Addiction
What is addiction?
Addiction can be characterized as a disorder in which an individual experiences a persistent and intense urge to use a drug or engage in a particular behavior that produces natural reward, despite substantial harm and other potential negative consequences.
A person can be addicted to almost anything, hence there are countless existing types of addictions. It is important not to mistake a routine with an addiction. To evade misinterpreting these two, it is crucial to consider the levels of the followings:
- dependence
- tolerance
- withdrawal symptoms
Dependence can be subdivided into psychological and physical. Psychological dependence refers to the compulsion to experience the effects of a substance/behavior, usually in terms of an increase in pleasure or a decrease in discomfort. Whereas physical dependence manifests in withdrawal, i.e. it is only feasible to label someone as addicted if they 'abstain' from it, in other words, when they experience withdrawal symptoms.
Tolerance occurs when an individual's response to a certain substance/behavior is reduced, i.e. they might need bigger and bigger doses or increased amounts of behavior carry-outs in order to sustain the effect.
Withdrawal symptoms are the reactions to when a person stops taking a substance or stops doing a behavior. They can be both physical and mental. Some of the most common are: anxiety, sweating, diarrhea, insomnia, cravings, headaches, irritability, depression…
Risk factors for the development of addiction:
A risk factor is anything that increases the chance of a person forming an addiction.
There are 5 key risk factors:
- genetic vulnerability - people do not 'inherit' addiction, they inherit a predisposition (vulnerability) to dependence. Genes play a vital role in the activity of neurotransmitter (such as dopamine) systems in the brain which affect behaviors like impulsivity that predispose a person to dependence.
- stress - people who experience a lot of stress may turn to drugs as a form of self-medication, i.e. to experience pleasure, relief and to avoid pain.
- personality - personality traits such as hostility or neuroticism (a tendency towards anxiety and other negative feelings) may increase the risk of addiction.
- family influences - living in a family which uses addictive substances increases person's likelihood of becoming addicted.
- peers - adolescent's peers have significant influence on the adolescent's attitude towards drugs or participating in an addictive behavior. e.g. if a young person hangs out with their peers who smoke, they are more likely to join in and potentially develop addiction.
Most common addictions:
Some of the most frequent addictions include alcohol addiction, nicotine addiction, cannabis addiction, food addiction, phone addiction, work addiction, exercise addiction, etc.
Addiction is a complex disorder influenced by various psychological, physiological, and social factors. It extends beyond substance abuse to include behavioral addictions, all of which share key characteristics such as dependence, tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms. Understanding the risk factors—genetic vulnerability, stress, personality traits, family influences, and peer pressure—can help in recognizing and preventing addiction. As addiction can significantly impact an individual's well-being and daily life, awareness and appropriate interventions are crucial for recovery and support.
resources: AQA Psychology for A level Year 2 Student Book, internet