Essay On Psychological Dependency

After examination the facts of an individual who has been using a drug for an extended period of time suddenly finds he is unable to secure more of the drug. The individual acts nervous and irritable and is hyperactive. They seem almost desperate to find more of the drug, but experience no sickness, pain, or other outward physical discomfort. Based upon the behavior this person is demonstrating they have developed a psychological dependence on a drug.

The psychological dependence may vary from person to person manifesting in different social and personal issues. In some individuals they suffer from mental health issues that develop into them being unable to cope with changes around them. These emotional issues are often times controlled with the use of drugs allowing the individual to self-medicate themselves to get a sense of well-being. With the continuous drug use the individual will develop drug dependency. The term “Chasing the high” is the euphoric feeling the

An example of both psychologically dependency and physically dependency on the drug is a person who used the drug heroin. The drug heroin, after being administered to the individual caused the body to release a massive amount of the chemical called dopamine to the brain. Dopamine affects the pleasure center of the brain and provides a euphoric feeling of reward. If the individual does not get the heroin, stops suddenly or goes too long between they may begin doses to experience symptoms of withdraw. These symptoms can be body chills, stomach cramps, convulsions, vomiting, insomnia, pain and hallucinations. Withdrawals can carry a significant risk of seizures “grand mal” resulting in strokes or a heart attack that could become fatal. At this point the individual using the drug heroin has become so dependent on the drug they will become sick without