Why is it difficult for a person with an addiction to stop using a drug?

Question

Explain WHY!

Answer 1

Because it fills the reward center of the brain and changes the brain's chemistry.

Read more here. Dr. Drew is an addiction medical specialist, have you ever seen his new show? It's facinating.

http://www.drdrew.com/

Answer 2

Once drug tolerance is established, a person cannot function normally without the drug. If the drug is taken away, the user begins to suffer withdrawal symptoms. These withdrawal symptoms, which are both physical and psychological, are usually the exact opposite of the effects produced by the drug of choice. Since taking the drug away is the only way to overcome the addiction, many users prefer staying addicted rather than undergo the illnesses of withdrawal.

Among other effects, researchers have learned that addiction is associated with attention and memory deficits, loss of the ability to accurately sense the passage of time, and declines in the capacity to plan and control behavior (Bates et al., 2002; Buhuusi & Meck, 2002; Lyvers, 2000). Abusers need all of these skills to overcome addiction and rebuild their lives, but regaining them once drug abuse is stopped--if they can be recovered at all--takes time.

Furthermore, psychological drug dependence is a craving, or irresistible urge for the drug's pleasurable effects; it is even more difficult to combat than physical dependence (O'Brien, 1996).

Answer 3

There is no real concrete answer for this because people use for a variet of reasons, it could be a chemical imbalance and until they correct their boby/mind will crave what it is missing. Sometimes it is a will issue they just want want to stop because they don't see the benefit of life witout the drug, more along the lines of poor coping skills and they inability to make decisions so they resort to an existence of using where they can not deal. Some people as crazy as it may sound like the feeling of being high, this could be they don't want o deal with life and they want to medicate their realities this again goes back to coping skills. A sober person can't understand the constant using of a substance because we like to spend our money and be in control of our lives but the addict has a constant battle with knowing what is right and being conflicted with the above feeling and thoughts. But there is no real reason or remedy to stop an addict from wanting to use.( has to establish boundaries, better coping skills and connect with a positve network because relatuonships are the main reasons why addicts can't get or remain sober.

Answer 4

It depends on the drug. using some drugs, such as heroine cause a physical dependence, meaning the body has adapted to the presence of the drug so when you stop using, withdrawal symptoms occur. In addition to this, there is the "rush" that the drug provides which the user likes and comes to believe that they cant live without. this is psychological addiction. There is also the habit of taking the drug and its associations with other activities that is difficult to break. For example, someone who smokes cigarettes may do so every morning with a cup of coffee. When they try and stop, drinking the coffee in the morning acts as a trigger for wanting a cigarette.

Answer 5

Chemicals. The body makes receptors that attach to those chemicals in the drug to help with their removal from the body. When the person stops using the drugs, the receptors are still there and have no where to go because there is no chemical (or drug) to attach to. So the receptors crave that chemical. Chemical reactions in their brain tell the addict to use more drug just like a chemical reaction tells you you are hungry or thirsty. Simplest way I can put it.

Answer 6

Because the person becomes not only physically addicted--but psychologically addicted too. People who use drugs do it because they can't handle life. Once they do learn how to, they don't need drugs anymore. But it is a lifetime of recovery.

Answer 7

They become dependant on the drug and feel like they can only be "regular" by taking the drug. The drug makes them feel
"normal"

Answer 8

because once they get use to it, its hard for them to stop doing it cause it is like a daily routine. Its always hard for them to quit because of the natural chemicals in the drugs

Answer 9

hi

Answer 10

im addicted to pot, and its really hard because thats just how i go about my everyday... and if i go a day without it, i can tell... im usually on edge about alot of things and i hate the world or w/e... but atleast i admit im addicted...