Addiction is an inability to stop using a substance or engaging in a behaviour even though it is causing psychological and physical harm. It is a chronic condition that is treatable. The American Society of Addiction Medicine defines addiction as “a treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual’s life experiences. People with addiction use substances or engage in behaviours that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful consequences.”

Question and Answer activity.

What are the physical and mental symptoms of addiction?

• declining grades or difficulty at school
• poor performance at work
• relationship difficulties, which often involve lashing out at people who identify the addiction
• an inability to stop using a substance even though it may be causing health problems or personal problems, such as issues with employment or relationships
• a noticeable lack of energy in daily activities
• profound changes in appearance, including weight loss and a noticeable abandonment of hygiene
• appearing defensive when asked about substance use

How does addiction begin and persist?

Addiction exerts a long and powerful influence on the brain that manifests in three distinct ways: craving for the object of addiction, loss of control over its use, and continuing involvement with it despite adverse consequences.

The development of addiction is split into is split into 3 stages; the learning process, the development of intolerance and then compulsion.

All drugs of abuse, from nicotine to heroin, cause a particularly powerful surge of dopamine. The likelihood that the use of a drug or participation in a rewarding activity will lead to addiction is directly linked to the speed with which it promotes dopamine release, the intensity of that release, and the reliability of that release.