WHAT IS ADDICTION?

No one who begins to use drugs thinks he or she will become addicted. Addiction is a disease characterized by compulsive drug seeking behavior regardless of the consequences.

Research conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse shows that virtually all drugs that are abused have a profound effect on the brain. Prolonged use of many drugs including, cocaine, heroin, and amphetamines can change the brain in fundamental and long lasting ways resulting in drug craving addiction.

The brains of addicted people "have been modified by the drug in such a way that absence of the drug makes a signal to their brain that is equivalent to the signal of when you are starving," says National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Dr. Nora Volkow. It is "as if the individual was in a state of deprivation, where taking the drug is indispensable for survival. It's as powerful as that."

Addiction grows more serious over time. Substance use disorders travel along a continuum. This progression can be measured by the amount, frequency and context of a person's substance use. As their illness deepens, addicted people need more alcohol or other drugs. They may use more often, and use in situations they never imagined when they first began to drink or take drugs. The illness becomes harder to treat and the related health problems, such as organ disease, become worse.

Risk Factors

Certain risk factors make it more likely that individuals will become addicted to alcohol and other drugs including:

Early age of first use
Children of alcoholics
Children with psychological problems
Children with learning disabilities
Children of poverty
Sensation seekers
Perceived external approval of drug use
Affiliation with deviant peers
Having above average disposable income

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THE DEVELOPING BRAIN WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

The brain's "front end," the part above the eyes, exists to slow us down or stop our impulsive behaviors. It considers the risks and benefits of our actions, and it helps us "hit the brakes" when we consider doing things that are too risky.
The brain does not fully develop until age 25.
This front part of the brain is still developing connections to the rest of the brain until adulthood, so adolescents' brains lack some of the "wiring" that carries "brake" or "stop" messages to the rest of the brain.
Drugs of abuse are often available to adolescents. These drugs feel good, but they can be very harmful. Lacking some of the wiring for the "stop" message, adolescents' brains may not fully weigh the risks of drug use.
The two drugs that cause the most death are also the most available drugs: tobacco and alcohol. Late adolescence, before the brain is fully matured, is the peak time for developing dependence on these (and other) drugs.
45% of adolescents who first use prior to age 15 will later develop an addiction
Heavy drug use during times of critical brain development may cause permanent changes in the way the brain works and responds to rewards and consequences. Therefore, it is important to begin to address a developing substance use problem as early as possible.

(Source: HBO addiction; the five things you should know about adolescent brain development and use, Thomas J. Crowley, M.D., Elizabeth Whitmore, Ph.D.)

ADDICTION IS A TREATABLE DISEASE

The success of any treatment approach depends on a variety of factors such as the child's temperament and willingness to change, and the extent and frequency of use. Drug addiction is now understood to be a chronic, relapsing disease. It is not surprising, then, that parents may have to make a number of attempts at intervention before their child can remain drug-free, and they should not despair if their first try does not produce long-lasting results. Even if it is not apparent at the time, each step brings the child closer to being healthy.

(Source: Growing Up Drug-Free: A Parent's Guide to Prevention - 1998)