No one suddenly develops an addiction. It builds over time. There are varying stages of addiction, and it starts with drug abuse. However, many people ask, “What is drug abuse?” What may have started as a way to unwind after work or loosen up at a party can turn into a situation where a person loses control. Moreover, it can progress into a full-blown addiction if you don’t recognize the problem early. What is drug abuse and how can it quickly become addiction?
Drug Abuse Overview
As a society, drug abuse is reaching beyond epidemic proportions in the United States. The reality is that any mind-altering substance that’s being abused can turn into an addiction. There are many drugs that are completely legal, and when a person abuses them, they can become addicted. Drug abuse includes all of the following substances, as well as many more:
- Prescription opioids
- Cocaine
- Meth
- Heroin
- Marijuana
Drug abuse is using any substance in a compulsive, excessive, or self-damaging manner. These are deadly combinations that many users face with illicit drugs. However, prescription drug abuse is also common and difficult to spot. In fact, it can be more difficult because they are often less physically obvious signs of addiction such as needle marks.
Drug abuse can quickly progress to addiction, so it’s important to recognize symptoms and common concerns. Without the proper care, you could face heroin withdrawal and other symptoms during addiction treatment. The proper care though can help with any and all needs.
What is Drug Abuse and What is Addiction?
The famous psychologist, BF Skinner, based his life’s work around context-dependent memory, which shows reward-based learning. Our brains repeat certain actions that bring us pleasure, and these actions mold our lives. More recent work and studies show how habits form and become addictions. Once a certain behavior is consistently done with specific triggers, the user begins to lose control.
Many people with an addiction to drugs or alcohol had control at some point or another, but repeating the action made them lose control. This means that many people continue abusing drugs, even though they’re not experiencing pleasure and continuing to have negative consequences.
Getting Help for Substance Abuse
If you’re still in the stages of drug abuse, your chances of recovery are much higher when you enter addiction treatment. Furthermore, Crest View Recovery Center can help you learn how to overcome your substance abuse problem before it’s too late. If you’ve already developed an addiction, we can help you as well.
Some of the addiction therapy services we offer includes:
Addiction is an incredibly challenging and destructive event. Getting through it requires not only personal commitment but the assistance and expertise of an addiction treatment center with experience. Crest View Recovery is such a center. We’ll guide you on a path to recovery that accommodates your every need. Contact Crest View Recovery Center today at 866.327.2505 for more information about our life-changing programs.