Drugs As Addiction

Drugs as addiction

Introduction

Those who use cocaine in small amounts (100 mg or less) generally feel euphoric, energy, conversationalists, and mentally more alert, especially in relation to visual, auditory and touch sensations, you can also reduce the need to eat and sleepfor a period of time. The intensity of these effects varies depending on the route of administration, the managed dose and the purity of the product, which at least 40% of the cases is impure, being talc, cornstarch or sugar incorporated into this initial substance. 

The effects produced on the body are the contraction of blood vessels, dilation of pupils, increased body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure. If amounts greater than 100 mg are used, the effects are more intense and tend to lead to more extravagant, erratic and violent behavior. Consumers may experience tremors, muscle spasms, vertigo, paranoia and, with consecutive doses a toxic reaction very similar to amphetamine poisoning.

Developing

Cocaine is an extremely addictive drug, so the main long -term consequence of its consumption is addiction, this drug prevents the reabsorption of dopamine by nerve cells, dopamine is a substance produced by the brain that is part ofIts gratification system, and is directly or indirectly involved in the addictive properties of the main drugs of abuse, since the brain learns to associate cocaine consuming with pleasure. Another consequences is tolerance, after repeated use of this drug, the consumer does not feel the effects as the first time, so it uses to increase the dose to intensify and prolong euphoria;However, there are other cases in which more sensitivity to the effects of this can be developed, without having increased the dose.

Cocaine produces serious psychological consequences affecting the character of the person, making it more and more irritating, restless and paranoid, can reach such a point of losing the sense of reality and suffering auditory hallucinations.

Medical complications due to cocaine abuse are mostly irregularities in heart rate, heart attacks, respiratory problems, and neurological effects including stroke and seizures, among others. In the case of mixing cocaine and alcohol, the body makes them cocaine ethylene causing a more durable and toxic effect, than if taken separately.

From a social and economic perspective, we can verify that there is a recent proliferation of the digitalized market, as indicated, Alexis Goosdeel, to present the European report of 2019 on drugs, since access to this type of substances is simpler and more comfortable.

As the main economic consequence is the increase in health cost, taking into account the investment made in specific treatments for this group and deaths caused especially by cardiovascular diseases that are directly related to the consumption of this substance.

From the social perspective, the main problem is the conflict that is generated in family and friendship relationships since the priority of cocainomania is to consume, so that it loses interest in interacting with others, adopting antisocial behaviors such as lying and manipulating;In the workplace, problems arise, as a consequence of repeated consumption of cocaine, implying the inability to normally develop the execution of the entrusted functions, since there is a deficit of concentration and decreases of the interest in correctly performing the work. The consumer develops apathetic behavior, since he suffers an imbalance in the limbic system, that gives rise to the brain only responding in front of quantities of dopamine that are only achieved by consuming. There are many dangers involved in cocaine consumption, such as those already mentioned.

In drug use we can distinguish different phases, having various factors involved in each of them. A fundamental factor from the psychological perspective is the reinforcement, playing a very notable role, in the beginning, maintenance and even in the abandonment of consumption (López Durán, to., Becoña Iglesias e. Psychologist Papers, 2009). Cocaine works as a positive reinforcer, that is, the consumer will want to take it for the positive effects it produces, and not, to eliminate withdrawal syndrome (negative reinforcement).

First phase, predisposition or history of consumption, types of predisposition: biological, sociocultural and psychological. Regarding biological predisposition, genetics explains a small percentage of addiction cases. Within the sociocultural field, of course the alcohol consumption would be, since in our society it is very normalized and there is a predisposition towards its consumption;The consumption of coca leaf in the Andean countries is natural (normalized) since it has functions such as relieving mountain evil or heights and reducing fatigue. It is a risk factor, added to the normalization of behavior, when a society is exposed to a substance that does not know, modifies it and gives it different and very harmful uses, as is the case of coca that derives in cocaine. Three factors influence psychological field: learning, personality and intelligence.

Second phase, knowledge of the substance, the most important factors are: the environment in which the individual, learning, socialization (family, friends, school and media) and the existing expectations towards consumption and towards onesame, also known as perceived self-efficacy (Bandura A. 1997), that is, the idea of a person about his ability.

Third phase, experimentation with the substance and beginning of consumption: determining factors are the availability, accessibility, price of the substance, and perception of risk over this. Several studies on consumption in general population have shown that the increase in consumption is given by a decrease in perceived risk, in addition to access and low substance price.

Other factors such as beliefs, values, internalized norms, attitudes, and behavioral intention, that is, group pressure, are considered essential;These factors are at the same time determined by the process of socialization with the family, media ..

Ultimately the emotional state, psychopathological problems and the appropriate affrontation capacity are factors that explain the beginning of consumption. So far the said is applied to both cocaine and any drug.

I have concluded that there are many factors that intervene in the beginning of the consumption of this substance and that people who consume drugs or have psychological problems are more vulnerable.

Are there addictions beyond drugs? Which ones do you know?

Explain at least two examples

• Yes, there are more addictions apart from drugs, and they are classified as follows:
• Behavioral addictions or activities, they can be purchases, new technologies, work, sex, game or sport, among others.
• Affective dependencies -they would also enter the group of addictions -they could be emotional dependence and codependence.
• The addiction to game (ludopathy) is based on uncontrolled desire for playing gambling and bets, implying in the vast majority of the occasions a personal and economic bankruptcy of the individual (lies, robbery, loss of work, family breaks …)
• Sports addiction (vigorexia) is one in which the individual presents an obsessive concern about their body mass, performing exaggerated exercise routines and consuming with excess proteins, carbohydrates and even steroid.  

conclusion

I have concluded that there are many factors that intervene in the beginning of the consumption of this substance and that people who consume drugs or have psychological problems are more vulnerable. The key element that explains the maintenance of cocaine consumption are the consequences it produces, on oneself, family or friends. If the consequences are negative, the consumption will cease;But if in the opinion of the consumer an "benefit" will continue to repeat this behavior, that will lead to the abuse and dependence of the substance.