Addiction has behavioral, social, biological and genetic causes; however, no single cause is sufficient to explain addiction alone. Although there are many factors in the transformation of substance use into addiction, it is basically a biological process. Mental characteristics of the individual, genetic predisposition, environmental factors, accessibility to substances, family structure, social environment and cultural characteristics are the most important factors in the initiation of substance use and its transformation into addiction.
Addiction; A substance has a negative impact on life, health and causes the person to be unable to stop himself/herself after starting to use it. This is called addiction.
Addiction is a brain disease and must be treated.
In the treatment of addiction, a personalized treatment plan should be made with a specialized team and a multidisciplinary perspective.
It should not be forgotten that addiction is not a person's fate and can be treated.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF ADDICTION?
Addiction has behavioral, social, biological and genetic causes; however, no single cause is sufficient to explain addiction alone. Although there are many factors in the transformation of substance use into addiction, it is basically a biological process. Mental characteristics of the individual, genetic predisposition, environmental factors, accessibility to substances, family structure, social environment and cultural characteristics are the most important factors in the initiation of substance use and its transformation into addiction.
HOW DOES ADDICTION DEVELOP?
People go through various stages on the road to addiction.
- Experimentation
- Social use
- Misuse
- Addiction (Use disorder)
The person thinks that he/she can control his/her substance use, which he/she sees as simple in the process of trial use and subsequent development due to his/her initial curiosity towards the substance, and that he/she can quit whenever he/she wants. However, after a while, the use gets out of control and the person starts to use more substances than he/she had planned and anticipated.
Even if a repeated effort is made to quit or use the substance in a controlled manner, no positive results are obtained. The supply of the substance used, the time allocated for substance use and the long time spent to get rid of the addiction and to get rid of its effects result in the disruption of daily work, lack of time for family and neglect of family, and the existence of a constant state of conflict and discussion.
The risk of developing addiction varies depending on the type of substance used, its purity and the physical and mental state of the person using it.
With the onset of addiction, a vicious circle is set in motion and the only solution is to treat the disease
WHAT IS THE AGE OF ONSET OF ADDICTION?
There are studies on the age of onset of addiction in many countries using various statistical methods. In Turkey, the results of the ESPAD study, which aims to investigate the profile and frequency of substance use among 16-year-old youth who continue their education in 6 provinces selected from different geographical regions in 2003, indicate that the age of addiction is decreasing.
WHAT IS THE BIOLOGICAL ASPECT OF ADDICTION?
One of the most important reasons for the individual differences observed in drug response is polymorphisms.
It is known that many brain regions such as the ventral tegmental area, known as the reward center of the brain, the frontal cortex responsible for many functions of the brain such as reasoning, decision-making, impulse control, the amygdala responsible for the management of emotions, the Nucleus Accumbens and Striatum associated with learning are responsible for the development of addiction. At each stage of addiction, changes occur in different parts of the brain, so the development of addiction is a very complex process.
Normally, stimuli that give us pleasure, such as art and eating, cause an increase in dopamine in the reward center of the brain. Substance use also causes a high amount of dopamine to be released from the reward center. This dopamine causes the person to feel pleasure.
Under normal circumstances, an individual has many goals and needs to choose some of them. The emergence of goals, their valuation and the choice of action is associated with the frontal cortex. One of the important aspects of addiction is that the choice of these goals is often limited to those related to the substance. The dopamine release triggered by substance intake affects the frontal cortex over time, causing wrong decisions to be made and the actions chosen to be limited to substance use. At the same time, dopamine also affects learning-related areas of the brain such as the Nucleus Accumbens and Striatum, causing impaired learning ability. People who develop substance addiction are also impaired in their ability to learn, store and remember new information. Repetitive and excessive dopamine release also prevents people from enjoying eating, art and music, which are known as natural rewards and normally bring pleasure.
IS ADDICTION GENETIC?
Scientific research shows that some people are predisposed to addiction. How does this happen? Individuals who have an abnormal gene for any reason produce abnormal proteins, which in turn lead to the formation of abnormal enzymes and abnormal receptors. The abnormal enzymes and receptors cause dysregulation in the neurotransmitters (transporters between central nervous system cells) of the brain's pleasure and reward pathways. As a result, there is a basis for loss of control over substance use.
Therefore, substance use by an individual with a genetic predisposition not only causes chemical dysregulation but also ignites the process leading to addiction. However, today's technology and possibilities are not enough to tell who is genetically predisposed and who is not. Therefore, alcohol/substance use carries with it many risks.
WHAT ARE ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCES?
Anything with a reward at the end can be addictive. If we need to reduce this to just substances, it would be more accurate to say newly available substances rather than new substances. A rough list of substances that have been identified to date include tobacco, alcohol, ecstasy, cannabis, heroin, cocaine, bonsai, inhalants (glue, uhu, gasoline, paint removers, ether, halothane, etc.), LSD, GHB, some types of mushrooms, ketamine, anabolic steroids, methamphetamine. In recent years, chemical derivatives of cannabis, which have not yet been detected by routine toxicology tests, have also been used.
However, a growing type of addiction today is internet addiction. It has become quite common, especially among adolescents and young adults. While betting and gambling are long-standing addictions, online betting has been added to this. In addition, computer games, internet addiction, virtual shopping addiction are also types of addiction that need to be treated.
For more detailed information and Laboratory Request Form documents, you can download our brochure by clicking here. Click here for addictive substances
WHAT IS THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECT OF ADDICTION
There are many psychological explanations that try to explain the cause and maintenance of addiction. Click here for more information
HOW TO TREAT AN ADDICTED PERSON?
Alcohol or substance addiction is a very difficult disease for the person as well as for their relatives. Since it causes problems in many areas such as family, work and social life, being informed about how to behave as their families will help us to establish healthier relationships with them.
This article has been prepared to provide information about addiction and to help you communicate effectively with your addicted relatives. You can get help from our psychiatrists and psychologists at our hospital for any questions you may have about the information below.
HOW SHOULD YOU COMMUNICATE?
-Make him/her feel that you understand him/her...
-Talking in a guilt-inducing way perpetuates the cycle of alcohol and substance abuse.
-Be forgiving. He/she may have made mistakes, just remember that you do not approve of his/her behavior and actions.
-Avoid encouraging conversations.
-Be a good listener. Try to understand the reasons for alcohol and substance use and help him/her solve them.
Addiction is not a sudden development. Usually the person tries the substance a few times and then starts using it regularly, thinking that they can control it.
There is no clear information about how long it takes for addiction to develop. It depends on the type of substance used, the purity of the substance, the frequency of use, the quantity and the physical and mental state of the person.
Addiction improves but does not get better. The person must abstain from alcohol or drugs for the rest of their life. Otherwise, the problem of addiction will relapse and the problems will start to happen again.
Addiction has nothing to do with willpower. No one starts using substances to become addicted, they start by saying "one try won't hurt". Remember, anyone can become addicted.
Addiction is a brain disease that can be cured. Addicted people should receive support and treatment to stop using alcohol and drugs.
HOW SHOULD I BEHAVE AFTER TREATMENT?
Addiction is a family disease. It affects not only the individual but the whole family. Since addiction treatment is a tripartite treatment, you also have an active role in the treatment. The family has important duties both during hospitalization and after discharge.
GIVE RESPONSIBILITY
Addicted people often avoid taking responsibility in their lives. Due to alcohol or substance abuse, they either ignore their duties or find someone else to do them for them. At this point, job descriptions and roles within the family need to be defined. Giving responsibility for their own lives, especially their own living spaces, is among the preventive factors in treatment.
Making new friends. Being in the company and environment of people who use alcohol and drugs makes it easier to use again. For this reason, it is important to reorganize your life and fill your free time. Establishing new friendships can be time-consuming, and it is important not to get anxious when there is despair and reluctance.
As relatives, it is important to be patient during this period and support them in making changes in their lives.
