Dual Diagnosis Treatment Center in Union Hill-Novelty Hill
Drug addiction can be treated, and it can be managed well.
What is the problem with drugs? Addiction is a disease that affects your brain and behaviour. When you’re addicted to drugs, you can’t resist the urge to use them, no matter how much harm the drugs may cause. The earlier you get treatment for drug addiction, the more likely you are to avoid some of the more dire consequences of the disease.
At first, you may choose to take a drug because you like the way it makes you feel. You may think you can control how much and how often you use it. But over time, drugs change how your brain works. These physical changes can last a long time. They make you lose control and can lead to damaging behaviours.
Addiction vs. Abuse and Tolerance: Drug abuse is when you use legal or illicit substances in ways you shouldn’t. You might take more than the regular dose of pills or use someone else’s prescription. You may take drugs to feel good, reduce tension, or ignore reality. But usually, you’re able to change your unhealthy habits or stop using altogether.
The brain adapts to drug use by decreasing the ability of reward circuit cells in the brain to respond to it. Tolerance is a term that describes the decrease in the amount of high one experiences when using the drug. To achieve the same effect, they may need to consume more medicine. This can lead to a decrease in pleasure with other things such as food and sex.
The brain's chemical processes and circuits can also be altered by long-term drug use. This can impact learning, judgement, decision making, stress, memory, and behavior. Many people who abuse drugs continue to use them despite knowing the negative effects.