Understanding What A Drug Addiction Really Is

There are many reasons to enter an addiction treatment program or addiction treatment facility. But first, it’s critical to understand what addiction is.

What is Drug Addiction?

Simply put, drug addiction is improperly using any drug – illegal or prescribed – on a regular basis. Whether it’s heroin, cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy or prescription drugs like tranquilizers or sleeping pills, all of them can be abused. However, drug abuse and drug dependence are two different things. The former is a voluntary abuse of drugs. Thelatter often occurs at a later stage-when a person is unable to control the use of drugs. People often begin substance abuse for their feel-good factor. But the danger lies when ‘casual drug abuse’ escalates into regular drug abuse. This is often the foundation for drug dependencyDependency is not voluntary; it is something you can’t help. You become powerless in the face of drugs to reduce or stop. People frequently feel they need drugs in order to:

- Feel poised when socializing.
- Circumvent withdrawal symptoms.
- Put personal problems out of mind.
- Survive the ‘trauma’ of day-to-day living.

Addicts use drugs in order to feel “better”. The desire for a shot or a peg is such that the person becomes physically or mentally reliant to some degree on the substance of their choice. They often find themselves drinking more than they used to. Attempts to cut down are prone to end in total failure. This leads to utter bewilderment and dismay of the individual. Their substance abuse being outside their control, it takes on a destructive momentum of its own . Unless outside help in the form of Addiction Intervention and Addiction Treatment is offered, this problem is hard to overcome.