Causes Of Addiction

Your easy to read guide to causes, prevention and treatment of conditions such as:

• Drug Addiction
• Nicotine Addiction
• Psychological Addiction
• Speed of Addiction

Many doctors do not place sufficient emphasis on the cause of addiction, mistakingly believing that if the end result is the same, the cause of the addiction is not that important. However, to ensure that the correct addiction treatment is provided, it is essential to understand the root cause of the addiction.

Causes Of Drug Addiction

Opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, alcohol and nicotine are all well known for their ability to induce physical dependence.

Other substances that share this property are not considered addictive: cortisone, beta-blockers and most antidepressants.

Whilst physical dependency can be a major factor in the psychology of addiction, and is often a primary motivator in the continuation of an addiction, the initial primary attribute of an addictive substance is usually its ability to induce pleasure.

As the addiction continues, the goal changes from being 'to induce pleasure' to one of relieving the anxiety caused by the absence of the addictive substance. This is when the addictive behavior becomes compulsive.

Causes of Nicotine Addiction

Nicotine is a notable exception to this addiction transition from pleasure seeking to anxiety relief. Reports indicate that a cigarette can be both pleasurable, and fulfil a physical addiction. The pleasure is relative to a previous state of physical withdrawal. Physical dependency on nicotine becomes an overwhelming factor in the continuation of most users' addictions. In spite of 35 million smokers attempting to quit smoking every year, fewer than 7% achieve even one year of abstinence. Source: NIDA research report on nicotine addiction.

Dependence

• many laxatives - which are not psychoactive
• nasal decongestants - which can cause rebound congestion if used for more than a few days in a row
• some antidepressants - most notably venlafaxine, paroxetine and sertraline. These drugs are 'cleaned' from the brain quite rapidly, so stopping them abruptly causes a more rapid change in the neurotransmitter balance in the brain than many other antidepressants.

Many non-addictive prescription drugs should not be suddenly stopped. Always consult doctor before abruptly discontinuing any drug.

Cause of Psychological Addiction

Psychological Addiction can, in theory, stem from any rewarding behavior, and is believed to be strongly associated with the dopaminergic system of the brain's reward system [cocaine and amphetamines].

Some believe the addiction is caused by an habitual means to avoid undesired activity. However, typically this only occurs at a clinical level, in individuals who have emotional, social, or psychological dysfunctions. The addiction acts to replace normal positive stimuli not otherwise attained.

It is possible to be both psychologically and physically dependent at the same time. Since the end result is the same, most doctors make little distinction between the two. This is unwise, as the cause and characteristics of each of the two types of addiction is quite different, as is the type of treatment preferred.

Speed of Addiction

The speed with which an individual becomes addicted to various substances varies with:

• the substance
• the frequency of use
• the means of ingestion
• the intensity of pleasure or euphoria, and
• the individual's genetic and psychological susceptibility.

Some alcoholics report they exhibited alcoholic tendencies from the moment of first intoxication, while most people can drink socially without ever becoming addicted.

Studies[citation needed] have demonstrated that opioid dependent individuals have different responses to even low doses of opioids than the majority of people, although this may be due to a variety of other factors, as opioid use heavily stimulates pleasure-inducing neurotransmitters in the brain.

There is strong medical consensus that if one uses strong opioids on a regular basis for even just a short period of time, one will most likely become physically dependent. This has been noted during convalescence of soliders and accident victims suffering serious injuries.

Medical fraternities also agree that addiction is in part genetically moderated. An individuals genetic makeup may regulate how susceptible they are a substance and how easily one may become psychologically attached to a pleasurable routine.

NEXT: Symptoms of Addiction

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