Health & Fitness

Detoxification: Causes Of Drug Addiction

Misuse of prescription drugs can cause drug addiction. The misuse may occur when a person loses control of pain management. He or she may have been in an accident or experienced a painful surgery. When the persons body becomes tolerant to the pain medication, he or she may increase the dosage. If the physician does not realize quickly that this is occurring, the person can become addicted to the medication. Physicians can recognize this problem by monitoring how frequently the patient is requesting refills for medication.

A person may become addicted to drugs if he or she turns to drugs as a means of escape. The escape may be from overwhelming stress. Stress can be related to difficulties at work, home, or school. The person may feel threatened by an upcoming layoff or the inability to focus. Difficulties at home may include domestic violence such as spousal or child abuse. A person may be experiencing the inability to feel accepted at school. He or she may also have difficulty in completing assignments on time or passing exams. College students sometimes become addicted to drugs when they use them to stay awake while cramming for exams.

The lack of self worth or esteem is a problem that can lead to drug addiction. A person may use drugs to numb the feeling of failure. Sometimes a person may have the misconception that using drugs will relieve his or her depression. The person may be depressed over excessive bills, a traumatic experience, weight gain, or other difficulties. The death of a child or another family member may lead to depression and drug use. A persons curiosity and experimentation with drugs can lead to drug abuse and addiction. A teenager may experiment with drugs because of peer pressure.

Steps in the Right Direction
If a person is suffering from drug addiction, there is assistance available. First the person must admit the problem exists. The next step is to request help with his or her drug addiction. The recovery process is a long one. However, with the proper treatment the person stands a very good chance of a full recovery from drug addiction.