Addiction is a neuropsychological disorder characterized by a persistent and intense urge to engage in certain behaviors, often the usage of a drug, despite substantial harm and other negative consequences. Repetitive drug use often alters brain function in ways that perpetuate craving and weakens (but does not completely negate) self-control.
This phenomenon – drugs reshaping brain function – has led to an understanding of addiction as a brain disorder with a complex variety of psychosocial as well as neurobiological (and thus involuntary)[a] factors that are implicated in addiction’s development. Classic signs of addiction include compulsive engagement in rewarding stimuli, preoccupation with substances or behavior, and continued use despite negative consequences.
Habits and patterns associated with addiction are typically characterized by immediate gratification (short-term reward), coupled with delayed deleterious effects (long-term costs).
Examples of drug and behavioral addictions include alcoholism, marijuana addiction, amphetamine addiction, cocaine addiction, nicotine addiction, opioid addiction, video game addiction, gambling addiction, pornography addiction, and sexual addiction.
The only behavioral addiction recognized by the DSM-5 and the ICD-10 is gambling addiction. With the introduction of the ICD-11 gaming, addiction was appended. The term “addiction” is frequently misused when referring to other compulsive behaviors or disorders, particularly dependence, in news media. An important distinction between drug addiction and dependence is that drug dependence is a disorder in which cessation of drug use results in an unpleasant state of withdrawal, which can lead to further drug use. Addiction is the compulsive use of a substance or the performance of a behavior that is independent of withdrawal. Addiction can occur in the absence of dependence, and dependence can occur in the absence of addiction, although the two often occur together.
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Care at Baja Rehab is personalized and focused. Founders Adam Lincoln, Jessica Shrader, and Ricardo Vega have implemented the most personal and therapeutic processes while achieving activities they have modeled based on years of recovery at the best treatment centers in the U.S. and in Mexico. The result is the clinical treatment of addiction that rivals the best centers in the world at a fraction of the cost. For that reason, we are a preferred destination for people who know someone that needs help, or who has experienced a relapse, so they can get their life back in an inexpensive and extremely effective program of recovery. Many have experienced a friend, a family member, or even themselves in a situation where they needed help and didn’t get it with the thought of high-cost private clinics, no insurance, or low-grade government-funded rehabilitation centers in the worst of conditions. We can help.
