Shall we talk about addictive substances?

When you hear the word 'addiction', what comes to mind? Maybe it's drugs, cigarettes, alcohol... things like that. But did you know that many more things than we think can belong to this 'addictive substance'? Some are prescribed by doctors as medicine, and some are ordinary things we buy at the store. So today, we'll talk about this in a little more depth, but in a way that's as simple as you can understand.

What exactly are these addictive things?

Simply put, these are any chemical substances that affect our body and mind and create a desire to continue using them, that is, they have the potential to become addictive. This is not limited to just "powders" or "pills." These things can create a situation where we know that using them will harm us, but we cannot escape it.

Let's see what these kinds of things are commonly seen.

What are the most addictive things?

Research has found that some things are more addictive and more addictive than others. Some of the most prominent ones include:

• Alcohol
• Cocaine
• Heroin
• Methamphetamine
• Nicotine

Now you might be wondering, "Why do we get addicted to certain things so quickly?" There are several reasons for this. We call this 'addictiveness' . It depends on several factors.

• How you take it into your body: For example, something you take through an injection will affect the brain more quickly than something you take by mouth.
• Speed ​​of entry to the brain: Our brain is protected by a special system called the 'Blood-Brain Barrier'. How quickly a substance can cross this barrier and reach the 'pleasure centers' of the brain determines how quickly it becomes addictive.
• Time to onset of effect: If you feel the effect almost immediately after using it, you are more likely to become addicted to it.
• Tolerance and withdrawal symptoms: Does the body become accustomed to it over time (Tolerance)? Do withdrawal symptoms occur when you stop? The more of these things, the greater the addiction.

How do these things affect our bodies and minds?

When we use these things, they have different effects on our body and mind. Let's break it down into two parts.

What you feel when using it (Intoxication)

This is the state of being intoxicated. This varies depending on what is used, the amount taken, and whether it is mixed with other things.

• Mood swings: You may feel light-headed, sleepy, overly happy, overly energetic, or have paranoia.
• Hallucinations: Seeing or hearing things that are not really there.
• Changes in thinking and decision-making: inability to distinguish between good and bad, confusion in thinking.
• Loss of body control: Difficulty walking and performing tasks.
• Appetite changes: Appetite may increase or disappear completely.

Withdrawal

We call 'Withdrawal' the symptoms that occur when the body becomes accustomed to using something continuously and suddenly stops or reduces the amount. These symptoms are very uncomfortable.

• Restlessness, anxiety
• Feeling cold
• Diarrhea
• Insomnia
• Body and muscle pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stomach ache
• Excessive sweating

Why do we get addicted to these things? What really happens to the brain?

To understand this, we need to know a little about how our brains work. We have a 'reward center' in our brain.

Imagine eating your favorite food, or laughing and talking with a friend. Then you feel happy, right? The reason for this is that a chemical called 'Dopamine' is released from our brain. This is like our 'happy hormone'. Because of this happiness, we are tempted to do those things again and again. This is a normal process necessary for our survival.

But, when someone uses a drug, the brain suddenly releases a huge amount of dopamine . This is much, much more than the normal pleasure. So the brain craves this unnatural, excessive pleasure. The brain thinks this is real pleasure.

Over time, the brain becomes accustomed to this high level of dopamine. So to feel the pleasure it once felt, it needs to use more and more of it. This is what we call a 'tolerance' . This is how we use more and more, and eventually end up taking a life-threatening overdose.

What is the difference between just using and being addicted?

Occasional use of a substance (Substance Use) and substance use disorder (SUD) are two different things.

A person may use something occasionally without developing an addiction. But that's not the case for everyone. For some people, even occasional use can lead to addiction .

The important thing is that this addictive disorder (SUD) is treatable. There are treatments, medications, and counseling available.

Don't be afraid to ask for help.

If you or someone you know has a problem like this, please don't be afraid to talk about it. It's not something to be ashamed of or hide.

The most important step is to see a doctor and talk honestly about this. He or she will help you and, if necessary, refer you to specialists. If you are ready, the doctors and the health system are ready to help you.

Also, only use medications prescribed by a doctor exactly as directed. Keep household chemicals (paints, sprays) safely out of the reach of children.