What Is Addiction?

Answer:
Addiction is when the body relies on a substance in order to continue normal functioning.

When the substance is removed or denied, it will cause withdrawal.

The term “addiction” was first used in 1906 in reference to opium dependence. The first use of the adjective “addict” was in 1529. Addiction was originally a term that was used to describe a devotion, attachment, dedication, or inclination. In current usage, however, the term addiction is used to describe on ongoing compulsion by a person to engage in a specific activity, regardless of any harmful consequences to their health, mental stage, or social life. Usually people think of drug addictions in regards to this term, but it can also apply to other things, such as problem gambling or compulsive overeating. It has been suggested that the causes of addiction can include genetic, biological/pharmacological, and social factors.

It is generally accepted that addiction is a disease, a state of physiological or psychological dependence or devotion to something manifesting as a condition in which medically significant symptoms liable to have a damaging effect are present.

The medical community now stipulates two types of addiction, physical addiction and psychological addiction. A physical addiction is characterized by physical dependence which absence of the substance will result in physical withdrawal. Psychological addiction is characterized by psychological dependence.

How quickly any person will become addicted to various substances will vary with the substance, the frequency of use, the means of ingestion, the intensity of the pleasure or euphoria, and the person’s genetic of psychological susceptibility. Some individuals may exhibit symptoms of addiction the first time they try alcohol, whereas others may be able to socially drink their entire lives. Those who have opiate additions will react far differently to even low doses than those who are not addicted.

Most of the medical community is in agreement that addiction is at least partially genetically moderated. A person’s genetic makeup can guide how susceptible someone is to become addicted to a substance as well as how easily they can get psychologically attached to it.