Vice or addiction?

Colloquially, people who consume certain addictive substances are considered to be vicious. The problem arises when it is considered that the person may be able to quit on their own and if they do not, it is "because they do not want to".

When it is considered that a substance can be left voluntarily whenever you want without making any type of change in your lifestyle.

• Related article: "The 14 most important types of addictions"

Beyond willpower

According to the World Health Organization, an addiction is a physical and psycho-emotional illness that creates a dependency or need for a substance, behavior or relationship. It is a progressive and chronic disease, which affects both the personal sphere, as well as work and family.

It is a biopsychosocial pathology, characterized by an affectation in three fields mainly, the biological one, existing a progressive deterioration of the cognitive capacities, psychological, when considering the person as necessary for their functioning and social, characterized by deterioration in friendships and in the family and consequently isolation social.

• You may be interested in: "Empathy and Addiction"

How does dependency develop?

We can talk about there being a physical and psychological dependence when three or more of the following factors are true in a 12-month period:

• Strong desire to consume the substance or carry out the behavior.
• Difficulties to control consumption.
• Withdrawal syndrome when interrupting or reducing consumption.
• Tolerance.
• Progressive abandonment of interests unrelated to consumption (everything is centered around it).
• Persistence in the use of the substance despite perception of impairment or detrimental effects.

• Related article: "Drug withdrawal syndrome: its types and symptoms"

The nature of addictions

Currently the most used drugs are alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, cannabis and benzodiazepines. On the other hand, we find other types of addictions without substance on the rise, especially addictions to new technologies and video games, as well as pathological gambling.

It should be specified that although addictions without substances do not generate an imbalance in the central nervous system produced directly by the substance, it does there is a change in the brain, especially in the reward system, specifically in the nucleus accumbens, in charge of regulating behaviors as basic as eating and eating. sleep, which are impaired in people with an addiction, in addition to sex, well-being and pleasure, increasing that desire for gratification immediate. Likewise, more areas that are affected after consumption are included, such as the prefrontal cortex, in charge of attention and concentration, and other brain areas.

When an addiction is generated, everything revolves around consumption in the individual, not showing interest except for their own consumption. Both the obtaining and the consumption are planned throughout the day, gradually leaving priorities, responsibilities and involvement with the people around them. Consumption is the source of motivation for the person with an addiction, the rest goes to the background. It is considered as a person's coping mechanism, even if it is dysfunctional, since the person considered as essential for its proper functioning, or to remove a physical discomfort or psychological.

At the beginning of consumption, the benefits of consumption are obtained, such as alcohol "to socialize", or cocaine "to give in" or even cannabis to "relax or not think”, although consumption still does not generate apparently negative consequences despite the fact that there is damage even in the first consumption at the brain level., the person is not aware of it. The problem comes when this consumption becomes more periodic or more constant over time, in greater quantities and negative consequences appear, such as arguments, absences at work or lower performance, deterioration of social and family relationships, physical and cognitive deterioration, even inability to carry out activities of daily living daily.

People with an addiction require the conduct or substance as a method of evasion of those situations or circumstances that cause discomfort. On the other hand, they consider consumption as a source of satisfaction, finding in consumption the source of their well-being or tranquility, through the reduction of anxiety, pain... prioritizing consumption, for immediate satisfaction, than other more long-term benefits such as the achievement of objectives, which require time and effort.

• Related article: "Addiction treatment: what does it consist of?"

Need help?

If you find yourself in this situation or identify that there is someone in your family with this problem, do not hesitate to contact us.

From the Blanca Esther Psychology Center we will be happy to help.