9 Fundamental Questions and Answers About Addictive Behaviors

Addictions make up a set of very diverse pathologies, in which we find both some that are based on consuming psychoactive substances, and others that arise without the need to introduce substances into our body.

But despite health problems being very present in our society, at a popular level not everyone knows the fundamentals about them, and that is why many myths circulate about these alterations.

To make this topic more accessible, we have developed a series of questions and answers about addictive behaviors and everything that surrounds these pathologies

Questions and answers to know the fundamentals about addictive behaviors

These are some questions that will help you understand what addictive behaviors consist of.

1. Can everyone be addicted?

Virtually all human beings can develop addictions, given that these pathologies are based on psychological and physiological mechanisms that are already present in practically all healthy people. That is, addictions work on neural and hormonal circuits typical of the average human body.

Although it is true that, as in practically any psychological or biological characteristic, There are individuals especially exposed to the risk of easily developing addictions and others who would have a harder time developing a problem of this type (taking as a reference what happens in the majority of human beings when they initiate behaviors that can generate dependency).

2. Is any action that we feel like repeating over and over again an addiction?

No, there are many actions that can be considered routines or habits and that, even if they are harmful to us, cannot be considered addictions.

For a pattern of behavior to be considered part of a clinical picture of addiction a series of specific characteristics must be given Among them, the loss of control over day-to-day life because that aspect of our life begins to eclipse everything else, and the need to get more and more involved in these actions to “get satisfied.”

3. What percentage of the population has addiction problems?

It is estimated that around 2% of the population suffers from one or more addictions The countries most affected by this health problem taking into account their population are Russia and Eastern Europe and the United States of America, although it must also be taken into account that there are several ethnic minorities in which drugs have had a special impact, such as indigenous Australians and North America.

4. Do addictions arise in the brain?

Yes and no. It is undeniable that without taking into account what happens in the brain of people who suffer from addiction, it is impossible to fully understand what is behind these pathologies, but It is also true that addictions are not limited to being a neurobiological fact

In fact, context is so important in the development of an addiction that the simple act of moving to a totally different place is a factor that, in itself, can end addictive-type problems at the root. And in the same way, if behavioral and contextual matters did not matter, the only remedy for addiction cases would be medical, and the reality is not like that, given that psychotherapy is also effective in treating these health complications.

5. Are all drugs addictive?

Technically, Not all substances that are considered drugs have the capacity to give rise to chemical addictions, that is, those whose existence is based above all on the way in which its molecule interacts with our nerve cells. For example, hallucinogenic mushrooms tend not to cause addiction, although they still have the ability to damage our nervous system, and caffeine is not addictive either.

On the other hand, we cannot forget that the medical field is full of substances that are drugs (having psychoactive effects) and that at the same time do not generate addictions, a fact that contributes to them being little known at a popular level.

6. What is the most consumed drug?

If we take into account all drugs in general, both legal and illegal, the most consumed substance of this type is alcohol. However, If we focus on illegal drugs (or, at least, those that are prohibited in most countries), cannabis is the most used followed by cocaine.

Of course, we must keep in mind that the popularity of different illegal drugs varies greatly depending on the demographic and socioeconomic group on which we focus. For example, cannabis is much more popular among young people.

7. What are the main addictions based on behaviors, and not substances?

The main addictions that occur without the need to consume psychoactive substances are two: pathological gambling (also popularly known as gambling addiction), and video game addiction Both have experienced a boom with the development of new technologies linked to the Internet, since their reach has increased and they make it possible to develop addictions without leaving home.

8. Do addictions compete with each other?

No, the fact of having developed an action does not make us immune to developing more; On the contrary, those who have already begun to establish a relationship of dependence with a psychoactive substance or with a pattern of behavior with addictive potential, are more likely to start developing other addictions Among other things, because they undergo many moments in which they must manage the frustration of not being able to have immediate access to the substance they feel they need to consume, or to the context in which they can perform the action “that their body asks of them” ( bet in a casino, play online video games, etc.).

9. Is it possible to completely cure an addiction?

Health professionals make it easier for people with addictions to put an end to the spiral of self-destruction to which addictions subject them, reaching a moment in which they can lead a practically normal life. However, there is a part of the addiction that remains latent, so They should take special measures to prevent relapses for the rest of their lives, although although it requires some effort in the first months, there comes a point at which this is neither a significant problem nor a perceived sacrifice.