Definition
Addiction is a disease that affects your brain and behavior. When you’re addicted to drugs, you may have a hard time resisting the urge to use them, even if the drugs are causing you harm. Although drugs are the main focal point of addiction, they are not the sole factor. In addition to heroin, cocaine, or other illegal drugs; you can also become addicted to alcohol, nicotine, sleep and anti-anxiety medications, and other legal substances. Some prescription pills prescribed by doctors such as pain medications and/or opioids can also cause addiction. In fact, because these drugs can also be obtained illegally, there has been a growing epidemic in the United States. For Blacks, in particular, a lack of proper medical care has caused them to look elsewhere for treatment. This has led to the growing number of fatal Fentanyl overdoses in the Black community. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “Non-Hispanic Black persons had the largest annual percentage increase in rates from 2011 through 2016 (140.6% per year).” Unfortunately, Black patients are less likely to have access to Buprenorphine, which reduces Opioid cravings, making them more likely to suffer overdoses, and are also the least likely to have financial access to care.
When you use opioids for a long period of time, you may also develop tolerance and even physical dependence. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you are addicted to opioids. In fact, only a small percentage of people develop an addiction if narcotics are used under proper medical supervision.
Drug abuse is when you use legal or illegal drugs in ways that you shouldn’t. For example, taking more than your regular dose of pills or using someone else’s prescription. You may abuse drugs to feel good, ease stress, or avoid reality. However, unlike addiction, you’re usually able to change your unhealthy habits or stop using altogether.
A study conducted by the American Journal of Health found that African Americans have a lower rate of addiction (11.5%) compared to whites (12%), but a higher rate of addiction when compared to Afro-Caribbean Americans (9.6%). This difference is most pronounced among women. African American women have an addiction rate of 6.3%, while Afro-Caribbean women have a 2.8% rate of addiction.
According to reports from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in 2019, among Blacks with a substance abuse disorder:
- 4 in 9 (43.9%) struggled with illicit drugs
- 2 in 3 (67.4%) struggled with alcohol use
- 1 in 9 (11.1%) struggled with illicit drugs and alcohol
- Opioid misuse continues to decrease in African Americans across all age groups. There are significant decreases for ages 12-17 and 18-25 since 2016.
- Prescription pain reliever misuse significantly decreased in African Americans ages 12-25 since 2017 and remains stable in ages 26 and older.
- Heroin-related opioid use disorder slightly decreased for African Americans ages 26 and older.
- Despite much progress, opioid use disorder significantly increased in African Americans ages 12-17.
- There were no significant changes in cocaine and methamphetamine use across all
- ages in the African American population.
- Misuse of prescription stimulants in African Americans has slightly decreased in ages
- 12-17 and 18-25 and remained stable for ages 26 and older.
- LSD use for African Americans ages 12-17 and 18-25 has slightly increased.
- Suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts were significantly increased for African Americans with substance use disorders.
Causes
Because every person’s body and brain is different, not everyone becomes addicted. For drugs, in particular, certain people may have different responses to them. Some people may try them and love them, while others may hate them and never want to try them again. However, addiction can happen at any age. These things may raise your risk of addiction:
- Family history: About half of your odds of whether or not you will become addicted are tied to your genes. If your parents or siblings have problems with alcohol or drugs, you’re more likely as well. Women and men are equally likely to become addicted.
- Early drug use: Because children’s brains are still growing, early drug use can make them more likely to become addicted when they get older.
- Mental disorders: People who are depressed, have trouble paying attention or worry constantly have a higher chance of addiction. In addition, those with a history of trauma are more likely to suffer from addiction.
- Troubled relationships: Those who are close to their families and grew up with problematic relationships have an increased risk of developing an addiction.
Symptoms
If you are addicted to something, you may experience one or more of the following:
- An urge to use the drug every day, or many times a day
- Taking more drugs than you want to, and for longer than you thought you would
- Always having the drug with you, and buying it even if you can’t afford it
- Using drugs even if they cause you trouble at work or make you lash out at family and friends
- Spending more time alone
- Not taking care of yourself or caring how you look
- Stealing, lying, or doing dangerous things, like driving while high or having unsafe sex
- Spending most of your time getting, using, or recovering from the effects of the drug
- Feeling sick when you try to quit
When you use drugs for a long time, it can cause changes in other brain chemical systems and circuits as well. They can hurt your:
- Judgment
- Decision-making
- Memory
- Ability to learn
These brain changes can cause you to seek out and take drugs in ways that are beyond your control.
Treatments
The earlier you get treatment for drug addiction, the more likely you are to avoid some of the more dire consequences of the disease. If you notice your drug use getting out of control, you should contact your doctor. Getting over addiction may take some time and although there is no cure, treatment can help you stop using drugs and stay drug-free. Your treatment may include counseling, medicine, or both. Talk to your doctor to determine which plan is best for you.
Preventions
To avoid pain medicine addiction you should:
- Take the drug exactly as your doctor prescribes.
- Tell your doctor about any personal or family history of drug abuse or addiction; this will help them prescribe the medicines that will work best for you.
Remember, developing a tolerance to pain medication and to needing higher doses to get the same level of pain relief is normal and not a sign of addiction. When you are addicted, you will likely need higher doses, but not for pain relief.