Understanding Addiction

People can become addicted to many different kinds of substances. Many people become addicted to their medication and also to many other substances. Obviously, there are some substances which can be more addictive than others. For example, drugs such as heroin are so addictive that it can take only one or two uses before a person is completely addicted.

A person who is addicted to cocaine gets so used to the drug that they feel that they can't live without it. The addiction can be of a physical or psychological nature, or even both. Physical addiction means that a person has become physically dependent on the substance in question.

Over time, the person's organism builds up tolerance to that substance, so that they then need increasing amounts of the substance in order to obtain the same effects. When a drug addict who is physically addicted to a substance stops using it, they might experience some severe withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal can be quite similar to having the flu and include symptoms such as shakiness, diarrhea, and feelings of weakness.