Drug Addiction and Dependence

Hey! Welcome to this short introduction of the impact of drug addiction. Anyone can become addicted to alcohol or drugs.

Not everyone who tries drugs will become regular users, and not all regular users become dependent. There are many factors involved and it varies between people and drugs.

Using a drug regularly can lead to tolerance – your body becomes used to the drug and needs increasingly larger doses to achieve the same effect.

Regular use can also lead to dependence – where you need the drug to feel good and function normally. Dependence can be physical, psychological or both.

Drug Addiction

Being addicted means continuing to use a drug even though you’re aware of the harmful consequences.

Addiction can be:

  • Physical: your body craves the drugs, for example, alcohol, nicotine
  • Mental: your mind needs the drug in order to forget your problems or relax
  • Social: you feel you need the drug in order to fit in or enjoy social events.

Different types of drug

Depressants

slow down the function of the central nervous system

  • alcohol
  • benzodiazepines
  • cannabis
  • opioids

Stimulants

speed up the function of the central nervous system

  • amphetamines
  • caffeine
  • cocaine
  • nicotine

Hallucinogens

affect your senses and change the way you see, hear, taste, smell or feel things

  • cannabis
  • ketamine
  • LSD
  • psilocybin (magic mushrooms)
  • PCP (phencyclidine)

Types of Drugs

Addictive Potential

  • Drugs rank differently on how difficult they are to quit.
    1. Nicotine rated by most experts as the most difficult to quit
    2. With all drugs, including heroin, many are occasional users.
      • Of alcohol users, only about 15 percent are regular, dependent drinkers.
      • Among cocaine users, about 8 percent become dependent.
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