- permanent changes to brain chemistry
- health complications
- relationship problems
- legal problems
- financial problems
- injuries or disabilities
- overdose
- death
There is a fine line between substance misuse or abuse and addiction. How do you know if you have crossed that line? The simple answer is addiction is present when your substance use or behaviour is harming your physical, mental, social or financial wellbeing.
The keyword is harm, meaning you are putting your physical and psychological health at risk because the compulsion to seek out the drug, alcohol, or behaviour is challenging to control.
The American Society of Addiction Medicine defines addiction as:
“a treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment and an individual’s life experiences. People with addiction use substances or engage in behaviours that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful consequences.” South Africa is home to a burgeoning population of recovering addicts, counsellors, and specialists, making it an excellent setting for the best drug rehabs South Africa. Get in touch with us for more information on our affordable Rehab.
The harmful consequences of addiction include:
Addiction is broadly grouped into two categories:
Chemical addiction
Chemical addiction involves the compulsive use of manufactured substances that contain harmful natural or synthetic substances. Chemical addiction can lead to chronic, progressive brain chemistry changes that are potentially fatal.
Chemical substances that have a high risk of abuse include:
Behavioural addiction
Behavioural addiction involves compulsive, persistent, repeated actions or activities that you carry out without any real benefit to yourself.
Behavioural addictions include:
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) provides a criteria list that must be met for substance use disorder to be diagnosed. The latest version of the official text – DSM-5 – replaces the term addiction with substance use disorder, which combines substance abuse and substance dependence into one classification.
The DSM-5 criteria for substance use disorder – addiction – is grouped into four main categories:
Impaired control
Social problems
Risky use
Physical dependence
Substance use disorder – addiction – is diagnosed if you meet two or more of the eleven DSM-5 criteria within twelve months. You have a mild addiction if you meet two to three criteria, a moderate addiction if you meet four to five, and a severe addiction if you meet six or more.
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