Drug addiction is a long-term illness marked by obsessive, or uncontrollable, drug seeking and use despite negative effects and potentially permanent alterations in the brain. The negative behaviours that drug users exhibit can result from these brain alterations. A relapsing illness is drug addiction. Relapse is when drug usage is resumed after an effort to cease.
The first step on the road to drug addiction is choosing to use drugs. But over time, a person’s capacity to decide not make compromises. It becomes obsessive to seek out and use the substance. This is mostly because of how long-term drug exposure affects how the brain functions. Addiction has an impact on the brain regions responsible for motivation, learning, and behaviour regulation.
Both the brain and behaviour are impacted by the condition of addiction.
Drug addiction: is it treatable?
Yes, but it’s complicated. People can’t just quit using drugs for a few days and be cured because addiction is a chronic disease. To completely stop using and rebuild their life, the majority of people require ongoing or prolonged assistance.
Numerous approaches have proven effective in treating drug addiction, including:
Long-term follow-up to prevent relapse examination and treatment for co-occurring mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, medical devices and applications used to relieve withdrawal symptoms or provide skills training, and behavioural counselling.
Success may depend on having a variety of care options, a personalised treatment plan, and follow-up possibilities. As needed, treatment should incorporate both medical and mental health treatments. Family- or community-based rehabilitation support networks may be a part of the aftercare process.
Withdrawal. During the detoxification process, medications and technologies might help to reduce withdrawal symptoms. The process of arizona detox centers is just the first step; it is not “therapy” in and of itself. Patients who don’t continue their treatment following detoxification typically start using drugs again. In over 80% of detoxifications, according to a study of treatment centres, drugs were employed (SAMHSA, 2014). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave the electrical stimulation device NSS-2 Bridge a new indication in November 2017 for use in easing opiate withdrawal symptoms. This apparatus, which is positioned behind the ear, emits electrical pulses to activate particular brain neurons. Additionally, lofexidine, a non-opioid drug intended to lessen opioid withdrawal symptoms, received FDA approval in May 2018.
Avoiding relapse. Medication can be used by patients to reduce cravings and restore normal brain function. Opioid (heroin, prescription painkillers), cigarette (nicotine), and alcohol addiction are all treatable with medications. To treat the addiction to stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine as well as cannabis (marijuana), scientists are working on new drugs.