What's drug addiction?

Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is a disease that affects a person's brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the. Diagnosis and Treatment · Request an Appointment · Care at Mayo Clinic.

Alcohol and Drug Addiction

Occur in Best Families Describe how alcohol and drug addiction affects the whole family. It explains how substance abuse treatment works, how family interventions can be a first step to recovery, and how to help children from families affected by alcohol and drug abuse.

Addiction is defined as a chronic recurrent disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences. These changes can last a long time after a person has stopped taking drugs. 11. If your doctor prescribes a medication with potential for addiction, be careful when taking it and follow the doctor's instructions. In other cases, mental health symptoms are not evident until, after the addiction has taken hold, these conditions are sometimes exacerbated or worsened by drug use.

NIDA-funded research results have shown that prevention programs involving families, schools, communities and the media are effective in preventing or reducing drug use and addiction Teachers, parents, and health care providers perform crucial roles in the education of young people and the prevention of drug use and addiction. They may mistakenly think that drug users lack moral principles or willpower and that they could stop using drugs simply by choosing to do so. Taking some drugs can be particularly risky, especially if you take high doses or combine them with other drugs or alcohol. Drug addiction (also known as substance use disorder) can be defined as a progressive disease that causes people to lose control over the use of a substance despite the worsening consequences of that use.

When you're addicted to drugs, you can't resist the urge to use them, no matter how much harm drugs may cause. Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive or difficult to control, despite the harmful consequences. Some people may begin to feel the need to take more than one drug or to take it more often, even in the early stages of their drug use. When drug addiction is discovered in its initial stages, the chances of a successful recovery are significantly increased.

But if you have abused drugs or alcohol in the past or have family members who have abused drugs or alcohol in the past, you may be at greater risk. You may need the help of your doctor, family, friends, support groups, or an organized treatment program to overcome your drug addiction and stay drug-free. Prevention programs that involve families, schools, communities, and the media can prevent or reduce drug use and addiction.