About Drug Addiction

Healing House offers clients a holistic path to recovery based on the globally recognized 12-step program and a variable non 12 steps approach based on client needs in a confidential, safe, healing and home like environment.
Drug addiction, also known as substance–use disorder,refers to the dangerous and excessive intake of legal and illegal drugs. This leads to many behavioral changes in the person as well as affects brain functions. Drug addiction includes abusing alcohol, cocaine, cannabis (charas), heroin, nalbin (nalbuphine), benzodiazepines (sleeping pills), ICE (crystal meth, methamphetamines), painkillers, and nicotine, among others. Drugs like these help the person feel good about them and increase ‘dopamine’ or the happiness hormone. As they continue to use the drug, the brain starts to increase dopamine levels, and the person demands more, hence the tolerance, dependence and drug addiction develops.

Drug addiction has severe physical, mental and social repercussions. Drug dependence causes intoxicated states. A person who is addicted cannot resist using them and is unable to function properly without using the drugs. It causes damage to the brain, their personal and professional relationships.
It affects higher brain functions, users are unable to make proper decisions, cannot retain information correctly and make poor judgments. They tend to engage in reckless activities such as stealing or driving under the influence, violence, self-harm, harm to others etc. They have irresistible desire to acquire and use the drug. They also make sure that there is a constant supply and are willing to pay a lot of money even if they are unable to afford it. Drug addiction also causes a person to isolate themselves and have either intense or no food cravings. They stop taking care of their hygiene.
Drug addiction affects a person’s appearance and behavior, mood, speech, thoughts and perception. They may experience delusions and hallucinations. Those addicted have extreme mood swings. They can go from feeling happy to feeling sad quickly and are incredibly secretive. They begin to lose interest in activities they once loved.
Substance abusers also undergo withdrawal symptoms.Withdrawal symptoms refer to the symptoms that occur when they stop taking the drug. Some withdrawal symptoms are intolerable and unmanageable own their own. They start using drug again, an endless cycle that could be life-threatening. Drug addiction can be fatal if not treated timely. It can cause brain damage and seizures as well as overdose, heart diseases, respiratory problems, damage to the liver and kidneys, lung diseases, and much more.

Though chronic, treatment is available for drug addiction. Many techniques are used, such as counseling, medications to treat the addiction and providing treatment not just for substance abuse but also for many factors that accompany addiction such as stress, anxiety, and depression. Many interventions have been developed to overcome addiction. There are rehabilitation centers to help people. After treatment, there are numerous follow-ups to ensure that the cycle does not come back. The most important is having family and friends to support the effect. It will help them build confidence and come over their addiction.
The United Nations celebrates International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on the 26th of June. Drug addiction impacts millions and needs to be treated carefully to prevent further harm to the individual and letting them live a better life.