Today there are a large number of dependencies that people can develop. Although much information is already known about the most common addictions, they do not always affect each patient in the same way. On the other hand, a large part of the population never becomes fully informed when it comes to treating a dependency. Today we review the types of addictions and their consequences.
When talking about addictions, people tend to generally associate them with the abuse of a substance harmful to the body. However, they are not exclusive to consuming a chemical product that can damage people’s health. Dependencies can be suffered from anything or circumstance that causes an individual to lose control over their behavior. That is why, to avoid suffering from them, it is necessary to understand their nature and under what conditions they subsequently appear in individuals.
Regarding the classification of dependencies, they can be categorized into two different types and suffered from three different variables. On one hand, addictions to a toxic substance and behavioral addictions. On the other hand, their appearance due to social circumstances, behavioral disorders, or genetic factors. We review the most common addictions caused by contact with a substance.
The Most Common Addictions Developed with Substances
This type of dependency is the most common. Both their legality and their effects on a person vary depending on the context in which they occur.
Alcohol Addiction
The first and most important of the most common addictions is alcohol. Despite being legal, it is one of the most dangerous substances that exist. It can cause serious health damage both in the short and long term. Suffering from it leads to alcoholism, a disease considered one of the most serious among those that addictions can generate.
Drinking alcohol excessively negatively affects both the body and the brain. On one hand, it develops several physical symptoms in the person. On the other, it transforms their behavior toward aggressive, disinhibited, and dangerous conduct that can also affect the people around them.
The fundamental problem with alcohol is that it is a legal toxic substance with great social acceptance. Therefore, its consequences and the damage it can cause to the population are commonly underestimated. In many cases it is related to a crime.
Nicotine Addiction
Nicotine addiction derives from tobacco consumption. A legal drug that, although very similar to alcohol, has greater social awareness about its impact on both individual and collective health. The main effects it causes are anxiety and nervousness when quitting smoking.
The smoke derived from nicotine consumption releases toxic particles that damage the person’s respiratory system. The main organs affected are the larynx, lungs, and heart, being responsible for suffering cancer, heart attacks, or cardiovascular problems.
In recent years, a failed alternative to tobacco has appeared with the intention of being healthier, known as vaping. Electronic cigarettes that expel vapor simulating cigarette smoke. However, several health entities have already classified it as inefficient and potentially harmful.
Addiction to Psychopharmaceuticals
Another of the most common addictions is dependence on medications and drugs that cause psychological alteration. Although many of them require a medical prescription, many people find ways to obtain them through different means. Furthermore, it is important to know that this type of substance has a very high addictive potential.
The main consequence of drug addiction is that there is a wide variety of products that can cause dependence. On the other hand, their effects depend on the person’s tolerance and the number and quantity of doses they ingest. Consequently, each addict develops different symptoms that require different treatment.
Caffeine Addiction
Dependence on coffee or tea is another of the most common addictions. Being a socially consumed drug with low risk, it is frequently debated whether it meets the requirements to cause an addiction.
Caffeine is a legal substance taken to stimulate the brain and increase attention capacity and data memorization. Among its consequences are insomnia and difficulty achieving rest. An effect that in the long term alters the person’s behavior and modifies their ability to relate to others and their productivity at work.
Opioid Addiction
Opioids are one of the most harmful varieties of toxins for health. Among them is heroin, a lethal substance that causes irreparable damage to the person who consumes it. There are several forms of consumption, each more dangerous than the last, and with a very high addictive potential that can occur from the first dose.
In addition to having a withdrawal syndrome that is very difficult to overcome, its consequences are almost completely psychological. Therefore, the normal functioning of the brain is altered, preventing the individual from interacting normally with their environment.
The main effects of consuming opioids are heart problems, nervous system issues, respiratory difficulties, and poor functioning of the digestive system.
Steroid Addiction:
Steroids are synthetic substances that in most cases are very similar to the testosterone naturally generated by the body. They are often used in the world of sports to accelerate muscle mass creation with little physical effort. When consumed frequently, it causes what is known as bigorexia.
Steroid abuse affects the entire body in general, which involves several physical effects. Among the most common are accelerated appearance of acne, heart problems, cardiovascular difficulties, and gynecomastia.
Cannabis Addiction
Cannabis is one of the most consumed illegal drugs in the world, especially among young people and adolescents who smoke marijuana. It is cultivated through the aforementioned plant and is erroneously associated with something healthy because it is natural.
Cannabis has many properties, a fact that makes it an ideal substance for all types of purposes. It is mainly used both for recreational use and therapeutic treatments. Through its consumption in the form of joints, brownies, or “weed cakes,” it relieves anxiety and causes a state of great relaxation in the person.
Despite this, cannabis addiction can also involve very negative symptoms. It decreases brain activity, compromising cognitive faculties such as intelligence, memory, and speech. In the long term, it can cause schizophrenia.
Addiction to Dissociative Substances:
Additionally, there are other substances such as ketamine that can also cause dependence and significant psychological consequences. If consumption has become recurrent or it is difficult to stop, it is advisable to consider ketamine addiction treatment with specialized professional support.
CCAdicciones is a drug addiction treatment center expert in drug rehabilitation processes. Contact us and an expert will assist you with whatever you need.
