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Addiction can be a serious condition for some, and it has the potential to turn a low harm activity into something that can destroy lives. Many stories in the news revolve around the catastrophic effects of drug addiction, and similarly, those addicted to gambling can also face dire situations.
Addiction usually comes about due to taking or engaging in a behaviour in excess. With consistent use and abuse, the behaviour causes both tolerance and withdrawal symptoms to develop, especially when the person stops performing the addictive behaviour.
One of the main requirements for a diagnosis of addiction is the build-up of tolerance and the presence of withdrawal symptoms upon stopping. So, let’s define tolerance and withdrawal symptoms.
Different forms of addiction, Flaticon
Tolerance describes the situation wherein the body has adapted to a substance, drug or behaviour, and taking the same amount will no longer have the same or strong effects (for example, drinking alcohol or smoking nicotine). In fact, you will likely feel ‘normal’ taking the drugs and will need to take a lot more, or you will need to engage in more of the behaviour to elicit the same euphoric or relaxed feelings.
The body has adapted to the situation and developed ways to metabolise the drug faster. As we mentioned above, the new normal for your body is being engaged in drug use (or behaviour, such as gambling).
Without it, your body will experience withdrawal symptoms, which we will discuss further later.
There are different types of tolerance, but it’s enough to know about the definition and examples for your exam.
However, for those interested, tolerance typically is divided into different clinical classes:
Each one affects how much a drug or behaviour affects your system/body and the type of tolerance it develops.
A clear example of tolerance developing is in the case of heroin addiction. Heroin is an opioid made from morphine, a highly addictive substance. Upon an initial dose of heroin, the euphoric sensation is enough to encourage most to continue taking the drug.
However, after a few doses of the same amount, they find the effects are not as strong, and to achieve that euphoric sensation again, they need to take more of the drug.
This urge is the result of developing tolerance.
Interestingly, tolerance is not always a sure thing. Whilst a tolerance to a certain drug may develop in one person, another may have no issues at all and can engage in the behaviour without their body adapting too quickly to it, perhaps due to vulnerabilities.
Addiction vulnerability is where someone is more likely to develop an addiction to a substance or behaviour due to pre-existing conditions, behaviours, or genetic influences. It describes the risk of developing an addiction if they engage in addictive behaviours.
For example, both dopamine and serotonin have been linked to addiction due to how the neurotransmitters affect the reward systems, behaviours and how they control impulsivity. Dopamine itself elicits feelings of pleasure, and serotonin is associated with control.
Abnormal serotonin levels affect the ability to modulate impulsive activities. Abnormal impulsivity levels is a known risk factor for developing an addiction (Kirby et al., 2011). So, any underlying issues affecting the modulation of serotonin will influence the risk of developing an addiction.
Genetic vulnerabilities are also known to exist, so some people can have a history of addiction in their families.
For example, a person’s parents may have been addicted to alcohol, so the person avoids alcohol to avoid the risk of developing an addiction.
Vulnerability, Flaticon
Withdrawal symptoms in psychology are when the body begins to experience uncomfortable (and sometimes even painful) effects when a person reduces or stops taking a substance or engaging in addictive behaviours. When the person takes the drug or participates in the behaviour once more, the withdrawal symptoms stop.
As the body has adapted to the drug and adopted the drugged state as the new ‘normal’, it can no longer operate without it, resulting in physical and emotional symptoms.
These symptoms usually manifest as:
Headaches
Nausea
Vomiting
Shakiness
Fever
Muscle pain
Tenderness
Irritability
Anger
Fatigue
Constipation
Cravings (appetite loss or increased appetite)
Different addictions cause different symptoms. Someone addicted to nicotine will not experience the same withdrawal symptoms as someone addicted to alcohol or even chocolate (which can also be an addiction, believe it or not).
For example, someone with an alcohol addiction will suffer the following withdrawal symptoms:
Let’s compare that to withdrawal symptoms resulting from a nicotine addiction:
We can see that although they have similar symptoms, there are specific symptoms unique to each addiction, some more so than others.
Despite the ramifications of addiction, many people continue to indulge in these habits. Some can have long-lasting effects (for instance, smoking and lung cancer, alcohol and liver disease). Yet, despite this, they still cannot stop, and this is because of how powerful addiction can be.
Medical examination, Flaticon
Typically, tolerance develops with consistent and excess use of a substance or behaviour, where the body has adapted and the drugged state is the new 'normal'. Withdrawal symptoms occur when the person stops taking the substance, and their tolerance levels demand the drug to achieve this 'new normal' state, resulting in symptoms. One exists as a result of the other.
Tolerance is where the body becomes used to the substance or behaviour, achieving a new normal state. Withdrawal symptoms are where the person stops taking the substance or engaging in the behaviour, and has symptoms (such as headaches, nausea, and vomiting) as a result. They stop once the person takes the substance again.
Four examples of withdrawal symptoms are:
Tolerance describes the situation wherein the body has essentially adapted to a substance, drug or behaviour, and taking the same amount will no longer have the same or strong effects. In fact, you will likely feel 'normal' taking the drugs, and will need to take a lot more, or engage in more of the behaviour, to elicit the same euphoric or relaxed feelings.
Excessive and consistent use of a substance or engaging excessively and consistently in behaviours (such as gambling).
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