What is Substance Addiction

Addiction refers to the continuous and excessive use of a thing without the ability stop. Addiction is a serious illness that affects the physical, mental, and emotional state of a person, and there are different types of addictions. Substance Addiction is a type of addiction that is very popular.

Substance Addiction is a physical dependence on a particular substance. Some of these chemical substances include alcohol, cocaine, marijuana, tobacco, and much more.

These substances could be legal or illegal drugs, because people can overuse a prescription and become addicted to it.

There are different reasons for substance addiction, most of which vary based on individual personality and specific situations. Sometimes, it might be difficult to pinpoint the exact reason for addiction. But some of these reasons are;

  • Addicted Parents or Relative

When people grow up with someone who is addicted to substances, there is a high chance they would become addicts too. This is because humans are influenced by what they see and know.

  • Peer Pressure

Having friends who are addicted to alcohol or cocaine can cause a person to become an addict too. Such friends can encourage a person to try out these chemical substances, which could lead to addiction.

  • Emotional Trauma

People often use drugs or alcohol as an escape from stress and trauma. So, a person who had a traumatic childhood has a higher chance of resulting to substances to relieve stress and possibly get addicted.

  • Early Exposure

The earlier a person becomes exposed to chemical substances, the more likely the person will get addicted. This is because young people are more daring and their hormones for self-control is still in development.

These are some factors that could lead substance addiction. But substance addiction has major consequences for an individual, as it can lead to many behavioral changes.

Addicts become withdrawn, uninterested in other activities, angry, and begin to have reduced performance.

Substance addiction is treatable with proper assistance. So, once you identify addiction in a person, that is not the end of life for him/her. Get them help and they can recover from it.