Here is a definition of drug addiction:
Addiction can be defined as a serious and chronic, brain disease, characterized by relapsing, obsessive and compulsive drug seeking and use, that occurs despite knowledge of harmful and negative consequences. Furthermore, it is considered a brain disease because drugs actually alter andchange the brain on a biological level – drugs change its very structure and how it functions and works. These changes in the brain can be long lasting, and can lead to the harmful behaviors that we often see in drug abusers.
What causes some people to become addicted to drugs, while other people don’t?: Just like any type of disease, susceptibility to addiction varies from individual to individual. In general, the more risk factors a person has, the higher the chance that taking drugs will lead to substance abuse and drug addiction. “Protective” factors decrease an individual’s risk of developing drug addiction.
What are some biological factors affect drug addiction:
Researchers estimate that there are genetic factors that account for between 40 and 60 percent of a person’s susceptibility to addiction. These can include the effects of environment on gene expression and function. Adolescents and individuals with co-occurring mental health disorders are at a higher risk of drug abuse and addiction than the general population.
Related posts in Addiction
