Addiction as a disease is a widely accepted method of approaching treatment for drug addiction and alcoholism. Nevertheless, there are still significant numbers of people – including those in the healthcare fields – that aren’t convinced. These people may see addiction as a matter of weak willpower or poor moral values. Because of this view, these people believe that resources and energy is better used on people who have no free choice in their condition, such as cancer patients or those with HIV or AIDS. However, the fact of the matter is that addiction is a progressive, clinical and potentially fatal disease that, without treatment, can lead to severe consequences. It has remission rates and treatment success rates similar to that of other diseases and has a host of symptoms that are the same regardless of the type of substance used. Understanding that addiction is a disease is essential to create programs that better address this unfortunately human condition.

Addition starts with tolerance. When a person uses any drug, even simple painkillers prescribed after a surgery, the body rapidly develops a tolerance to the drug in order to mitigate its effect. This is similar to the way people can develop tolerances to certain poisons or other harmful substances. Once this tolerance develops with drugs of addiction such as prescription drugs, cocaine, meth and heroin, the user will require more and more of the substance to achieve the same desired effect, i.e. to get high. Consequently, people who use drugs regularly will exponentially use more and more of them. This leads to a state of dependence.

Dependence occurs because the body has become accustomed to the drug or alcohol being present. In effect, the CNS or central nervous system will make changes to “accommodate” the substance and thereby normalize the body while the drug is in the system. This leads to a state where the person cannot feel or act normal without being high on the drug.

As if physical dependence and tolerance weren’t problem enough, drugs of abuse – including alcohol – release dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is the “feel good” substance responsible for the euphoric high users feel when they do drugs. Anything that stimulates dopamine product creates powerful neurological associations in the brain that compel a person to recreate that feeling again and again. Each time this process occurs, a neurological pathway is built in the brain in order to service it. These pathways are permanent in the brain and serve only one purpose: powerful addictive behavior.

Once these neurological pathways have developed, true addiction sets in and in most cases a person will be unable to stop using on their own. This exposes them to significant risks including overdose, suicide, homicide and severe physical complications like heart attacks, seizures and pulmonary distress. This is the real state of addiction, and it is very much a clinical disease – not a matter of will power. If these things are happening to you or someone you love, use the links below to get help right now.

There is a question that is often asked – why do people smoke cannabis?

Globally, marijuana is the most commonly used street drug. A 2007 survey found that 14.4 million people in the America alone had smoked cannabis at least once in the last 30 days.

There are a variety of reasons that people take drugs and we certainly don’t have all the answers. However, there are some classic psychological reasons that people start and continue to smoke weed that we can explore.

Psychological reasons

The psychological reasons for taking drugs can be similar to the reasons that people make purchases, visit certain websites or choose an impulsive or momentary course of action at any particular time.

While dopamine transmitters make up only 1% of the brain they “are wired” in the most important parts.

Dopamine is commonly associated with the “reward system”, providing feelings of enjoyment and reinforcement to motivate a person to perform certain activities.

Dopamine is released and rewards experiences such as food, sex, and drugs.

The function of dopamine transmitters isn’t fully understood but it could explain a variety of “urges” in human behavior. We will naturally be attracted to any activity that provides a reward. It may explain why humans will take drugs for an instantaneous reward when a longer term negative effect is fully understood.

Here is an action flow diagram which may explain the process:

Need for life to change > Take action > Receive benefit > Learn association

We’re conditioned to seek out food and are rewarded with nourishment as well as a “dopamine reward” which is then learned so the process can be repeated. Drugs can also give us a positive experience (the “high”) and this coupled with a “dopamine reward” which is then “learned” and encourages habitual behavior.

This would explain the circular causation that many addicts experience. They are bored (hunger), take drugs (nourishment), are rewarded, learn the association, and then the next time the positive associations are reinforced thus forming a habit.

So, we all have dopamine transmitters but only some of us take drugs. So what are the other reasons?

To fit in / peer pressure

One of the strongest psychological factors to explain behavior is known by a variety of expressions such as “monkey see, monkey do”, “peer pressure” and “social proof”. This can be described as a copying or mimicking of behavior we see around us.

For various reasons we are conditioned to do as others around us are doing. So, simply enough, if there are a lot of people smoking weed around us, we are likely to follow suit.

This pressure to fit in can be a more powerful amongst younger people as we all know. However, taking drugs just to fit in is not the whole picture and should never be understood that way. However, it may be a contributory factor.

Copying of role model / hero

Another reason why people smoke weed is allied to the previous point of copying behavior. People naturally try to copy the behavior of individuals that are held in esteem by a peer group. So copying the drug taking habits of celebrities can be explained in this way.

Alcohol

Some of the most important role models for most people are their parents. Many children “learn” to drink alcohol from their parents and then when the effects of this drug aren’t appreciated marijuana can seem a desirable alternative.

Rebelling

Similarly, depending on the individual and the “stage” in adolescence or young adulthood, smoking grass can seem like a way of differentiating themselves from their parents.

Relax

Life for everyone can be stressful at time. Young people are particularly susceptible to sudden bouts of stress and smoking dope can be seen as a temporary release from this tension

Experiment / take risks

Young people, males in particular, can be prone to taking greater risks and to experiment more than people of other ages.

Religious

Many religions emphasise the importance of smoking cannabis to find oneself spiritually.

Medicinal

Marijuana is known to be a pain reliever for various ailments. For young women it can be particularly helpful in combatting period pains.

Inherited

And lastly, there may be some evidence that a tendency to be addicted to mind-altering substances may be hereditary.

Without a doubt, drug addiction is probably the most serious issue that many individuals find themselves in these days. If you or someone close to you is suffering from drug or alcohol dependency or addiction, then it’s best to locate a solution that is safe, effective and reliable. Although there are a number of people who have been helped by traditional 12 step drug rehab programs, there is a growing number that opt for non 12 step rehab programs as an alternative.

Nevertheless, prior to making a final choice regarding the specific type of substance abuse treatment you or your loved one ought to take, it is vital that you discover more about what constitutes a successful non 12 step drug rehab program. This is best understood by investigating the biggest difference between the two main treatment types aptly coined 12 step and non 12 step protocols.

The biggest distinction between them is those non 12 step drug rehabs do not promote the concept that addiction is a disease that individuals are saddled with forever. Alternatively, non 12 step rehabilitation programs are based on the principle that a person’s addiction is dependent on the absence of self-control and in order to free oneself, one has to exercise personal responsibility and control. Also, traditional 12 step programs have faith-based undertones throughout the famous steps. With regard to atheists and agnostics; this does not sit very well.

Yet another thing that sets the non 12 step rehab program apart from traditional 12 step addiction treatment is that individuals are educated that self-control and responsibility for oneself is the best path towards rehabilitation. Not lifelong therapy or constantly being referred to as a recovering abuser.

There are a variety of places where these kinds of treatment centers can be located across the nation. The best part of it is that you do not need to leave the house to find them; all you need is a computer and a phone. There are nonetheless quite a few things you ought to do in order to find the most effective facility to receive treatment from. In order to avoid the pitfalls of 12 step rehab treatment, you have to find out exactly what types of rehabilitation treatment is best for your specific class of addiction; and confirm the centers you are considering apply treatment that is different from 12 step therapy. This can help you to pick the best rehab center to obtain lasting success.

Make sure that you will have at minimum two centers that you can weigh up against each other. This will help you to choose the best center to check into and get quality treatment. Before you make your final determination, take the time to go to the place to talk to the staff yourself in order to get a feeling of the overall center and the people working there.

Personally knowing the effects drug and alcohol has on an individual and having overcome the battle of addiction, Steven R. Tucker has since been an addiction counselor for non 12 step drug rehab organizations. Creating awareness of the effectiveness of non-traditional alternative rehab programs to help others nationwide achieve a true drug-free life.