The Psychology Behind Addiction

Addiction is largely unlike any other condition. As well as being a disease of the mind and body, it’s shrouded in unhealthy moral and societal attitudes. There are different types of addiction. Those linked to substance abuse (i.e. alcohol and drugs), and those linked to behaviours (i.e. gambling, sex, porn use, and exercise).

It’s estimated in India that 15,10,00,000 adults use alcohol, 2,90,00,000 use cannabis, 1,90,00,000 use opioids, 1,10,00,000 use sedatives, and 60,00,000 use inhalants. When you consider that addiction impacts family members who care for their loved one who has an addiction, the impact of this disease is even wider spread.

What is it about a substance or behaviour that becomes so compelling? Why are some people able to stop behaviours, and others not? Exploring the psychology of addiction reveals what drives a person to keep repeating unhealthy behaviours. In this article, we shine a light on this.

What is Addiction?

Though addiction is often seen as a mental health condition because of its roots in brain functioning, it can also (depending on the substance used) become a physical disease. In the medical world, “addiction is [viewed as] a medical disorder that affects the brain and changes behaviour”.One of the significant features of addiction is in how it impacts the reward systems of brain. When any individual is “rewarded” for a behaviour, they’re likely to repeat it.  We’ll consider drives around addictive behaviours soon, but first, we’ll look at causes. This article will also have a main focus on substance addiction.

What Causes Addiction?

Unfortunately, there isn’t one cause of addiction. It’s a condition of many parts and as such this makes it a challenging illness to treat. The various factors that influence substance abuse include:

• The biological: Substances affect how neurons behave, some mimic natural neurotransmitters attaching to neurons but they act differently to natural neurotransmitters. They send different types of messages around the brain. As well as this, when a person more regularly uses a psychoactive substance, it starts to rewire the brain and creates conditions to form a habit.
• Genetic factors: Some people can be genetically predisposed to develop addiction. It’s one of the reasons why addiction can seem to “run in families”. 
• Environmental family: Though addiction can run in families as linked to genetics as just mentioned, the “nurture” argument is also valid. If raised by parents with addiction issues, a child can be more likely to use because of learnt behaviours and unhealthy coping strategies that are “passed down”.
• Social influence: Individuals who spend time with others who use substances are more likely to experiment and use. This is known as peer influence. Interestingly, the peer influence is also, often, key in treating addiction when a person enters recovery.
• Physician, Gabor Maté, argues that addiction develops as a trauma response. If a child is emotionally neglected, they will later seek the feeling they needed during childhood, safety and security, whether that be through a feeling of warmth or escape (often seen in opiate users).

There are various causes, therefore, of addiction, but what is it that drives a person to keep using when the effects of substance use are so damaging? Let’s take a look at what happens below.

What Drives Addiction to Continue?

As mentioned earlier, when an individual uses a substance, the reward system of their brain is activated. There’s a huge release of dopamine and that feels really good. The person might use again to chase that feeling of euphoria or escapism, and then again.  A person who starts repeating behaviours, not only starts to create habit-forming pathways in the brain, they start developing associations. 

The memory systems of the brain triggers the person into associating people, places, and objects with times they have used substances and felt good. This is how triggers that make a person want to use again form. It’s also common for people to turn to the substance as a coping strategy when faced with a stressor (also a trigger).

When a person has moved from experimental to problematic use, they experience withdrawal when the substance leaves the body and this leads to cravings. Withdrawal can be very mentally and physically distressing. Finally, long-term substance use creates disturbances in the prefrontal cortex. The neural systems that modulate and control the brain’s reward system and impulse control malfunction. It becomes neurologically more difficult to control behaviours.It’s no wonder that the motivation to stop using becomes increasingly challenging.

Is Addiction Treatable?

It’s well-known that substance use can be fatal, whether from substance overdose or secondary long-term effects such as heart disease, liver disease, cancer, or stroke etc. At its worst, addiction is devastating. However, addiction is a treatable medical condition. In some cases, symptoms are totally reversible. It usually takes a holistic approach from professionals and a huge amount of effort and willpower from the person who’s unwell to reach and maintain sobriety, but it is possible. Sobriety is viewed as the primary treatment goal to managing addiction effectively.

What Treatments Are Used for Addiction?

Before outlining treatments, it’s important to keep in mind that one of the key features of addiction is relapse. It’s natural, on the recovery journey, that the person will relapse. This isn’t a sign of moral failing or lack of willpower; it’s caused by brain wiring, withdrawal, cravings, and triggers. The element of discipline is important, but much more is needed to treat the underlying psychological environment. Rehab services and addiction detox treatment clinics offer primary care. The most common treatment options at these establishments are outlined here:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: This therapy focuses on rewiring the brain, reframing and adapting thoughts to alter feelings and behaviours. 
• Dialectical Behavioural Therapy: offers people the chance to process deeply difficult emotions, which helps them to better manage their responses and relationships with others.
• Motivational Interviewing: leads people to understand their motives around use and supports them to become ready to heal.
• Music and art therapy offer alternative ways to explore and express difficult emotions and experiences. The cathartic process is especially useful for people who find it easier to communicate by alternative means.
• Peer group support is an essential part to rehabilitation programmes. Sharing and listening to others living with the same condition is particularly conducive to healing.

Final Thoughts

It’s vital we consider the psychology behind addiction when thinking about this medical condition. Doing so facilitates progress in understanding and supporting individuals who suffer with addiction, in offering effective treatment, and in challenging societal attitudes around it. Addiction is absolutely treatable, and offering people support in accessing this offers the most useful approach to treating the psychology behind it.

FAQs

1. What are the root causes of addiction?

The root causes of addiction are biological (i.e. genetic make-up), neurological, environmental, social, and are also, often, linked to trauma.

2. How is addiction a brain disease rather than a choice?

Psychoactive substances create changes in the brain that alter thoughts, impulse control, and behaviours so that unhealthy habits form and are increasingly difficult to break.

3. Can a person stop being addicted to alcohol or drugs?

Yes, a person can break an addiction. It takes a holistic approach including professional and medical approaches, to reach sobriety and effectively manage the condition