Addiction: Drug addiction

Drug addiction , also called substance use disorder, is a disease that affects a person's brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medicine. Substances such as alcohol, marijuana and nicotine also are considered drugs. When you're addicted, you may ... Addiction or substance abuse is a complex brain disease. A person with an addiction experiences cravings that persist even in the face of extremely negative consequences. During a craving, a person with an addiction misses the habit-forming drug terribly, and often he or she experiences symptoms of withdrawal. Evidence strongly suggests that genetic susceptibilities and biological traits play a role in addictions; however, the development of an addiction is also shaped by a person's ... Addiction is a complex condition that involves compulsive use of substances or behaviors despite harmful consequences. Learn about the neurobiological, psychological, and environmental factors that contribute to addiction , and the different paths to recovery.