Addictions
Addiction is a condition in which the body must have a drug to avoid physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms. Addiction’s first stage is dependence, during which the search for a drug dominates an individual’s life. An addict eventually develops tolerance, which forces the person to consume larger and larger doses of the drug to get the same effect.
Adapted from the Encyclopedia of Psychology
What You Can Do
- Understanding How People Change is First Step in Changing Unhealthy Behavior
Stages-of-change research has been used to develop dozens of behavior change programs, including HIV prevention, to help people live longer, healthier lives.
Getting Help
- Find a Psychologist
- Have Your Children Had Their Anti-Smoking Shots?
Attitude Inoculation dramatically reduces teenage smoking rates.
News
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Digital addiction may damage your brain
January 13, 2012, CBS News
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Compulsive shopping: When spending is like substance abuse
December 19, 2011, CNN
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Genes may make quitting tougher for smokers
December 3, 2011, USA TODAY
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Why anything can be addictive
November 24, 2011, BBC News
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Alcoholics’ brains must work harder
November 18, 2011, Psych Central
Monitor on Psychology Articles
- Outing addiction
October 2011
- The danger of stimulants
October 2011
- Marijuana addiction a growing risk as society grows more tolerant
May 2011
- Kicking the national drug habit
December 2009
- Snuff out tobacco use
June 2009
Books
- Substance Abuse and Emotion
August 2009
- Addictive Behaviors
October 2008
- Preventing Youth Substance Abuse
August 2006
- Drug Abuse Treatment Through Collaboration
February 2003
