Can Drug Addiction Be Cured?

Arrielle Steward

Health Promotion Intervention 4320

Objectives Identify drug addiction and its causes

Be able to identify the signs of an individual who has a drug addiction problem

Describe the Behavior Change Model and how it may help with drug addiction

Look at teen studies of drug abuse and the types of drugs used

Understand how drug addiction affects loved ones

Drug AddictionDrug addiction is a syndrome found in the

limbic region of the brain that is developed over time by a continuous intake of drugs. Drugs that tend to lead to an addiction usually puts addicts into a different state of mind that gives them a “high” feeling.

Causes Lack of motivation from the brain that controls

behavior

Curiosity that leads to dependency

Signs

Intoxication Increase in levels of prefrontal cerebral blood flow

Craving Can be caused by previous involvements or the

sight of the drug that most people are taking

Withdrawal A mental , emotional, and physical reaction from

being away from a drug

Behavior Change Model and Drug Abuse

Precontemplation No thoughts about change

Contemplation Realization of the addiction

Preparation Preparing to make a behavior change

Action & Maintenance Pick a plan and follow through with that plan

Termination If the plan doesn’t work find a new plan

Statistics Teens ages 12-17 are

abusing drugs the most

Only 37.4% of young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 are abusing drugs

24.3% of adults age 26 and above are addicted to drugs.

How Drug Addiction Affects Loved Ones

Family members and friends sometimes feel they are responsible for the issue

Denial Loved ones don’t want to believe that there is an

issue

“Codependency” Loved ones are controlled and manipulated by the

addict

Rebellion Children tend to rebel to take the attention away

from when parents are addicts

Drug Addiction and Eating Disorders

Biological, genetic, environmental, and psychological factors can all alter the behavior of someone with a drug addiction or an eating disorder.

40%-60% genetic factors are contributed to susceptibility to addiction

People with eating disorders abuse steroids, insulin, tranquillizers, over the counter drugs, and weight loss drugs

Summary Drug addiction is one thing that has been a problem

for many years. The addiction is caused by taking drugs continuously which causes the brain to make the body believe it needs the drugs. The signs to look for in a drug addict are intoxication, cravings, and withdrawal. There are six different steps that help addicts change their behavior and they include precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance, and termination. Statistics have shown that there are more teens between the ages of 12 and 17 who are abusing drugs the most, and the most abused drug is marijuana. Drug addiction can have a huge affect on loved ones as they are having to cope with the situation as well as the addict.

References Goldstein, R. Z., & Volkow, N. D. (2002). Drug addiction and its

underlying neurobiological basis: Neuroimaging evidence for the involvement of the frontal cortex . The American Journal of Psychiatry, 159(10), Retrieved from http://journals.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleid=175797

Kolb, L., & Himmelsbach, C. K. (1938). Clinical studies of drug addiction, iii a critical review of the withdrawal treatments with method of evaluating abstinence syndrome. American Journal of Psychiatry, Retrieved from http://journals.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleid=141402

. N.p.. Web. 3 Apr 2014. <http://www.eaglevillehospital.org/PDFs/familyADD.pdf>.

Prochaska, J. O., & Velicer, W. F. (1997). The transtheoretical model of health behavior change. American Journal of Health Promotion, 12(1), 38-48. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.4278/0890-1171-12.1.38

"Statistics – Teen Drug Use, Abuse and Addiction." Inspirations for Youth and Families. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2014.

"Substance Abuse and Eating Disorders | National Eating Disorders Association." Substance Abuse and Eating Disorders | National Eating Disorders Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2014.