The signs of addiction are obvious. Addiction starts with drug abuse, when a person makes the choice to use drugs, but addiction is not just “a lot of drug use.” Recent scientific research shows that not only do “drugs interfere with normal brain functioning creating powerful feelings of pleasure, but they also have long-term effects on brain metabolism and activity.” (Henderson 15). At a certain point, changes occur in the brain that can turn drug abuse into addiction, a relapsing illness. Those addicted to drugs suffer from compulsive drug and usage and cannot stop by themselves. Treatment is necessary to end this addiction (http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/understand.html). Another sign is the compulsive use of drugs or alcohol regardless of negative consequences.

Addiction can be caused by numerous factors. People can be genetically predisposed, which means

social problems. Uncontrolled stress can be a major factor as well. It also just may be that the substance is highly addictive and alters the brain’s biochemical structure (Bender 45). The substances do this using the brain’s reward system, also known as the mesolimbic reward system. The mesolimbic reward system raises the body’s dopamine level, which gives off the feeling of pleasure (Bender 46). Addicitve substances hijack this reward system and flood the brain with dopamine. This causes the addict to crave the substance rather than being involved in normal daily activities because they don’t feel the same amount of pleasure any more (Bender 46). There is no absolute theory about what causes addiction. Some people argue “addiction is an inherited disease, and that the individual is permanently ill at a genetic level, even with those experiencing long periods of sobriety”. Another theory is that “addiction is a dual problem consisting of a physical and mental dependency on chemicals, compounded by a pre-existing mental disorder (i.e. clinical depression, bipolar disorder, or some other mental illness), and that the mental disorder needs to be treated first as the primary cause of the addiction.” (http://alcohol-drug-treatment.net/addiction_causes.html).

Addiction poses a threat to health of people in general. It not only affects the addict but also people around them. Millions of people have fallen victim to addiction and the problems it causes. Addiction is very hard to overcome. In conclusion I feel addiction is a very dangerous situation and it needs to be stopped. When people are addicted to a substance they are not themselves and cannot function as they usually would in society. It’s hard to stop addiction but we can help prevent it by educating everyone more on its effects.

Nicotine is one of the most heavily used addictive drugs

Some topics in this essay:
, Alcoholic Anonymous, Bender Addictions, reward system, highly addictive, drug abuse, withdrawal symptoms, system mesolimbic reward, mesolimbic reward system, central nervous system, reward system mesolimbic, mesolimbic reward, pleasure bender, drug people, pleasure bender 46, addictive drug, effects nicotine, normal daily,