Addiction
Addiction is not having control over doing, taking or using
something, to the point that it may be harmful to you. Common
addictions are to alcohol or drugs, but it's possible to become
addicted to anything - from gambling to chocolate. Whatever the
addiction may be, the person cannot control how they use it, or
become dependant on it to get through daily life.
Some people use substances on a regular basis without any
problems. Other people experience damaging psychological and
physical effects, as a habit turns into an addiction. Being unable
to control how you use a substance can also put a lot of strain on
relationships with others, and cause problems at work, school or
home.
There's no single reason why addictions develop. Addictions to
substances such as alcohol, drugs and nicotine change the way we
feel both mentally and physically which some people enjoy and feel
a strong desire to repeat. Activities such as gambling may causes a
'high' on winning, followed by a desire to repeat the success. This
can happen over again and eventually become a habit that can't be
broken because it's become a regular part of life.
Being addicted to a substance usually means you have
become dependent on it to some degree. Not having the
substance you enjoy (withdrawal) becomes less pleasant than having
it. The more you use it, the more tolerant the body becomes, until
you need to use larger and more frequent amounts of the substance
to get the same effect.
Children who grow up in homes where there is alcohol or drug
abuse may be more likely to develop addictions. Unemployment,
poverty and lack of education can trigger addictions to develop, as
can stress and professional or emotional pressure. Indulging in the
addiction can be a short-term way of dealing with and forgetting
about difficult issues.
There are many different organisations in the UK that provide
treatment, support and advice for people with addictions. A lot of
people choose to consult their GP first, but help is also available
from community addiction centres where you can drop in without an
appointment. Treatment and support is provided from a range of
different people, including specialist addiction nurses,
counsellors and psychiatrists. There are also websites and
help lines if you'd rather access information or discuss the
problem anonymously, and local support groups where you can meet
other people with similar experiences.
The information shown here is Crown copyright and has been
reproduced with the permission of NHS Direct. Last updated June
2007.
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