A Guide to Addiction
Addiction is a chronic mental disease. It affects the individual’s brain and mental function. Learn more about common signs of addiction and the different types.
There is a common misunderstanding that addiction is a choice. Addicts choose to abuse drugs or to binge drink. The truth is much more complicated than that.
Addiction is a chronic mental health disorder that manifests itself as biological, psychological, social and spiritual issues. This disease affects the brain and influences the affected individual’s neurochemical pathways. This negatively impacts their brain reward circuitry, motivation and memory and cognitive abilities. It rewires the brain and interrupts or enhances neurotransmission and interactions between various structures of the brain, like the amygdala, basal forebrain, anterior cingulate cortex and nucleus accumbens.
“Addiction is characterized by [an] inability to consistently abstain, impairment in behavioral control, craving, diminished recognition of significant problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships, and a dysfunctional emotional response.”
American Society of Addiction Medicine
An individual struggling with addiction will not be able to stop the problematic behaviors despite having full knowledge of the negative consequences to come. The addiction stems from both a chemical and behavioral change. It will lead to diminished control and significant impairment and damage of various organs.
Signs and Symptoms of Addiction
As addiction is characterized as a mental disease, the American Psychiatric Association has included the symptoms and diagnostic features for recognizing this disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, which is often called the DSM-V or DSM 5.
According to the DSM-5, addiction has 11 distinctive diagnostic elements to it. They include:
- Taking a substance or engaging in an activity for longer periods of time than meant to
- Wanting to cut down on the addictive behavior but being unable to
- Spending a lot of time being immersed in the addictive behavior
- Craving or having a strong desire to use or do an addictive activity
- Neglecting home, school or work responsibilities in lieu of catering to the addiction
- Continuing with the addiction even when it strains relationships
- Giving up other activities in order to engage in the addictive behavior
- Continuing to engage in the addictive behavior despite having to face physical or psychological problems as a result
- Needing to use more or to engage in the activity longer to get the desired effects
- Engaging in the activity again and again even if it is dangerous
- Developing withdrawal symptoms, which can only be relieved by the addiction
Anyone who meets two to three diagnostic criteria above will be diagnosed with a mild addiction. Anyone who meets four to five diagnostic criteria will be diagnosed with a moderate addiction. A serious addiction is characterized as meeting six or more of the diagnostic criteria above.
