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Drug Addiction

Drug Addiction : A Review of the Literature

Khari Mawusi
Hampton University

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Drug Addiction
Abstract
Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive
drug seeking and drug use, despite its harmful consequences. Drug use and abuse is one of the
things that has always been a problem throughout history. Humans have always had a urge to eat
or even drink a product that makes them feel relaxed or stimulated. Drug use is considered a
brain disease because drugs change the brains structure and how it works. Prolonged drug use
changes the brain in fundamental and long-lasting ways. These ongoing adjustments are a major
part of the addiction itself. It is as though there is a typical "switch" in the brain that "flips" at
some point during an person's drug use. The life of someone that has a drug addiction problem is
often grouped by the cost of drug abuse, the effects of it short/long term and how quickly
someone can become addicted to drugs.

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Drug Addiction
Drug Addiction is a serious matter all over the world. It is represented as a chronic, brain
disease that imagine drug seeking and use despite harmful consequences to the addicted
individual and their surroundings. There are at least two ways that drugs cause disruption: The
first is by attacking the brains natural chemical triggers. The second way is by overstimulating
the reward circuit of the brain. Nearly all addictive drugs directly target the brains system by
overriding the circuit with dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter present in regions of the
brain that regulate movement, emotion, cognition, motivation, and being satisfied.
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/media-guide/science-drug-abuse-addiction-basics

Drug Addiction is something that everyone should be aware of. In order to learn more
about the validity and use of drugs, four important questions need to be considered:
1. What are the costs of drug abuse to society?
2. How quickly can someone become addicted to drugs?
3. What are the longer term effects of the addiction?
4. What are the short term effects of the addiction?

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Drug Addiction
The following literature review will: provide information regarding the origins of drug
addiction, discuss the cost of drug abuse to society, provide information on how quickly someone
can become addicted to drugs, and additionally inform more about the long and short term
effects of the addictions.

Throughout history there have been patterns of drug and alcohol use. When new drugs
are introduced into big populations, there is a sudden rush of enthusiasm, followed by a learning
process as the drug is assimilated by the community. Substances with the greatest market
penetration are the stimulants; ones such as caffeine and nicotine, contained in coffee, tea and
tobacco. The problem of diversion continues to grow. Teenagers begin to experiment with
medicines which results in addiction and deaths. Non-medical use of medicines is now greater
than the abuse of cocaine, hallucinogens and inhalants. Among adults 26 or older, 6.3 percent
reported nonmedical use of prescription medicines in 2005. In children 12 or older, 2.2 million
reported nonmedical use of prescription medicines, mainly pain relievers and tranquilizing
medicines. "The History of Prescription Drugs." Good Medicine, Bad Behavior: Drug Diversion
in

America.

N.p.,

n.d.Web.08Mar.

2016.

What are the costs of drug abuse to society?

The total economic cost of drugs reaches nearly $170 billion annually in direct medical
costs for adults and more than $156 billion in lost productivity due to premature death and
exposure to secondhand key. "Frequently Asked Questions About the Tips Campaign." Centers

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for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 28 Oct. 2015.
Web. 07 Mar. 2016.
Figure one illustrates an manmade survey based on the people in my neighborhood. The
survey is to convey a recover of what happened. Although these results cannot be generalized to
the population at large, this small sample may be indicative that these same people would not
necessarily question its validity because they do not have a basis of knowledge of how the FGP
even came to be created.is of the population in my area if they know what the main cost of drug
abuse are. The results that indicated that 60% or 15 people knew what the main cost of drug
abuse. On the other hand, 40% or 7 people showed that they had a lack of knowledge on the
subject (see Figure 1): Figure 1. Below is a chart showing survey response to the question, Do
you know the main cause of drug abuse? Although these results cannot be generalized to the

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population at large, this small population may not know the basic knowledge on addiction.

How quickly can someone become addicted to drugs ?

The genes that people are born within combination with environmental influences
account for about half of their addiction vulnerability. Additionally, gender, ethnicity, and the
presence of other mental disorders may influence risk for drug abuse and addiction."National
Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)." National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). N.p., n.d. Web. 07
Mar. 2016.

What are the long term effects of addiction?

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Drug Addiction
The longer an addiction lasts, the more stress and strain it puts on the individual. There
are a number of long term physical and emotional effects of addiction that can easily turn a
healthy into a frail shadow of their former self. The three most common psychological effects are
Depression, Paranoia, and Anxiety. When the individual is unable to achieve their desired state of
euphoria, they may become depressed. Chronic depression also occurs as the drug addict feels
shame and remorse about her condition. The feeling that everyone is out to get them is
Drug Addiction
heightened by the fact that buying or using drugs is illegal and the belief that law enforcement is
waiting around every corner. Over time, drug addicts tend to get more and more paranoid. This
anxiety and lack of focus can cause them to slack on job responsibilities and even lose their job.
Relationships are also negatively affected by drug-induced anxiety. These are just some of the
ways anxiety permeates the life of the drug addict. "Long Term Drug Addiction Effects."
Psychological and Physical Effects of Drug Addiction. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.
What are the short term effects of drug addiction?
Most of the pleasurable effects of methamphetamine are believed to result from the
release of very high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine is involved in
motivation, the experience of pleasure, and motor function, and is a common mechanism of
action for most drugs of abuse. Also, Hyperthermia (elevated body temperature) and convulsions
may occur with methamphetamine overdose, and if not treated immediately, can result in death.
Figure 2 illustrates a non-representative survey was conducted online to find out if the erm
effects of drugs.

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Figure 2. Survey responses to the question, Do you know the main short term effects of drugs?

community knew about the short term effects of drugs. About 30 people were used in this
demographics and the results are shown in Figure 2: 20 people said they did know about the
short term effects. 10 people said they did not know about the short term.
Drug Addiction
Conclusion
Drug addiction is something that has always been on the rise. People often tend to look to
drugs for comfort but do not know what they are getting themselves into. It is important to learn
more about dangerous things that can harm you significantly. In the future everyone should take
the precaution and do research.

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Drug Addiction
References

"Google." Google. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.

"How Illicit Drug Use Affects Business and the Economy." The White House.
The White House, n.d. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.
http://www.theroadout.org/addiction_information/addiction_information/cost_
of_drug_abuse_t_society.html
"Trends & Statistics." Trends & Statistics. N.p., 20 Aug. 2015. Web. 08 Mar.
2016.
"Long Term Drug Addiction Effects." Psychological and Physical Effects of
Drug Addiction. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.

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"Exploring the Long Term Effects of Drug Addiction - Solutions Center."
Solutions Center Exploring the Long Term Effects of Drug Addiction
Comments. N.p., 08 Sept. 2015. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.
"Get the Facts on Substance Abuse." DrugAbuse.com. N.p., 14 Nov. 2011.
Web. 08 Mar. 2016.
"Effects of Drugs of Abuse on the Brain." NIDA for Teens. N.p., n.d. Web. 08
Mar. 2016.
""The Real History of Drugs" Educates Millions." Drug Policy Alliance. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 08 Mar. 2016.
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/media-guide/science-drug-abuseaddiction-basics