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When are you addicted?
We speak of an addiction when you no longer have a grip on using certain substances or performing a certain action.
Am I addicted?
Addiction can completely disrupt your daily life. Sometimes you can no longer fulfill your most important obligations. You give up leisure, social or professional activities. You try to downplay it, out of shame or guilt. However, your tolerance gets higher and higher, so you need more and more of something to still achieve the desired effect.
How quickly do you have an addiction?
Whether and when you develop an addiction varies from person to person. Some people are more susceptible to addiction than others, but you don't become addicted overnight. Different drugs also have different effects. For example, certain drugs, such as tobacco, GHB and heroin are more quickly addictive and alcohol, marijuana and XTC tend to be less so. Sometimes you can have a hereditary predisposition to addiction. Also, your upbringing, habits, personality and environment affect how quickly you become addicted.
Characteristics of addiction
There are several characteristics by which you can recognize addiction in yourself or another person. The DSM-5 (diagnostic manual for psychiatric disorders) lists 11 criteria for determining whether someone has an addiction. These symptoms can be used to determine if you have an addiction.
Addiction symptoms
- You use more often, in larger quantities or over a longer period of time than you had planned;
- You have made several failed attempts to cut down or quit;
- You spend a lot of time getting, using or recovering after using the drug;
- You have a persistent desire for the behavior or means;
- Your use negatively affects your work, social activities, home situation or hobbies;
- You continue to use or repeat certain behaviors despite the social problems they cause;
- You give up hobbies, social activities or work through use;
- You use constantly, even when it puts you in (physical) danger;
- You continue to use despite the fact that it causes or makes physical or psychological problems worse;
- You need more and more to still feel the effect (tolerance);
- You suffer from withdrawal symptoms that are lessened by using more of the drug.
Is addiction hereditary?
Addiction can be hereditary, making you more susceptible to addiction than someone else. Children whose one or both parents have an addiction are often more likely to be addicted and also often develop the addiction at a younger age. In addition, your environment and upbringing can also play a role in your addiction.
U-center always treats your addiction together with underlying social, biological and psychological factors. Based on all these factors, we draw up your personal treatment plan for your inpatient and (when indicated) outpatient treatment.
Comorbidity and addiction
People with mental illness are more likely to have addictions. People with mental illness are also more likely to receive prescription medications and may become dependent on them in the long run.
It is also possible that addiction arises from suppressing existing psychological problems with alcohol or drugs. It may be that your addiction starts because you have a need for sedation. For example, in the case of depression or severe trauma. When you are dealing with addiction and mental disorders or another addiction we speak of comorbidity. In this case, you have two or more diagnoses from the DSM-5. U-center is expert in treating comorbidity and we always treat your addiction in combination with other factors.
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Last updated on 26-09-2023
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