The Effects of Drug Addiction

Contrary to common misconception, drug addiction is not solely a physical dependence on a drug.

Physical addiction is only a portion of the effects of drug addiction, while at the same time it is an underlying factor to all effects.

The effects of drug use do vary from drug to drug, as well as from user to user. It is inaccurate to rely entirely on a generalized concept of the effects of drug addiction.

However, many symptoms of drug abuse are often similar enough to be considered warning signs of drug addiction.

When a person first uses drugs, there is a reason. Everything that follows with the drug use is still in some way tied to that original reason.

For example, if a person uses a drug to 'escape reality' (often the case for victims of abuse or those who suffer a disorder) an emotional dependency on the drug will develop.

In many cases, it is a physical dependency that causes drug addiction but there are cases where a psychological dependency develops first. In either case, dependency leads to tolerance. (A person will require more and more of the drug to achieve the same feeling of elation or relief.)

Almost contradictory, the effects of drug addiction include the development of mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. When you have developed a tolerance to a drug, it requires more of the drug to achieve the same feeling of relief. In turn, the drug user will often feel more negative feelings in the absence of the drug, and even less pleasure with the presence of the drug.

Several mood changes occur when an addiction to drugs has formed. This is a combination of an emotional need for the 'relief' associated with the drug use and a physical change in brain chemistry.

Other effects of drug addiction include a change in sleep patterns, and a lack of self-hygiene maintenance.

The most obvious symptom of drug addiction is that a person's life revolves around the drug. Constantly seeking the drug, and being very unhappy and irritable until consuming the drug, are the most obvious signs of drug addiction.

However, there are many effects of drug addiction that are visible long before this stage is reached. When drug use has become more of a habit than occasional recreational use, the chemicals of the drug have already begun to 'work' in the users brain. This is the acute stage of drug addiction.

The long term effects of drug addiction can be very destructive, and in some cases fatal. Drug addiction should be treated at the first signs of the presence of an addiction, because the recovery process is more difficult the deeper you get.

However, recovery from drug addiction is possible at any stage. As long as you are still alive, it's not too late to save your life by fighting your drug addiction!