Why Cocaine Becomes Addictive

Why cocaine becomes addictive: Research with cocaine has shown that all laboratory animals can become compulsive cocaine users. Animals will work more persistently at pressing a bar for cocaine than for any drug, including opiates. An addicted monkey pressed the bar 12,800 times until it got a single dose of cocaine. If the animal survives, it will return to the task of obtaining more cocaine.

The human response is similar to that of the laboratory animal. The cocaine-dependent human prefers it to all other activities and will use the drug until the user or the supply is exhausted. These persons will exhibit behavior entirely different from their previous lifestyle.
Cocaine-driven humans will compel themselves to perform unusual acts compared with their former standards of conduct. For example, a cocaine user may sell her child to obtain more cocaine. There are many stories of professionals, such as lawyers, physicians, bankers, and athletes, with daily habits costing hundreds to thousands of dollars, with binges in the $20,000-$50,000 range. The result may be loss of job and profession, loss of family, bankruptcy, and death.

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Drug Abuse

Drug dependence


Definition
Drug addiction, or dependence, is the compulsive use of a substance, despite its negative or dangerous effects.

However, a physical dependence on a substance (needing the drug to function) is not always part of the definition of addiction. Some drugs (for example, certain blood pressure medications) do not cause addiction but they can cause physical dependence. Other drugs cause addiction without leading to physical dependence. Cocaine is an example.

Tolerance to a drug (needing a higher dose to attain the same effect) is usually part of addiction.
Alternative Names
Drug addiction; Addiction - drug; Dependence on drugs

Causes

Drug abuse can lead to drug dependence or addiction. People who use drugs for pain relief may become dependent, although this is rare in those who don't have a history of addiction.
The exact cause of drug abuse and dependence is not known. However, a person's genes, the action of the drug, peer pressure, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and environmental stress all can be factors.

Peer pressure can lead to drug use or abuse, but at least half of those who become addicted have depression, attention deficit disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or another mental health problem.

Children who grow up in an environment of illicit drug use may first see their parents using drugs. This may put them at a higher risk for developing an addiction later in life for both environmental and genetic reasons.

Commonly abused substances include:

Opiates and narcotics are powerful painkillers that cause drowsiness (sedation) and feelings of euphoria. These include heroin, opium, codeine, meperidine (Demerol), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), and oxycodone (Oxycontin).

Central nervous system stimulants include amphetamines, cocaine, dextroamphetamine, methamphetamine, and methylphenidate (Ritalin). Caffeine and nicotine are the most commonly used stimulants. These drugs have a stimulating effect, and people can start needing higher amounts of these drugs to feel the same effect (tolerance).

Central nervous system depressants include alcohol, barbiturates (amobarbital, pentobarbital, secobarbital), benzodiazepine (Valium, Ativan, Xanax), chloral hydrate, and paraldehyde. These substances produce a sedative and anxiety-reducing effect, which can lead to dependence.
Hallucinogens include LSD, mescaline, psilocybin ("mushrooms"), and phencyclidine (PCP or "angel dust"). They can cause people to see things that aren't there (hallucinations) and can lead to psychological dependence.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the active ingredient found in marijuana (cannabis) and hashish. Although used for their relaxing properties, THC-derived drugs can also lead to paranoia and anxiety.

Symptoms
OPIATES AND NARCOTICS
Symptoms of opiate and narcotic use:
Needle marks on the skin in some cases (called "tracks")
Scars from skin abscesses
Rapid heart rate
Small "pinpoint" pupils
Relaxed or euphoric state
Coma, respiratory depression leading to coma, and death in high doses
Symptoms of opiate and narcotic withdrawal:
Anxiety and difficulty sleeping
Sweating
Goose bumps
Runny nose
Stomach cramps or diarrhea
Enlarged (dilated) pupils
Nausea and vomiting
Excessive sweating
Increase in blood pressure, pulse, and temperature

References
Samet JH. Drug abuse and dependence. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 32.

Warning Signs and Symptoms of Internet Addiction

Warning Signs and Symptoms of Internet Addiction
Author: Michelle Devon

Is it Real? How Can You Tell If You or a Loved One Suffers from Internet Addiction?
The internet can be a fun place, with a lot of things to do, information, resources, chat, messaging, forums and groups—you can find something that suits your fancy, no matter what your fancy might be. The internet has also provided a bit of anonymity to people who might want to purchase things they normally would not be willing to purchase from a store in person. You can research for school or work. You can make money, blog, buy and trade and sell things, and start an eBusiness. You can even view pornography, if that’s what suits you. In fact, there’s not a lot you can’t do nowadays on the internet. That all being said, how can you tell if your or a loved one’s fascination with the internet has become less of a tool and more of an obsession?

Internet addiction disorder, IAD, is relatively new in the field of psychotherapy, but recently, many therapists and counselors have seen an increase in cases where their clients, or family members and loved ones of clients, are claiming to have issues with how much time is spent online. Interestingly enough, there is a huge dispute in the psychological field over whether or not internet addiction is a real disorder afflicting people.

One argument against internet addiction as its own disorder is that internet addiction really only falls into the same category as ‘addictive behavior’ or compulsive behavior and is simply another means that people use to exhibit addictive tendencies. However, drug addiction is a different disorder than sexual addiction, so the proponents for internet addiction use this differentiation and argue that internet addiction should be classified as a separate disorder altogether.

It is also difficult to diagnose internet addiction in instances where, perhaps, a person’s work is solely or mostly online or on the computer. Can a person who is just very dedicated to their job actually be accused as being an internet addict, when in reality, perhaps they are merely a work-a-holic?

That’s why establishing clear criteria for what internet addiction disorder really is will be crucial in determining whether or not this disorder is given the attention in the psychological community that many feel it deserves. As with any addictive disorder, one of the main criteria that must be met in order to be considered addictive behavior is that there must be a significant impairment or dis-function in normal ‘life’ activities.Some of these ‘life’ activities include things such as: maintaining gainful employment; taking care of financial responsibilities; maintaining healthy relationships with friends and family; taking care of family responsibilities such as children, pets and house cleaning; and personal health and hygiene properly maintained, to name a few. When any of these basic life skills are neglected, and they are neglected because of an individual’s time on the computer online, then internet addiction may pose a real concern.Where the psychological community seems to miss the mark is that, in the end, it doesn’t matter whether or not a person is suffering from something called internet addiction disorder or is simply exhibiting compulsive or addictive behavior through the use of the internet. If a person’s internet use, regardless of the reason or cause, is causing impairment in their functioning, then the issue needs to be addressed.Do you worry that you or a loved one suffers from internet addiction, regardless of the cause? How can you tell for sure? Below is a list of some commons signs that the internet has become a compulsive and even addictive problem in your or a loved one’s life: