Drug Addiction and Drug Abusers - Research Paper Example

? Drug Addiction Katherine Mooney Liberty Drug addiction engages instinctively seeking to employ a substance, despite of the latent negative physical, social and psychological consequences. It may be categorized as a chronic relapsing illness. Drugs that may result in addiction in its users include marijuana, heroin etc. The treatment involves customized dealing with individual patient so that he/ she may learn to control themselves and may initiate a normal life again. This study aims to explore the effects caused by various drugs on the mind, personality and behavior of the drug abusers and the various treatments suggested in the literature. It will help in the employment of most effective treatments for rehabilitation of drug abusers. Keywords: Drugs, drug addiction, drug abusers, stress, relapse, reward. Drug Addiction The word “addiction” is derived from the “addicere” (a Latin verb), to bind or give an individual to one thing or another. It is generally employed in the field of drug to refer to compulsive, uncontrollable, or chronic drug use, to the level that an individual (an addict) may continue the drug forever. It typically implies a strong physical and psychological dependence that results in a withdrawal syndrome on ceasing the drug administration. Drug addiction entails instinctive search to utilize a substance, in spite of the latent negative psychological, physical and social consequences (Brown, 2003). The drug intake generates satisfaction and an intuitive drive that necessitates continuous or periodic drug to avoid the anxiety and distress and provide pleasure (Moal and Koob, 2007). Types of Drug use Recent analyses have focused on the following three kinds of drug use (1) Controlled, occasional, or social use. (2) Abusive or harmful use, and (3) Drug addiction. Clinically, the irregular but controlled exposure to a sedative drug is different from excessive drug use, lacking control over restraining drug intake, and the appearance of chronic obsessive drug-seeking that portrays addiction. One of the fundamental objectives of recent neurobiological research on addiction is to comprehend the neuroadaptive and neuropharmacological mechanisms within particular neurocircuits that arbitrates the transition in between controlled, occasional drug use and the failure to control behavior of drug-seeking and drug-taking that classifies chronic addiction (Moal and Koob, 2007). It is assumed that this transition corresponds to the channel from a normal to an allostatic state and consequently to a pathological one, i.e., a persistent and relapsing ailment. The critical nature of the dissimilarity between harmful abuse and addiction is illuminated by epidemiological studies that show that a very limited percentage of the users will become dependent or addict. Stages of Addiction Drug-taking commences with collective drug-taking and severe reinforcement and occasionally, for a few individuals, then progresses in a pattern of growing compulsive use and lastly to withdrawal, dependence, and protracted abstinence. Since relapse is possible to occur, thus the cycle repeats (Robinson & Berridge, 2003). Characteristics of Drug Addiction Drug addiction, also termed as substance dependence is a persistent relapsing disorder usually characterized by (1) Urge to search for and take the drug (2) Loss of ability to control on limiting the drug administration (3) Development of negative emotions (e.g., anxiety, dysphoria, irritability) when drugs are avoided (Moal and Koob, 2007). Who are drug abusers? Drug abusers may be defined as individuals who are obsessive in the drug administration behavior that they undermine other important aspects of life, like relationships, parenting, performing normal life activities, moral values etc. (Butler, 2009,). Reasons behind drug abuse Like various psychological disorders, substance dependence or drug addiction depends on numerous things. However two main factors are: Genes: Once the drug use has been initiated, the hereditary factors like genes may influence the progression from occasional use to chronic addiction. Environment: The external factors like social groups, family beliefs and exposure to addict people, psychological conditions, stress etc, may play a role in initiating the drug use. Other factors include bio-chemical makeup, as the imbalances in the chemistry of nervous may increase susceptibility to addiction. Despite the above mentioned factors each drug abuser has its own reason for the development of addiction. The most common reasons behind drug abuse are. 1. A history of drug addiction within the family. In such cases, there are mental/ emotional and genetic elements contributing towards an individual's vulnerability towards addiction. 2. Few individuals start using drugs for the sake of relieving pain, which may in turn result in dependency. 3. Stress in considered as the most common factor contributing towards addiction. For example peer pressure, emotional stress, anxiety, environmental stress, homelessness, feeling of self worthlessness, depression and other reasons. 4. Similarly, few individuals become drug abusers due to some psychological disorders like attention deficit disorder or post traumatic stress disorder (Carpenito-Moyet, 2003). 5. Children being immature may come in contact with drugs out of curiosity. Observing addicts may in turn let them repeating the same act and ultimately becoming an addict themselves. Drug use directs to drug abuse, which in turn leads to drug addiction. Although the reason behind drug abuse differs among addicts, its recovery almost requires a similar course. Neurological Analysis Physical addiction seems to arise when constant use of a drug modifies the way human mind feels pleasure. The sedative drug causes physical alterations to some neurons. These neurons utilize chemicals known as neurotransmitters to correspond. The consequence of the inclusion of drugs into the innate processes of reward and motivation alters chemical signaling, distorts gene expression and modifies the biochemical framework of the mind. These alterations in the brain, are not characteristic to prohibited drug use, but also happen with off the counter antidepressant drugs. So the neuroscientists may define addiction as neuroadaptation that generates ‘negative consequences’ (Munzar, 2003). So the neuroscientists refer that research should be done in the development of such drugs that may block, substitute or blunt the narcotics effect on the human mind (Yucel et al, 2007).. How Do Drugs Affect The Mind, Behavior and Personality? A drug is a substance that changes brain function, consequential in transitory changes in mood, perception, behavior or consciousness. These drugs may be utilized for treating neurological illnesses, for leisure drug use; or for religious purposes. Personality, decision making ability and behavior result from the communication of billions of neurons within the brain and spinal cord, at the synapses via neurotransmitters (Dunbar, Kushner & Vrecko, 2010). Though each drug creates diverse physical effects, all drugs share one property in common i.e. recurring use can change the structure as well as the function of brain. Drugs disrupt the brain functioning by interrupting the regular transmission of stimuli from pre-synaptic to post-synaptic membranes. Either drugs work by copying neurotransmitters or manipulate them in any other way. Excitatory drugs augment post-synaptic transmission. Cocaine, for example, works by avoiding the usual re-uptake of dopamine, a neurotransmitter and thus triggers the sensations of pleasure. Inhibitory drugs reduce post-synaptic transmission. Marijuana, for example, results in binding of THC to receptors within the pre-synaptic membrane thus restrains the discharge of excitatory neurotransmitters (Goeders, 2004). Once an individual becomes addicted whether to inhalants, Xanax, heroin, speed, or Vicodin, the irrepressible yearning to drug use grows and becomes more important than other things in life like family, career, friends and even your own happiness, health and basic human needs. This strong urge makes the brain to either start denying or rationalizing the addiction. An individual may radically underestimate the amount of drug intake, its impact on life and the loss of control over this addiction phenomenon. The strongest links with co-morbid psychiatric malfunctions are established with anxiety and mood disorders, conduct disorders and antisocial personalities. A number of epidemiological studies including 30000 subjects have discovered that around 45% of addicts met the criteria for an anxiety disorder, 35% for a mood disorder, and 50% for either antisocial personality or conduct disorder. Modern investigations involving 43000 subjects substantiate these data: 22 to 25% for anxiety malfunctions, 21 to 29% for mood disorders and from 32 to 70% for personality disorders (Moal and Koob, 2007). Classification of Drugs and its effects on abuser The different sorts of drugs may be classified into the following categories. Depressant Stimulant Cannabis Designer drugs Opioids Hallucinogens Inhalants Depressant. It includes drugs which either slow down or depress the functioning of the central nervous system i.e. Barbiturates and benzodiazepines (the tranquilizers). Its effects on the abusers in the short term include euphoria, relief from tension and anxiety, sedation, blurred vision, slurred speech, decline of inhibitions and poor motor synchronization. However in the long term it may result in chronic fatigue, depression, respiratory impairments, decreased span of attention, impaired sexual function, chronic sleep disorders and poor judgment and memory. Stimulant. It includes drugs which speed up or excite the functioning of central nervous system i.e. Cocaine and Amphetamines. In the short term stimulants result in suppressed appetite, a sensation of over energized, euphoria, enhanced speech and motor activity and increased insomnia. However the long term effects include poor appetite, severe sleep problem, irregular and rapid heartbeat, frequent mood swings and Amphetamine psychosis. Cannabis. It includes drugs derived from cannabis like Hashish, Marijuana, Hashish oil and Bhang. The short term effect include decreased inhibitions, mild euphoria, eye redness, enhanced sense of touch, taste and smell, disrupted ability to perceive time, inability in complex motor functioning and short term memory impairment. The long term effects however include amotivational syndrome, respiratory defects, decreased cognition, and impotence and in female abusers, fetal disruption may result. Designer drugs. It includes synthetic drugs such as Ecstasy which produces the effects both hallucinogens and CNS depressants like Amphetamines. Opioids. It includes narcotics, pain killers or drugs that relieve pain like opium, Heroin, Codeine, Morphine, Methadone, Buprenorphine and Pentanzocine. The short term effects of opioids are euphoria, drowsiness, apathy, impaired cognition and lack of appetite and pain sensation. Overdose of heroin may cause coma, convulsions and death. The long term effects include frequent mood swings, constipation, reduced libido, respiratory disorders and physical deterioration. The utilization of unsterile needle for administering such drugs may enhance the chances of infections like HIV and serum hepatitis and HIV due to use of unsterile needles. In females, fetal abnormality/ addiction and menstrual irregularity can occur. Hallucinogens. These drugs affect emotions, perception and mental processes. Drugs like LSD -Lysergic acid diethylamide, Mescaline, PCP –Phencyclidine and Psilocybin are categorized as hallucinogen. The Short – term effects include pseudo hallucinations, depersonalization sensations, mood swings, alteration of the sense of distance, direction and time and synesthesia. The long term effects include amotivational syndrome, spontaneous recurrence or flash back on LSD experience and LSD precipitated psychosis. Inhalants. It includes volatile hydrocarbons and Petroleum derivatives like glue, paints, solvents and nitrous oxide. The short term effects of inhalants include clouded thinking, euphoria, staggering gait, slurred speech, hallucinations and sudden death. The long term effects include permanent brain dysfunction, psychosis and damage to kidney liver and heart. Risk Factors associated with drug abuse People of any sex, age or economic status may become a drug abuser. Substance dependence may result in various life transforming complications. Some of the social, behavioral, economic complications are listed below. Health problems. Addiction may lead to a series of both short and long-term physical and mental health issues depending on the type of drug taken. Coma, unconsciousness and sudden death. Few of the drugs administration might be too risky especially if taken in combinations or over dosage. Getting a contagious disease. Addicts are more prone to transmissible diseases like HIV, hepatitis etc due to sharing unsterilized needles. Accidents. Driving while intoxicated increases the chances of accidents. Suicide. It’s been observed that the rate of suicides is greater for addicts than other people. Family problems. The effects of drugs result in behavioral changes which may result in family or marital strife and guardianship issues. Work issues. A decline in work performance may result either because of absenteeism or due to lack of motivation to work. Problems at school. Addiction in the student life may impact the academic performance due to lack of motivation to outclass in school. Legal issues. Legal issues may result due to the increased susceptibility of addicts to involve in illegal acts like stealing etc to support addiction, or from family strife or from driving while being influenced by the drug. Financial problems. The high costs of these drugs may increase the chances of increased financial concerns leading to debt or illegal and unethical practices to support the habit. Treatment of Drug Addicts Various approaches are utilized in the treatment stages of drug addiction. Treatment may be customized to individual needs, and those patients can learn to manage their condition and start living a relatively normal life. Treating addiction not only serves humanity but also addresses the socio-economic issues of the society. (Brown, 2003, p. 4). Drug addicts can be provided with any of the following treatment or treatments i. Medications. These can be employed to aid with different phases of the treatment process like easing to cope with the withdrawal symptoms in the initial stage and afterwards helping in the reestablishment of normal brain functioning and to avoid relapse and reduce cravings. ii. Community reinforcement approach involves elimination of positive reinforcement of drug intake and increasing positive reinforcement for abstinence by integration of various treatment components. iii. Motivational learning is also a therapeutic method for serving people in changing their lives effectively applied to treat addictions. iv. Pharmacological therapy involves use of specialized medication for the treatment of substance abuse. v. Exposure therapy involves treating addiction by behavior modification through two distinct approaches, namely, cue exposure and stimulus avoidance. vi. Behavioral marital therapy assumes that partners’ intimacy can reward abstinence, and lessening relationship conflicts decreases the chances of relapse. vii. Multidimensional family therapy, a family-oriented treatment facilitates changes at various system levels, in various domains of execution, and with diverse people in and outside the family to stop drug use and connected problems. The recent researches on the topic emphasize the development made in the drug addiction treatment during the past decade. The modern treatment procedure emphasize that the detoxification procedure should be initiated first. Anesthetics should be provided to relieve the patients’ withdrawal pain as it is assumed to accelerate the recovery process. However, the basis of recovery is suggested to rely on the willingness of the addict. Conclusion Drug abuse is an intricate problem considered to develop from a blend of psychological, hereditary and environmental factors. More profoundly the individual suffering from psychological problems may start using drugs for seeking pleasure. The initial step of occasional use may lead to drug abuse and then ultimately into drug addiction (Siegel, 2005). It affects individuals from the every stage of life. Children may suffer due to parents being addicted to a certain drug (Butler, 2009). It’s a mental chronic disease that disrupts social, personal, mental and physical life of an individual. The prolonged addiction may lead to the development of economic and legal issues due to inability to purchase the drug. The adverse behavioral responses of addicts may result in increased family conflicts leading to increased stress. However there are different therapies that may help in the rehabilitation of an individual from addiction. Few treatment modalities involve using medications at various stages but more emphasis is laid on the utilization of behavioral therapies for this purpose. It is proposed that the addict’s willingness to recover accelerates the process and the support from family members prevents relapse (Reynaud et al, 2011). But a wide approach from the administration level should be ensured by the governments to prevent the entry of such drugs into the country (Newman, 2001) because prevention is better than cure. References Brown, G. (2003). Drug abuse and addiction. Minority Nurse Newsletter, 10(3), 4. Butler, S. (2009). Drug addiction and families. Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy, 16(3), 279. Carpenito-Moyet, L. J. (2003). The myths of drug addiction. Nursing Forum, 38(1), 3–4. Dunbar, D., Kushner, H. I., & Vrecko, S. (2010). Drugs, addiction and society. BioSocieties, 5(1), 2–7. Goeders, N. E. (2004). Stress, motivation, and drug addiction. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 13(1), 33–35. Moal, M. L., & Koob, G. F. (2007). Drug addiction: Pathways to the disease and pathophysiological perspectives. 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