Addiction

Drug addiction involves compulsively seeking to use a substance, regardless of the potentially negative social, psychological, and physical consequences. Factors such as personality and genetic makeup can affect the likelihood of drug addiction, and physical addiction occurs when repeated drug use alters the brain's reward pathways.

Drug addiction may involve a need for regular use, inability to cut down or discontinue using, using despite negative consequences, using to cope with everyday life, and/or doing things that place the addicted person or others in risky situations while using or in an attempt to obtain the drug. Signs and symptoms of drug addiction vary according to the type of drug.

Treatment for drug addictions typically involves help withdrawing from the drug, followed by counseling and other services to develop a healthy support system and maintain a lifestyle free of drug addictions.

Drug addictions are very treatable conditions and, with the many advances in medications and therapeutic treatments, cravings and withdrawal can be controlled and the likelihood of relapse can be substantially reduced. While there is no cure, with the right therapies and drug addiction treatments, people can be free of the control of addiction and can live sober, healthy, and happy lives!