Drugs

Compiled by Hasti Danesh

Drugs don’t appear to be addictive at first, but after few times of usage, the person becomes attached to the drug and he/she will move to the next level of drug usage which is indeed drug abuse. But the fact is that it takes quite a while before the person involved discovers his attachment to drugs. Yet even then and at that stage, the addict undergoes denial and doesn’t acknowledge the deep trouble which has entrapped him. And finally when the person secretly admits to his own addiction to himself, it is too late to make up for all the loss and hurt he has caused in his life; both for himself and others.

However, attachment to drugs has diverse dimensions such as:

- Mental Attachment: People use drugs for variety of reasons, and make up several excuses for using them. Each person feels the need for mental attachment and when this sense and urge is not fulfilled in its rational manner, then he looks for an alternative; leading to wrong replacements including drugs. Also, a very young person might feel the need to attract attention, even though there are times when he seeks an inappropriate strategy. He might feel brave and confident for turning to drugs, but this is just the initial effect which will very soon wear off.

Signs of Drug Addiction: Drug addiction is a complex, and often chronic, brain disease. It is characterized by drug craving, seeking, and use that can persist even in the face of devastating life consequences. Addiction results largely from brain changes that stem from prolonged drug use—changes that involve multiple brain circuits, including those responsible for governing self-control and other behaviors. Drug addiction is treatable, often with medications (for some addictions) combined with behavioral therapies. However, relapse is common and can happen even after long periods of abstinence, underscoring the need for long-term support and care. Relapse does not signify treatment failure, but rather should prompt treatment re-engagement or modification.

Factors of Drug Dependence: Whether you basically feel dependent on a drug and how quickly you become addicted to a drug depends on many factors, including your biology (your genes, for example), age, gender, environment, and interactions among these factors. Vast differences characterize individual sensitivity to various drugs and to addiction vulnerability. While one person may use a drug one or many times and suffer no ill effects, another person may overdose with first use, or become addicted after a few uses. There is no way of knowing in advance how quickly you will become addicted—but there are some clues, one important one being whether you have a family history of addiction. So never take the risk of trying any sorts of drugs at all and know for sure that there is no need to respond to your sense of curiosity in this field.

Other common questions related to drugs and the problems it causes will be discussed in the next issues.

To be continued…