Addiction

Addiction is when someone's body and/or mind depend on the use of alcohol or other drugs to function. Addiction is characterized by a loss of control, a strong desire to engage in certain behaviours, and symptoms of withdrawal without it.

Addiction can be physical or psychological:

• Physical Addiction means the person's body has become used to the drug and needs it in order to function regularly
• Psychological Addiction is when the person believes his or her activities would be less fun or even impossible without the use of the drug.

Most people's use of drugs follow a progression; that means they do not start out addicted.

• Experimentation - Trying alcohol or other drugs for the first time.
• Recreation - Using drugs more than once, usually in social settings (i.e., on weekends, at parties, etc.)
• Abuse - Drug use starts negatively affecting your life (i.e., trouble with the law, failing class, losing trust at home, etc.)
• Addiction - Using alcohol or other drugs on a regular basis, due to a strong desire to use. Experience withdrawal symptoms if the drug is not used.

It is important to note, not everyone follows this progression. Addiction can happen after only a few times using for some drugs.