When drugs are used for a long time, certain specific areas of the brain are affected, and physical and chemical changes occur in them. Social factors lead people to come into contact with these substances, but not everyone is affected equally, since vulnerability to addiction depends on individual factors. That’s why only some people have it. As with all diseases, there are risk factors and prevention measures, although ultimately this condition is unpredictable.
An addiction is considered a chronic mental disorder that generates changes in the brain circuits, so that the person consumes compulsively and for a long time, despite the negative consequences that this may entail. Among the most consumed drugs, tobacco, in the population over 15 years of age, reaches 24% of the population, while risky consumption of alcohol is 3.4%. 2% of the population consumes cannabis daily, and between 2% and 4% are addicted to cocaine. The consumption of these last two substances is also increasing.
It is not about giving up drugs and doing exactly the same thing you did, but about giving up substances and adopting a healthy lifestyle
But how do addictions work so that some people have them and others don’t? Among the causes that motivate someone to develop an addiction there are genetic, environmental and social factors. It also depends on each person’s personality. When the consumption of a drug begins, the reward circuits encourage the person to repeat the behavior, increasing its dose and frequency. The drug becomes their priority, and this ends up having physical, psychological and social consequences.
To overcome an addiction, the affected person must be willing to make important changes in their lifestyle. Dr. Toni Gual, head of the Addictive Behavior Unit at the Hospital Clínic Barcelona, points out: “It is absolutely essential that the patient understands that it is not about giving up drugs and doing exactly the same thing they did, but about abandoning the substances and adopting a healthy lifestyle.”
However, an addiction does not disappear overnight, but is something you live with for a long time. Dr. Gual adds: “Addictions are chronic diseases.” The main consideration, then, is abstinence, that is, not consuming. You must also follow medical treatment correctly. You should get enough sleep, eat a balanced diet and not consume too much coffee, tea or cola. Likewise, avoiding stress is of great help. You don’t have to run away from the disease, but rather learn to live with it.
Psychological treatment seeks to empower the patient through a motivational approach. Normally, individual therapy is used, but Dr. Pol Bruguera, psychiatrist at the Addictive Behavior Unit of the Hospital Clínic Barcelona, states that group therapy “is very useful for sharing experiences in the different stages of the disease with the objective to prevent relapses. This can be complemented with pharmacological treatment, which will vary depending on the type of drug and its function: to replace the drug, block its effects or reduce the desire to consume.
Group therapy is very useful to share experiences in the different stages of the disease with the aim of preventing relapses.
A relapse is not synonymous with failure. If someone finds themselves in this situation, they should stop consumption, visit their doctor and not self-medicate. Talking to a trusted person can be a great support, and continuing with healthy habits will help you feel less general discomfort. It is best to avoid risky situations in which you are in contact with the substance. It is essential to be clear that, once a drug has been taken in excess, it leaves an imprint on the brain. Therefore, it is not advisable to consume even a small dose, as it could end in relapse.
The greatest support a person with an addiction can have is family. This circle can help the patient by removing all toxic substances or objects related to consumption from the home and calling emergency services in risk situations. It is advisable to listen to him and ask him how he is, creating a welcoming atmosphere and asking positive questions. Dialogue, and not accusation, can help the patient not feel guilty; and acceptance, encouraging the patient to move forward, is also a priority for recovery.
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