What is drug addiction?

What is drug addiction?

Experts speak of drug addiction (more correctly: drug addiction) when someone is dependent on an addictive substance.

Addictive substances are psychoactive (psychotropic) substances that affect the central nervous system and thus also thinking and feelings. They can induce positive sensations. A strong craving for the drug develops. Doctors refer to this as "craving".

Drugs not only include illegal intoxicants such as cocaine, crystal meth or heroin, but also legal substances such as alcohol, certain medications and nicotine.

In most cases, psychological dependence develops first, which later gradually turns into a physical one. Some drugs are exclusively psychologically dependent - for example, ecstasy. Purely physical addiction, on the other hand, almost never occurs alone. Exceptions are newborns from mothers with addictions.

Effects of drugs on the psyche

Addiction doctors differentiate between

• Stimulating substances (so-called "upper" such as amphetamines, cocaine and ecstasy ),
• Depressant substances ("downers" such as opioids, benzodiazepines) and
• Mind-altering substances (hallucinogens such as LSD , hallucinogenic mushrooms, and mescaline).

Cannabis and alcohol can have to stimulate as well as depressant effects and also trigger hallucinations.

Psychoactive substances such as alcohol, heroin, or cannabis reach the brain via the bloodstream and there bind to specific docking points (receptors) on the surface of the nerve cells. This docking triggers various reactions in the brain, for example, the release of the "happiness hormones" serotonin and dopamine. As a result, mood, perception, feelings and thinking can change.

Intoxication: The consumer feels euphoric and intoxicated, for example. The feeling of space and time can also be lost.

Disinheriting effect: Some drugs cause the user to seek contact with others or to behave completely disinherited.

Hallucinations: Some drugs trigger hallucinations: the consumer perceives colors, sounds, or smells excessive.

Horror trip: Hallucinogenic drugs (such as LSD or magic mushrooms) and sometimes cannabis can also give the consumer a "horror trip" - a drug-induced psychosis, characterized by extreme fear or panic, strong arousal and a delusively altered, partly paranoid perception. In extreme cases, those affected commit suicide in this state or at least try to do so.

Effects of drugs on the body

The body's reactions can be very different. For example, many drugs cause the pulse and blood pressure to increase and the pupils to dilate. In some cases, this can be used to identify drug use. Heroin, on the other hand, has the opposite effect: blood pressure drops and the pupils constrict to the size of the head of a pin.

Other possible physical reactions:

• Balance and orientation problems
• Dry mucous membranes
• Constipation
• Decreased sexual performance
• Difficulties swallowing
• Nausea, vomiting
• Feeling cold
• Eye redness
• Increased feeling of hunger
• Decreased sensitivity to alcohol
• Certain substances such as amphetamines, ecstasy and other stimulants can also trigger an epileptic seizure and also activate latent (hidden) epilepsy.