Alcohol Program > Information on Addiction

 

People can get addicted to all sorts of substances. When we think of addiction, we usually think of alcohol or illegal drugs. But people become addicted to medications, cigarettes, even glue! And some substances are more addictive than others: Drugs like crack or heroin are so addictive that they may only be used once or twice before the user loses control.

 

Addiction means a person has no control over whether he or she uses a drug or drinks. A person who is addicted to cocaine has grown so used to the drug that he or she has to have it. Addiction can be physical, psychological, or both.

 

Physical addiction is when a person's body actually becomes dependent on a particular substance (even smoking is physically addictive). It also means that a person builds tolerance to that substance, so that person needs a larger dose than before to get the same effects. When a person who is physically addicted stops using a substance like drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes, he or she may experience withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal can be like having the flu — common symptoms are diarrhea, shaking, and generally feeling awful.

 

Psychological addiction happens when the cravings for a drug are psychological or emotional. People who are psychologically addicted feel overcome by the desire to have a drug. They may lie or steal to get it.  A person crosses the line between abuse and addiction when he or she is no longer trying the drug to have fun or get high, but because he or she has come to depend on it. His or her whole life centers on the need for the drug. An addicted person — whether it's a physical or psychological addiction or both — no longer has a choice in taking a substance.

 

 

Signs of Addiction

 

The most obvious sign of an addiction is the need to have a particular drug or substance. However, there are many other signs that can suggest a possible addiction, such as changes in mood or weight loss or gain. (These are also signs of other conditions, too, though, such as depression or eating disorders.) Signs that you or someone you know may have a drug or alcohol addiction include:

 

Psychological signals:

• use of drugs or alcohol as a way to forget problems or to relax
• withdrawal or keeping secrets from family and friends
• loss of interest in activities that used to be important
• problems with schoolwork, such as slipping grades or absences
• changes in friendships, such as hanging out only with friends who use drugs
• spending a lot of time figuring out how to get drugs
• stealing or selling belongings to be able to afford drugs
• failed attempts to stop taking drugs or drinking
• anxiety, anger, or depression
• mood swings

 Physical signals:

• changes in sleeping habits
• feeling shaky or sick when trying to stop
• needing to take more of the substance to get the same effect
• changes in eating habits, including weight loss or gain