What is Drug Abuse Really?
Drug abuse and addiction are two different but related concerns. Abusing drugs does not necessarily mean a person is addicted. A drug addiction is formed when changes are made to the brain in ways that fosters the need for constant use. Habitual abuse of illicit or prescription medications is an indicator of addiction. Also it brings with it a number of other physical, emotional, social and psychological changes and dependencies.
So why do some people become addicted with drug abuse while others don’t? There isn’t one single indication that we can look at to determine this. Research has shown three common factors that are often attributed to becoming addicted. These are genetics, social environment and age. Studies indicate that adolescents are more likely to develop a drug addiction with abuse during the critical stages of brain development.
Illicit Substances
Substances that contribute to drug abuse can vary, but usually the public thinks of the more illicit drugs like cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine. All of them have different interactions with the brain and body. Stimulant drugs heighten senses and increase body functions (cocaine and methamphetamine). Depressants do the opposite by slowing down the system and body functions. Common depressant drugs are heroin and prescription painkillers. Marijuana and similar substances are called cannabinoids and affect different aspects of the limbic system (memory and cognitive functions).
The following table breaks down a number of illicit or street drugs that are commonly abused. Also listed are common street names and its classification.
| Drug Name | Common Street Names | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Cocaine | coke, blow, sugar, snow | Stimulant |
| Crack (rock cocaine) | rock, crumbs, hail, gravel | Stimulant |
| Crystal Meth | ice, glass, crystal | Stimulant |
| Heroin | H, junk, tar, smack, dope | Depressant |
| LSD | acid, blue heaven, cubes | Psychoactive |
| Marijuana | weed, grass, mary jane, bud | Cannabinoid |
| MDMA | ecstasy, molly | Psychoactive |
| Mephedrone | bath salts | Stimulant |
| Methamphetamine | crank, chalk, meth, speed | Stimulant |
| PCP | angel dust | Psychoactive |
| Synthetic Marijuana | spice, k2, black mamba, joker | Cannabinoid |
What Causes Addiction to a Drug?
There are many different ideas and concepts when it comes to drug addiction. It is generally accepted addiction is biological in nature and is widely regarded as a brain disease or malady. This disease is believed to be created by a changing of the brain’s reward functions. The part of the brain that is affected is responsible for behaviors such as eating, exercise and social interaction. When the chemical hits this portion of the brain, known as the mesolimbic dopamine system, excessive levels of dopamine are released causing a general feeling of euphoria, or otherwise called a “high”. Over an extended period of time, these short-term “highs” can create long-term effects. As the brain experiences these periods of greater than normal dopamine release, the resultant brain reactions become more severe.
Continued use of the drug causes a person to use more and more in order to have the same level of pleasure, until the use of the drug dominates the normal day-to-day life experiences. Finally, the drug completely takes over the person’s rational thought processes, and life cannot continue without it. Within drug addiction treatment, cognitive and behavioral therapies are used in addressing these changes to the brain’s chemical structure to get that individual back to a level of normalcy.
Is Drug Addiction a Mental Disorder?
Yes it is. The abuse of illicit drugs and pain medications changes the way the brain works and reacts. These fundamental changes create behaviors of drug seeking and using that takes precedence over normal functioning. The inability to control these compulsions becomes a chronic condition, like other similar mental health disorders. To this end diagnostic criteria for addiction have changed and such diagnoses are referred to as substance use disorders. It is very common for those with addictions to have co-occurring mental disorders as well.
