According to the CDC, 67,367 people died from a drug overdose in 2018 in the United States. This significant number of deaths point to the crisis of addiction in the country. Addiction has long been a mystery to those who are not experiencing it. And, even for those who are dealing with addiction, they may be confused as to why they are always struggling with the problem of addiction. If you’re in this situation, you may wonder — what causes addiction? This is a complex question that has many answers. Fortunately, Northern Illinois Recovery Center has the experienced and expert staff to guide you through the addiction treatment process.
Defining Addiction
Addiction is a brain disease that triggers you to continue using harmful substances even when it causes problems and distress. Addiction leads to physical withdrawal when you try to stop doing the harmful substance suddenly.
Results of Addiction
Usually, before addiction occurs, you will become tolerant to a substance, which means you’ll need higher amounts to feel the effects. As a result, addiction may lead to serious damage to your body, because you’re taking significant amounts of the drug. Also, addiction leads to mental health issues for many people. Some people feel depressed, anxious, or guilty from continued drug use. Certain drugs even change the chemistry of the brain, which adds a whole other level of issues in which to deal.
What Causes Addiction?
As you think about what causes addiction, many things may come to mind. Some people may simply blame the person who falls into the addiction cycle without really understanding how it works. However, the following can cause addiction:
- Undiagnosed mental health conditions may lead some people to self-medicate and thereby become addicted.
- Peer pressure often starts someone on drugs, and then it’s a matter of time before they are addicted.
- Emotional trauma from the past could lead someone to start using drugs because they are trying to numb out their pain.
- Gateway drugs such as prescription medication or marijuana can lead to harder drugs and addiction.
These are the emotional reasons a person may get led down the pathway to addiction, but what causes addiction in the body? The physical reason people get addicted is that drugs activate the brain’s reward center. Over time, the brain learns that when it’s given that substance, it will get a “reward” or good feeling. This ultimately leads to addiction.
There may be other causes of addiction not mentioned that are unique to an individual. Everyone is different. The main thing to remember is that when anyone starts using a substance that interacts with the brain or emotions, there is potential for addiction.
Healing From Addiction
The first step in healing from addiction is to get rid of the chemical toxins out of your body. Once that is eliminated, you can work on therapy to delve into why you did drugs and how to prevent a relapse. Some of the treatment programs that will help with detox and sober living include:
- Partial hospitalization treatment program
- Medication-assisted treatment program
- Intensive outpatient treatment program
- Sober living treatment program
- Drug Rehab treatment program
Find Hope At Northern Illinois Recovery Center
Welcome to the Northern Illinois Recovery Center, hope is waiting for you. You deserve a place to heal from the trauma of addiction. We offer customized, evidence-based treatment plans that will address your specific needs.
Don’t let addiction steal happiness and peace from your life. Now that you know more about what causes addiction, you can find a way to break free from it by going to a quality rehab center. Contact us at 855.786.1978, and we’ll help you get started today.
