Toranfield House

What is Drug Addiction?

Drug Addiction is also referred to as 'Substance Dependence' and 'Substance Use Disorder'. It is a chronic, often relapsing brain disease that causes compulsive drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences to the individual who is addicted and to those around them.

According to the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), drug addiction and substance dependence is defined as:

	Craving: A strong need, pre-occupation, or compulsion, to acquire and consume a substance
	Loss of control: When an individual persists in use of substances despite problems related to their use
	Physical dependence: The occurrence of withdrawal symptoms such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, nausea, sweating, shakiness, anxiety, and depression. More serious symptoms can occur such as seizures, hallucinations or death when substance use is stopped in long term chronic users. These symptoms are usually relieved by taking the drug or by taking another sedative drug.
	Tolerance: Compulsive and repetitive use may result in tolerance to the effect of the drug and the need for increasing amounts in order to get 'high.'

Substance dependence can be diagnosed with physiological dependence, evidence of tolerance or withdrawal, or without physiological dependence.

Drug addiction and drug abuse can cause untold damage to the individual, the family and those close to them, as well as to the wider society.

Causes and risk factors

Drug addiction is a brain disease; the abuse of drugs leads to changes in the structure and function of the brain. Although it is true that for most people the initial decision to take drugs is voluntary, over time the changes in the brain caused by repeated drug abuse can affect a person’s self control and ability to make sound decisions, and at the same time send intense impulses to take drugs. It is because of these changes in the brain that it is so difficult for a person who is addicted to stop abusing drugs.

There are several theories of the root causes for drug addiction, but there is no known single cause. The origins and likelihood for drug dependence vary with each individual.

Key risk factors that influence drug dependence include physiological and psychological factors.

Signs and symptoms of drug abuse and drug addiction

Although different drugs have different physical effects, the symptoms of addiction are the same no matter the substance. The more drugs begin to affect and control your life, the more likely it is that you’ve crossed the line from drug use/abuse to drug addiction. Unfortunately, when you’re in the middle of it, you may be in denial about the magnitude of the problem or the negative impact it has on your life.

See if you recognize yourself in the following signs and symptoms of substance abuse and addiction. If so, you should talk to someone immediately about your drug use. You’re on a dangerous road, and the sooner you get help, the better.

Common signs and symptoms of drug abuse

	You're neglecting your responsibilities: Flunking classes, skipping work, neglecting your children because of your drug use.			You take drugs to avoid or relieve withdrawal symptoms. If you go too long without drugs, you experience symptoms such as nausea, restlessness, insomnia, depression, sweating, shaking, and anxiety.
	You're using drugs under dangerous conditions or taking risks while high: Driving while on drugs, using dirty needles, or having unprotected sex.			You've lost control over your drug use. You often do drugs or use more than you planned, even though you told yourself you wouldn’t. You may want to stop using, but you feel powerless.
	Your drug use is getting you into legal trouble: Arrests for disorderly conduct, driving under the influence, or stealing to support a drug habit.			Your life revolves around drug use. You spend a lot of time using and thinking about drugs, figuring out how to get them, and recovering from the drug's effects.
	Your drug use is causing problems in your relationships: Fights with your partner or family members, an unhappy boss, or the loss of old friends.			You've abandoned activities you used to enjoy: Hobbies, sports, and socializing.
	You've built up a drug tolerance: You need to use more of the drug to experience the same effects you used to with smaller amounts.			You continue to use drugs, despite knowing it’s hurting you. Drugs are causing major problems in your life - blackouts, infections, mood swings, depression, paranoia - but you use anyway.

Psychological/Sociological risk factors include:

	early/mid childhood trauma
	a lack of attachment and nurturing by parents or caregivers
	parents or caregivers with active drug addictions
	socio-economic environment
	availability and access to addictive substances
	peer modelling

Physiological risk factors include:

	genetic predisposition
	self medication of pre-existing undiagnosed mental health condition

Myths about Drug Addiction

MYTH: Someone addicted to drugs has to want to be helped.

REALITY:  Most individuals suffering from addiction do not want to be helped.  They are sick, unable to think rationally, and incapable of quitting by themselves.  Most recovered addicts were forced into treatment against their will.  Self-motivation usually occurs during treatment, not before.

MYTH:  People become addicts because they have psychological or emotional problems that they try to relieve by abusing drugs.

REALITY:  While underlying psychological issues may play a role in initiating the path to addiction, physical dependence is a physiological process, and individuals with no underlying psychological issues have the same potential for addiction as everyone else.

MYTH: If you only use the less addictive drugs such as cannabis you won't become an addict.

REALITY: Your predisposition to become an addict is based on unknown factors that will not reveal themselves until the disease progresses. While some substances have a higher addictive potential than others, it is the physiological and psychological process that occurs in the user that determines the potential for addiction, not the addiction potential of the drug.

MYTH: I can quit by myself

REALITY: While some people are able to recover without help, the majority of addicts need outside assistance to recover from their disease. With support and treatment, many individuals are able to stop abusing drugs and rebuild their lives.

Do you think you may have a drug Problem?

Are you looking for help?

Fortunately, Toranfield House provides treatments that help people to counteract addiction’s powerful disruptive effects and regain control of their lives. Our treatment approaches are tailored to each patient’s drug abuse patterns, and any co-occurring medical, psychiatric, and social problems, and can lead to sustained recovery and a life without drug abuse.

	Heroin/opiate addiction
	Codeine addiction
	Cocaine addiction
	Cannabis addiction
	Amphetamine addiction
	Benzodiazepine addiction
	and other drug addictions

We offer you a safe place to detox and start your path to recovery.

We can help you detox with our onsite drug detox unit which is medically supervised 24 hours a day and enroll you in our residential rehabilitation programme.

If you or someone you love suffers from addiction, please call us today for an informal, confidential and private discussion.

Contact us today

+353 (0)1 276 1000 (Ireland)	1 866 558 0518 (USA)
0800 051 8858 (UK)	1 877 492 4503 (CAN)