Family Doctor 2007 - (Page 75) healthy living ADDICTIONS A ddiction is a disease that affects your brain and your behavior. Once you start using drugs, the pleasurable effect they produce in your brain makes you want to keep using them. Over time, drugs can cause actual changes in your brain, creating a powerful urge to use them that controls your behavior. This is what it means to be addicted to drugs. Someone who is addicted uses drugs without thinking or caring about the consequences. People can become addicted to both illegal drugs and drugs that doctors prescribe. Commonly abused illegal drugs include marijuana (pot), hallucinogens (PCP, LSD), methamphetamine (speed, crank, crystal meth), cocaine and crack, and heroin. Commonly abused prescription drugs include painkillers and antianxiety drugs. People can also become addicted to things they may not think of as drugs, such as alcohol and tobacco. Kicking the habit If you have a drug addiction, you’ve probably thought about stopping. You may have even tried to quit. With help from your family doctor, you can break free of your addiction and live a healthier life. By Kelly L. Gilmore Admitting there’s a problem Drug addiction may cause problems with your health, money, work or school, or your relationships with family and friends. If you keep craving and using a drug, even though it’s causing trouble, you have an addiction. Your friends and family may notice your addiction before you do because they see changes in your behavior and personality. Possible behavior and personality changes caused by addiction ● Trouble paying attention. ● Being more forgetful than usual. ● Missing work or school. ● Losing or alienating friends. ● Being more moody than usual. ● Trouble sleeping. ● Paranoia (feeling that people are “out to get you”). ● No interest in things you used to enjoy. Sometimes, problems caused by addiction may be Drugs can make you feel paranoid. more obvious to friends and family members than to the You can become addicted to prescription drugs, including painkillers. person using a drug. If you notice any of these changes in a loved one’s behavior and suspect drug addiction, encourage him or her to talk to a doctor to get help. familydoctor 2007 75
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