DRUGS AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION

Overview

Alcohol addiction is a medical condition. It’s a disease of brain and requires medical and psychological treatments to control it. Genetics, early childhood events or attempts to relieve emotional pain are some of the common causes for addiction.

Illicit drugs have different effects from each other, they all strongly activate the reward centre of your brain and produce feelings of pleasure which will not subside despite repeated usage. Drugs can include Stimulants (cocaine, Amphetamine etc), Hallucinogens (LSD, Magic mushrooms etc, Opiates (Heroin, prescribed pain killers, codeine etc), designer drugs (Meow Meow etc) 

People are psychologically dependent when a drug is their major preoccupation to their thoughts, emotions and activities that the need to continue its use becomes a craving or compulsion despite negative consequences.

With physical dependence, the body shows tolerance to the substance, and withdrawal symptoms happen if you suddenly stop taking the drug or you take a reduced dosage.

Treatment for addictions often requires continuing followup as addictions is a relapsing and remitting illness. Some people can have co-occurring mental health conditions, treating them together gives better outcomes.
The three main forms of treatment include:
●    Detoxification & Rehab.
●    Psychological therapies (CBT, MET etc).
●    Medications.