Addiction
Alternative Names:
Drug addiction, drug dependence, drug abuse
Definition:
Drug addiction is the compulsive use of street drugs or medications, despite serious or long-term consequences associated with use. People who suffer from addiction may decide they have a desire to quit, but find they are incapable of doing so on their own. A developed tolerance to a drug often signifies drug addiction.
However, patients may become physically dependent upon a drug without becoming addicted. For example, patients who take blood pressure medications are physically reliant on their medication, but will not likely abuse or overdose their medication for its effects.
It is estimated that 20 percent of U.S. residents have used prescription medications for nonmedical reasons. Some prescription drugs that may lead to addiction are:
Symptoms:
The following behaviors may be signs of addiction:
- A feeling that you need to use a drug regularly
- Spending money on a drug even if you cannot afford it
- Keeping a steady supply of the drug
- Doing things you wouldn’t normally do to obtain the drug
- Feeling like you need the drug to do simple tasks or to solve your problems
- Failing in your attempts to stop using the drug
- Spending more of your time and energy trying to acquire the drug
- Doing risky activities under the influence of the drug
Recognizing drug addiction may be dependent upon what type of drug is being abused. Symptoms and signs of addiction may vary. Common signs of use and dependence for certain drugs are:
Narcotic Painkillers
- Reduced sense of pain
- Sedation
- Depression
- Confusion
- Constipation
- Slowed breathing
- Needle marks (if self-injecting)
Sedatives
- Reduced mental alertness
- Reduced attention span
- A sensation of “floating”
- Depressed heartbeat
- Slowed or shallow breathing
- Sleepiness
- Confusion
- Unsteadiness
Stimulants
- Euphoria
- Decreased appetite
- Rapid speech
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Depression after withdrawal
- Insomnia
- Weight loss
- Paramoia
- Rapid heart rate
- Elevated blood pressure and temperature
Barbiturates
- Drowsiness
- Slurred speech
- Impaired coordination
- Memory loss
- Confusion
- Decreased breathing and blood pressure
- Dizziness
- Depression
Exams/Testing:
If you suspect that your drug use shows addictive tendencies or symptoms, call your family doctor, or a mental health professional like a psychiatrist or psychologist. You may need to schedule an appointment if you cannot stop using a drug, if your drug use has resulted in risky behaviors like sharing needles or having unprotected sex, or if you believe you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms after stopping your drug use.
Seek emergency medical attention if you or someone you know has taken a drug and:
- Overdosed
- Lost consciousness
- Had trouble breathing
- Had seizures
- Had chest pain or pressure, or other signs of a heart attack
- Had other signs of physical or psychological reactions to a drug
If you suspect a friend or loved one may suffer from addiction, you may need to take measures to plan an intervention pursuading an addict to seek treatment. A successful intervention requires planning, research, and teamwork from friends, teachers, and others who confront someone about the consequences of their addiction. An intervention should not be done lightly or without thorough thought, because a poorly planned or executed intervention could make the situation worse.
To be diagnosed with a drug addiction, a patient must meet the criteria specific in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). This diagnosis is usually given by a psychiatrist, psychologist, or certified addictions counselor.
Outlook/Prognosis:
Patients who seek treatment for addiction may be admitted to inpatient or outpatient programs to treat their addiction, receive counseling, and learn about resources and self-help groups that will encourage them to resist relapsing.
Patients may be put through withdrawal therapy (detoxification) to ensure drug use is ended as quickly and safely as possible. Depending on the level of addiction, patients may experience the following withdrawal symptoms:
Narcotic Painkillers
- Runny nose
- Sweating
- Anxiety
- Drug cravings
- Sleeplessness
- Depression
- Dilated pupils
- Racing pulse
- Increased breathing and pulse
- Abdominal cramps
- Tremors
- Bone and muscle pain
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Sedatives
- Anxiety
- Diarrhea
- Rapid pulse
- Shaky hands
- Irritability
- Sweating
- Sleeplessness
Stimulants
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Anxiety
- Intense drug cravings
- Suicidal thoughts or tendencies
- Paranoia
- Acute psychosis
Barbiturates
- Restlessness
- Anxiety
- Sweating
- Hallucinations
- Tremors
- Seizures
- Rapid heart rate
- Increased blood pressure and temperature
- Delirium
Treatment for addictive withdrawals depends on the type of drug being detoxified. Patients experiencing withdrawal symptoms from stimulant addiction may receive emotional support from friends and family members or a prescription to treat their symptoms of paranoid psychosis or depression. Patients withdrawn from sedatives, narcotic painkillers, or barbiturates may gradually scale back their drug use or be prescribed another medication to reduce cravings or to stabilize the body during detoxification.
Medications that may be prescribed to assist a patient withdrawing from addiction:
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July 30, 2010, 2:23 pm
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