Addiction

This article is about the concept of addiction.The term addiction is used in many concepts such as to describe compulsion, physical dependence or obsession such as drug addiction, compulsive overeating, alcoholism, computer addiction etc.
Medical terminology states that addiction is a state which makes the body to rely on a particular substance for the normal functioning and develops physical dependence for example, Drug addiction. When a drug dependent person is suddenly removed from that substance, it will cause withdrawal, a series of signs and symptoms.Addiction is generally associated with increase drug tolerance. In physiological terms, addiction is not necessarily associated with substance abuse infact this form of addiction can result from using medication as prescribed by a doctor.
One more form of addiction is nicotine addiction which is generated by smoking cigarattes.This addiction is called The Mother of Devil because usually after starting this other addictions are came to known.

However, the term addiction is commonly used to describe physical dependence. The term addiction is also sometimes applied to compulsions that are not substance-related, such as problem gambling and computer addiction. In these kinds of common usuages, the term addiction is used to describe a recurring compulsion by an individual to engage in some specific activity, despite harmful consequences to the individual's health, mental state or social life.

Addiction is a primary, progressive, chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by impaired control over use of the substance, preoccupation with the substance, use of the substance despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking.

Methods of care:

The American Society of Addiction Medicine recommends treatment for people with chemical dependency based on patient placement criteria (currently listed in PPC-2), which attempt to match levels of care according to clinical assessments in six areas, including:

• Acute intoxication and/or withdrawal potential
• Biomedical conditions or complications
• Emotional/behavioral conditions or complications
• Treatment acceptance/resistance
• Relapse potential
• Recovery environment
  

While addiction or dependency is related to seemingly uncontrollable urges, and arguably could have roots in genetic predispositions, treatment of dependency is conducted by a wide range of medical and allied professionals, including Addiction Medicine specialists, psychiatrists, and appropriately trained nurses, social workers, and counselors. Early treatment of acute withdrawal often includes medical detoxification, which can include doses of anxiolytics or narcotics to reduce symptoms of withdrawal. An experimental drug, ibogaine, is also proposed to treat withdrawal and craving. Alternatives to medical detoxification include acupuncture detoxification. In chronic opiate addiction, a surrogate drug such as methadone is sometimes offered as a form of opiate replacement therapy. But treatment approaches universal focus on the individual's ultimate choice to pursue an alternate course of action.