Recognizing and avoiding of addictions

ADDICTIONS - Addiction is the inability to Stop using a substance or engaging in a behaviour even though it is causing
psychological and physical harm. Scientific Foundations of Health
Addiction and misuse are different- Misuse refers to the misuse of a substance at high doses or in inappropriate situations
that could lead to health and social problems.
However, not everybody who misuses a substance has addiction. Addiction is “fact or condition of being addicted to a
particular substance, thing, or activity.”
Module- 4
TYPES OF ADDICTIONS Avoiding risk and harmful habits.
Physical Addictions: These are addictions to substances that are
ingested or otherwise put into a person’s body:
● Alcohol ● Tobacco ● Opioids ● Prescription drugs ● Cocaine
● Marijuana ● Amphetamines ● Hallucinogens ● Inhalants ● PCP
Presented by
Behavioural Addictions: Dr. Shwetha H J
Behavioral addiction is classified as any time that one loses control of their actions in order to engage in behaviors that Faculty
result in brief feelings of happiness. Department of Biotechnology
● Food Addiction ● Internet Addiction ● Pornography Addiction ● Using computers and/or cell phones B.M.S. College of Engineering
● Video Game Addiction ● Work Addiction ● Exercise Addiction ● Spiritual obsession (not to be confused with religious
devotion) ● Shopping ● Gambling
Recognizing an addiction: Characteristics of health compromising behaviors
Occur gradually:
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) defines addiction as a chronic disease that affects the brain’s reward,
▪ Individuals are exposed to, becomes susceptible to the behaviour, experiments with it, and later engages in its regular use
motivation, and memory functions. Someone with an addiction will crave a substance or other behavioural habits.
▪ Not acquired at once, through a process may make different interventions important at the different stages of vulnerability,
experimentation, and regular use
General signs of addiction are:
▪ lack of control, or inability to stay away from a substance or behaviour
Substance of all kinds is predicted by some of the same factors
▪ decreased socialization, like abandoning commitments or ignoring relationships
▪ High level of conflict with parents
▪ ignoring risk factors, like sharing needles despite potential consequences
▪ Poor self-control
▪ physical effects, like withdrawal symptoms or needing higher dosage for effect
▪ Might be coping mechanisms to manage a stressful life
▪ Ignoring other areas of life to fulfil or support their desires.
Common profile of those who engage in substance abuse
Dealing with addiction
▪ Penchant for deviant behaviour, with low self-esteem, and with problematic
Initially, people may feel that addiction is a myth and they can quit any time they want.
family relationships often show higher levels of these behaviours
This can also occur with substance abuse and behavioural addictions.
▪ Poor school performance, family problems, deviance, difficult temperament
Making any kind of change involves a process that starts with
pre-contemplation and moves into contemplation. DIFFERENT STAGES OF ADDICTIONS
Once one makes that decision to change, they begin the process of preparing to take action. STAGE 1: Experimentation- The voluntary use of drugs without experiencing any negative social or legal consequences
STAGE 2: Regular Use- Substance use just becomes another part of the routine.
How to avoid addiction STAGE 3: High-Risk Use- Takes precedence over other facets of your life.
1) Avoid Temptation and Peer Pressure STAGE 4: Addiction Final stage-complete dependency upon the substance When addicts don’t receive them, their body
2) Seek help for mental illness lets them know in the form of symptoms like shakes, sweats, tremors, and other frantic behaviours.
3) Examine the risk factors
4) Keep a well-balanced life
5) Education
Differences between addictive people and non addictive people and their behavior with society How addiction develops and addictive behaviors
Substance addiction ▪ Drugs use is often voluntary in the first instance .
Addictive Non-Addictive ▪ The development of a full addiction occurs through a variety of circumstances.
• Increases anxiety and tension. • No anxiety and tension. ▪ A person whose brains reward circuitry has not altered as a result of addiction experiences positive feelings in relation to
• Nicotine creates an immediate sense of relaxation • Able to focus and be productive. generally rewarding behaviour, such as exercising , being with family , or consuming delicious food.
• Withdrawal symptoms and increased cravings • Better mental stability ▪ However, the brain changes during a substance related disorder can take a long time to bring back to a healthy state.
• Cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, • Disease free ▪ This might motivate a person to repeat these behaviour and regain the positive feeling.
and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease • Risk of Disease is low ▪ Substances produce a euphoric feeling by triggering large amounts of dopamine in certain regions of the brain responsible
(COPD),tuberculosis. • No medical expenses for the feeling of reward.
• Medical expenses is high • Stronger immune system ▪ Addiction occurs when the act of using a substance takes over these circuits and increases the urge to consume more and
• Weaken immune system • Better productivity more of the substance in order to achieve the same rewarding effect
▪ As a part of regularly consuming large amounts of a substance ,
Behavioral addiction the body may become accustomed to its effects and metabolize it
Addictive Non-addictive more efficiently.
• Loss of money • Financially stable ▪ The person may require increased amounts of the substance to
• Poor decision making because of greed. • Better decision making. achieve the same effect that smaller amounts of the substance
• Debts. • No debts used to create.
• Impaired family relationships • Happy family ▪ Substance related disorders also impact the area of the brain
• Stress • No stress responsible for emotions and decision making . Eventually
• In turn causes depression, ulcer etc., • No health issues people end up taking a substance not to feel good , but to feel
• Some cases death • Hence productivity “normal "by prevention of withdrawal symptoms
• Effects family status
Influencing factors for addictions
•Genetics. Once you've started using a drug, the development into addiction may be influenced by inherited (genetic)
traits, which may delay or speed up the disease progression
•Mental health disorder. People with mental health disorder such as depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD) or post-traumatic stress disorder likely become addicted to drugs.
•Using drugs can become a way of coping with painful feelings, such as anxiety, depression and loneliness, and can make
these problems even worse.
•Peer pressure. Peer pressure is a strong factor in starting to use and misuse drugs, particularly for young people.
•Lack of family involvement. Difficult family situations or lack of a bond with your parents or siblings may increase the
risk of addiction, as can a lack of parental supervision.
•Early use: Using drugs at an early age can cause changes in the developing brain and increase the likelihood of
progressing to drug addiction.
•Environment. Environmental factors, including your family's beliefs and attitudes and exposure to a peer group that
encourages drug use, seem to play a role in initial drug use