subject: California Treatment: How Does Addiction Develop? [print this page] Addiction doesnt suddenly occur over night and one certainly does not plan to become and addict. Alcohol and substance abuse begins as an experiment or a habit out of curiosity. Peer pressure and stressful situations can also add to the need to use. Addiction sometimes starts as a way to help people deal with other forms of pain that they are dealing with in their life.
Using alcohol and other substances are only a temporary escape. Before you know it, your body will crave more of the substance just to get through your everyday routine. Continued usage will change the structure of your brain and that will result in more cravings. Over time, the substances will replace your bodys natural production of these chemicals. Soon, the body will become completely physically dependent on the substances for feelings that the chemicals provide. The body will go through extreme cravings, similar to hunger pangs, if it does not consume the substance.
As addiction progresses, your body will become physically and psychologically dependent. This means that it will be easy for an individual to lose their ability to stop using the substance. Continued substance abuse will also affect important parts of the brain that are responsible for self control and decision making. Addiction will impair ones ability to think clearly and make the right decisions. As a result, there will be uncontrollable cravings and individual will go to extreme lengths to use the substance. This can cause professional and personal turmoil as the individual may turn to lying and stealing. As addiction progresses, the individual will find that their whole life will revolve around the substance and they will forget what matters to them most.
