The NIDA classifies drug addiction as a mental disorder because it alters a person's brain structure and function, causing them to rearrange their priorities to focus more on their drug use and less on their basic needs and wants.
As per the alcohol rehabilitation centre in Delhi, this may lead to compulsive behaviours, whereby urges are prioritized over rational thought and action, regardless of the negative effects this may have on the individual's life.
Signs of an Addiction Problem
It's not always as easy as it looks to identify an addiction issue in yourself or someone you know who struggles with substance abuse. The following are some of the broad warning indicators that someone may be struggling with an addiction issue:
- Lack of self-control
- Despite being aware of the potential outcomes, failing to avoid hazardous circumstances
- A decline in socialization or avoidance of some aspects of their existence
- The body may experience withdrawal or other adverse effects
Addiction and Mental Illness: Their Connection
Substance misuse significantly increases due to mental illness, a major risk factor. As per the rehab centre in Delhi, the likelihood of developing an addiction is affected by a variety of variables. These are the following:
- Age, sex, and gender are all biological factors
- Exposure to drug usage at home or school, for example, may significantly impact a person's propensity to experiment with drugs
- A history of drug misuse and mental illness within a family may enhance a person's risk of getting these disorders. This risk can be increased simply by living in a household or having family members with such a history.
How can drug abuse alter the brain?
Addiction is a complex disease with many potential causes, as per the drugs rehabilitation centre in Delhi. The brain alterations brought on by such usage make quitting more difficult. These are some alterations that drugs may cause:
- Amygdala expansion - Anxiety and irritation, which rise when drunkenness wears off, are processed in this brain area. With continued drug abuse, this stress reaction becomes more acute, driving users to seek solace via substance use rather than just seeking to get high.
- Brain stem - Some medicines may alter brain stem processes, including breathing, heart rhythm, and sleep. This is why drug users can cease breathing.
- The prefrontal cortex - This is part of the brain that regulates actions like impulse control and choice-making. Less ability to regulate impulses after circuit disruption caused by drugs.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter whose activity is amplified during drug use, which might lead to cravings later on. This is because cravings may be triggered by external stimuli associated with prior substance-induced dopamine spikes. This is possible even years after you stop using drugs.
If you are battling both addiction and mental illness and are questioning if your mental illness has been threatening your recovery from addiction, remember that treatment is available from the best rehabilitation centre in India. Being experts in addiction and mental illness, the professionals at Ananda Care can tailor a treatment plan to your specific needs.