Addiction to chemical substances is not a comfortable condition. According to a study, 2.2% of people in the world have a problem with drugs or alcohol. 1.5% of people have an alcohol use disorder, compared to 0.8% of people with all substance use disorders put together (0.32% had a cannabis use disorder, 0.29% had an opioid use disorder, and 0.1 % had an amphetamine use disorder).

There are four major concepts that are central to addiction. These major concepts are expanded upon briefly in the DSM V TR. In this written piece of psychoeducation, I will attempt to unpack substance addiction and open a framework by which you can control it.

The four major concepts of addiction are:

• Habits
• Compulsivity
• Personality factors
• Physiological effects (tolerance and withdrawal)

These aspects can and are, in fact, present in many addictions, not just those related to chemical substances. For example, gambling disorder also is characterized by compulsions, habits and certain personality factors. One prominent aspect, however, which is a core feature of substance addiction are the physiological effects of tolerance and withdrawal.

So, without further ado, let us dive into the experience of addiction, factor by factor.

Habits

According to some researchers, addiction can be explained as an adapted habit. An adapted habit is a complex of behaviors that an individual seeks to adapt to, due to the reinforcing aspects of the behaviors. There are three major elements of such a habit:

• Initial capture
• Development of behavioral action schemata
• Cognitive expectancies concerning the habit

Initial Capture

The word capture here is used in the invasiveness of the habit, due to its desirability and reinforcement. Individuals who are addicted to substances often talk about a drug capturing their state of mind. The initial capture is often when the action has already been performed and the reinforcement has already been significantly experienced.

What then happens is that this action is associated with a desirable outcome (e.g euphoria, stimulation, more relaxed social interactions etc.). Adapted habit theory of addiction – and scientific research – put forward the notion that drugs actually become a primary reinforcer. This means that they are on the same level as a reward for person as food is.

This is how the habit captures a person.

Action Schemata

Action schemata or behavioral action schemata are a thought based conceptualization of one’s plan to perform the habit. Schemata refer to many ideas about a particular thing being grouped together in order.

So, behavioral action schemata refer to the addicted individual’s conceptualized plan of how they will follow their addiction further. For example, a person addicted to pain killers will have an entire action sequence in mind where they acquire the pain killer and use it.

This is the result of a habit.

Expectations

For one to have motivation to perform a habit, there have to be some expectations of what they hope to achieve. Since the substance(s) can become a primary reinforcer, this shows that one’s expectations for the substance use is far reaching.

Mind altering substances can provide an individual with psychological and physiological relief. Conversely, some substances can energize an individual.

Regardless, these effects usually make one’s expectations for the drug use stronger and more mentally intrusive.

Compulsivity

Compulsions are constant urges to perform an action. Compulsivity is the lack of control of one’s behavior over acting against these urges. Substance use disorders also feature the element of compulsivity, much like obsessive compulsive disorder.

There are two ways by which compulsivity plays a role in addiction. The first way is by the way of carrying on a learned and reinforced habit. An individual could thus have compulsions regarding performing a habit again and again because it is rewarding.

The second way compulsions have a major part in addictions is that one’s urge to consume drugs is fueled by their urge to get rid of a bad experience or event. This is most notable in individuals engage in substance abuse and who have higher levels of stress. The substance provides them with relief from an aversive state.

Personality Factors

Personality is a pattern of multiple complexes of behaviors that seem to be constant through age and context. It is based on environmental and genetic predispositions, with both of them contributing simultaneously. To say that one is born an addict would be unscientific and untrue. However, if a young individual has a higher affinity towards seeking excitement, it reflects a predisposition towards addiction. Excitement seeking is actually a facet of trait extraversion of the five factor model of personality.

Other important personality traits that can contribute to addiction are of neuroticism and conscientiousness.

Neuroticism is a personality trait that signifies emotional instability. Thus, one could see this as playing a major role in compulsivity. Furthermore, neuroticism also includes being impulsive. Impulsivity is the failure to control one’s actions in the context of a momentary urge. Unsurprisingly, individuals that have addictions are also often impulsive.

On the other hand, conscientiousness, which is a trait that relates to one’s ambitiousness and orderliness, can have a negative impact on addiction. In fact, if an individual has higher levels of conscientiousness, there is a greater possibility that they can recover from addiction more effectively. Conscientious individuals want their life to be in order and they usually have high ambitions and desire to achieve more. So, they might see their addiction as a major hindrance that they eventually have to overcome

It is important to remember, however, that psychiatric conditions are not just a product of the environment or genetics as a whole. Rather, both of these factors contribute significantly. Personality traits are much the same.

So, by understanding one’s behaviors and working towards goals which offer pleasure but stability can have a major effect on the person’s addictions.

Physiological Effects

Substance addiction can majorly change our body’s physiological condition. While some of the physical effects are indirect (for example, weight loss), the substance can directly affect the way chemicals in our brain act.

Many of these substances, by binding with chemical receptors in the synapses of our brains increase the duration the ‘happy chemicals’ stay out in the synapse.

This is usually what causes the euphoria one might feel. This also produces the relaxing effects.

Since this change is not what our body is used to, our body tries to adapt to it. Our brain might gradually stop releasing its own ‘happy chemicals’. Or our blood vessels might remain dilated for longer times.

As our body adapts to the drug, we might start to feel as if the effects of the drug are lesser. So, one could start taking more drugs to help them get the same feeling. Their body has developed a tolerance to the effects of the drug. This is what can greatly increase one’s substance use.

Another important point to remember is that these changes that I talked about earlier, only adapt our bodies to the time when we are using the drug. When one suddenly stops using the drug, for some time, their body doesn’t just go back to normal. It is adapted to the effects of the drug.

The happy chemicals do not release at the same rate they did before. In fact, many other effects, such as slowing down of the heart rate in alcohol, do not return to normal initially after the addiction is dropped. This is our body’s way of withdrawal from the effects of the drug.

Unfortunately, in cases of potent drugs such as methamphetamine and heroine, the withdrawals can endanger life. This is because many of the physiological functions of the body are no longer being performed as correctly as before.

This is why medications are often used to treat withdrawal symptoms. They do not lead to the same euphoria, but they allow the body to return to normal through a controlled and safer dosage.

Conclusion

Substance abuse and addiction is a psychiatric condition. If it is severe, it can cause long lasting social and psychological trauma. In fact, withdrawal symptoms and overdoses can be fatal. This is why it is necessary to treat them appropriately. Not every kind of drug is fatal though. However, habits that cause harm to oneself and others are rarely sustainable.

If you or anyone you know might have a substance problem, it is probably good to seek help.