Addiction is when you crave drugs and get to a point when you often find yourself using, thinking about or seeking out drugs. These cravings are extremely difficult to control. For someone who is truly addicted there is no motivation more powerful than the drug craving, and the person’s life becomes centered around getting and using the drug.
Chemical dependency, or addiction, as defined by the American Psychological Association, is seen as a pattern of drug use, where the user experiences three (or more) of the following:
(1) tolerance, which means needing to use more of the same substance to get the same high;
(2) withdrawal symptoms from detoxing from alcohol or drugs (such as nausea, insomnia, anxiety, sweating, trembling);
(3) using more than what you intended;
(4) persistent desire to use, or unsuccessful attempts to quit;
(5) increasing time spent using or getting drugs;
(6) giving up important life activities due to using (like not going to school or quitting a job); and
(7) continuing to use despite knowledge of the problem’s impact.
One of the best ways to determine if you are addicted, or if you have a drug problem, is to talk to a trained professional and ask for a confidential assessment. From that assessment, a professional will be able to help you understand your symptoms, and to find the right level of help you might need.
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