• About
    • Insurance
    • Credentialing Partners
    • Admissions
    • Dual Diagnosis
    • Alumni Success Stories
    • Careers
  • Treatments
    • Inpatient / Detox
    • Partial Hospitalization Program
    • Intensive Outpatient Program
    • Transitional Housing
    • Family Program
    • Continuum Of Care
  • Resources
    • News & Events
    • Blog
    • Addictions
  • Gallery
  • Contact
  • Donate

Treat the whole person - body, mind, and spirit > CALL TODAY 314.631.4299

Harris HouseHarris House
  • About
    • Insurance
    • Credentialing Partners
    • Admissions
    • Dual Diagnosis
    • Alumni Success Stories
    • Careers
  • Treatments
    • Inpatient / Detox
    • Partial Hospitalization Program
    • Intensive Outpatient Program
    • Transitional Housing
    • Family Program
    • Continuum Of Care
  • Resources
    • News & Events
    • Blog
    • Addictions
  • Gallery
  • Contact
  • Donate

4 Ways Addicts Differ From Non-Addicts

October 16, 2017 Posted by grant Addiction, Brain, Physiological, Psychological
addicts differ from non-addicts

The brains of addicts differ from those of non-addicts.

When it comes to understanding addiction’s complex nature, addressing the “What is it?” question is only part of the equation. A question that also yields invaluable insights: “What makes addicts differ from non-addicts?” Read on for a roundup of four ways substance abusers differ from the rest of us.

1. Addicts are more susceptible to addiction.

Using drugs and alcohol is a choice; however, some people are more vulnerable than others to making the choice to use and then succumbing to the cycle of abuse. Consider the results of a Johns Hopkins study tracing nicotine addiction. Their findings, as reported by PsychCentral: 

“There are definitely some people who are nicotine choosers and there are probably genetic or metabolic vulnerabilities that make people fall into one group or the other.” 

But the inclination to abuse isn’t limited to nicotine and biology. Environmental factors also come into play, including trouble at home, school, and work, which can make people turn to drugs and alcohol to take their minds off their problems. In other words, while no one sets out to become an addict, some people are more predisposed to using—and becoming addicted to—drugs than others.

2. Addicts’ brains are different. 

Drugs impact the brain by producing euphoric effects that motivate users to use again. Explains the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA):

“Our brains are wired to ensure that we will repeat life-sustaining activities by associating those activities with pleasure or reward. Whenever this reward circuit is activated, the brain notes that something important is happening that needs to be remembered, and teaches us to do it again and again without thinking about it. Because drugs of abuse stimulate the same circuit, we learn to abuse drugs in the same way.”

And the connection between drug abuse and the brain doesn’t end there. Continues NIDA,

“We know that the same sort of mechanisms involved in the development of tolerance can eventually lead to profound changes in neurons and brain circuits, with the potential to severely compromise the long-term health of the brain. For example, glutamate is another neurotransmitter that influences the reward circuit and the ability to learn. When the optimal concentration of glutamate is altered by drug abuse, the brain attempts to compensate for this change, which can cause impairment in cognitive function.”

3. Addicts are surrounded by temptation.

It seems simple to the rest of us. Just as drug addicts can choose to use, so can they choose to stop using; however, this is much harder than it sounds—particularly when you consider the temptation that surrounds them.

In fact, this temptation is as biological as it is psychological. Explains NIDA,

“Long-term drug abuse can trigger adaptations in habit or nonconscious memory systems. Conditioning is one example of this type of learning, in which cues in a person’s daily routine or environment become associated with the drug experience and can trigger uncontrollable cravings whenever the person is exposed to these cues, even if the drug itself is not available. This learned “reflex” is extremely durable and can affect a person who once used drugs even after many years of abstinence.” 

The takeaway? Addicts remain in danger of relapse, even well into their addiction recovery.

What is addiction

Understanding addiction brings families closer together.

4. Addicts live in a state of denial.

While we all have blind spots in our own lives, most people’s lives are rooted in truth. Conversely, addicts differ in that their entire lives are constructed around the lie that they don’t have a problem. Not only does this perpetuate the cycle of addiction, but it can also have an isolating effect as substance abusers attempt to hide their activities from the people around them.

The exception to this rule? Enablers of addicts are also in denial and may tell themselves that their loved ones are in control of their drug use, even though they clearly are not.

An addict’s behaviors can be difficult for others to understand. Unfortunately, this can widen the gap between addicts and their loved ones. Identifying and acknowledging these differences, however, can bridge the chasm and help support people with substance abuse problems on their lifelong journeys to sobriety.

We’re Here to Help

Contact us today to learn how Harris House can help addicts break the seemingly impossible cycle of addiction.

Tags: AddictionAddicts differ
Share
0

About grant

This author hasn't written their bio yet.
grant has contributed 289 entries to our website, so far.View entries by grant

    You also might be interested in

    Avoid Relapse During Addiction Recovery

    Jun 7, 2016

    There are steps you can take to avoid the physical[...]

    9 Signs Your Loved One May Be An Addict

    Jul 30, 2016

    When you picture a drug addict or alcoholic, what comes[...]

    Expert Interview Series: Dr. John McMahon of Bottled Up on Navigating Your Partner’s Addiction

    Oct 6, 2016

    Dr. John McMahon, co-founder of Bottled Up, is an expert[...]

    Recent Posts

    • A Guide to Inpatient Alcohol Rehab Centers
    • What to Look for When Searching for the Right Rehab Facilities in St. Louis
    • The Benefits of a Holistic Inpatient Rehab for Alcohol Addiction – The Solution You’ve Been Searching For
    • What to Expect from Your 28-Day Residential Treatment Program
    • The Difference Between Intensive Inpatient Therapy (24-Hour Drug Rehab Centers) and Other Facilities

    Insurance Providers

    Substance use insurance coverage and benefits can be multifaceted and will vary with the different insurance companies and plans. The Harris House Insurance Department has experience working with insurance providers to get our clients the maximum benefits possible. Let our staff do the work for you. LEARN MORE

    Insurance Providers Insurance Providers Insurance Providers

    Credentialing Partners

    Harris House is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF International). Harris House is also certified by the Missouri Department of Mental Health, approved by the Better Business Bureau as an A+ accredited charity and a proud member of United Way of Greater St. Louis. LEARN MORE

    DMH Carf BBB United Way

    Contact Us

    Let your recovery begin

    We're here to help.

    Please reach out with any questions

    CONTACT US

    314-631-4299

    • About
      • Insurance
      • Credentialing Partners
      • Admissions
      • Dual Diagnosis
      • Alumni Success Stories
      • Careers
    • Treatments
      • Inpatient / Detox
      • Partial Hospitalization Program
      • Intensive Outpatient Program
      • Transitional Housing
      • Family Program
      • Continuum Of Care
    • Resources
      • News & Events
      • Blog
      • Addictions
    • Gallery
    • Contact
    • Donate

    Treat the whole person - body, mind, and spirit > CALL TODAY 314.631.4299

    Harris HouseHarris House
    • About
      • Insurance
      • Credentialing Partners
      • Admissions
      • Dual Diagnosis
      • Alumni Success Stories
      • Careers
    • Treatments
      • Inpatient / Detox
      • Partial Hospitalization Program
      • Intensive Outpatient Program
      • Transitional Housing
      • Family Program
      • Continuum Of Care
    • Resources
      • News & Events
      • Blog
      • Addictions
    • Gallery
    • Contact
    • Donate
    About Us
    Treatments
    Resources
    Gallery
    Contact Us
    Donate

    For individuals struggling with addiction to alcohol and drugs, Harris House helps people achieve sobriety and become healthy and productive individuals. Since our founding in 1961, Harris House has grown to become a top-rated non-profit treatment center.

    CALL US TODAY

    314-631-4299

    2706 S. River Rd
    St. Charles, MO 63303

    8315 South Broadway
    St. Louis, MO 63111

    © 2023 HARRIS HOUSE FOUNDATION.

    Prev Next