Addiction
What is addiction?
According to UK charity Action on Addiction, 1 in 3 people are addicted to something. Addiction is a complex brain disease where a person compulsively needs to use or take something that has a harmful consequence. Their intense focus on using a substance can take over their life even if they know that their constant use of a drug or alcohol, for example, can cause problems.
Changes in the brain's wiring are what make it difficult for a person to stop using or craving the substance that they are addicted to.
What can people be addicted to?
Besides addiction to toxic substances, such as alcohol and drugs, there are addictions of other types, such as:
- Food
- Cigarettes
- Sex (nymphomania)
- Gambling
- Exercise (bigorexia)
- New technologies (technophilia)
- Mobile phone use (nomophobia)
- Social media
For each individual case, professionals decide on the best treatment, depending on the patient's symptoms and the degree of their addiction.
What are the symptoms of addiction?
The symptoms of addiction can be broken down into three categories:
Psychological symptoms
- The inability to stop using
- Continual use of substances despite other health concerns
- Taking drugs or alcohol to deal with problems
- Obsessed with a substance
- Risk-taking or reckless behaviour - using sex to pay for drugs or stealing, or driving whilst under the influence
- Developing a tolerance and needing to take a higher dosage
Social symptoms
- Social isolation or distancing from friends who don't engage in drugs or alcohol
- Dropping hobbies
- Selling homely possessions in order to keep up drug supplies
- Denial
- Legal issues, such as being arrested
- Financial trouble
Physical symptoms
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Appetite changes, which leads to weight loss or gain
- Diseases, such as lung cancer from smoking hard drugs like crack or heavy nicotine use
- Insomnia
- A change in appearance.
What causes addictions?
Addiction can occur if someone is using drugs or alcohol to self-medicate any psychological pain felt from any traumatic experiences, such as a divorce, the death of a loved one or facing bankruptcy.
Because drugs and alcohol can affect the way that you feel and make you feel enjoyable and relaxed but after you 'come down' from these effects you can be left needing to recreate those feelings again, which creates a vicious cycle of taking more.
In cases of gambling, having a huge win can leave you feeling 'high' and that you want to win more, which can soon develop into a bad habit. An addiction gets out of hand when someone wants to continuously chase that high and feeling of euphoria.
How can someone get help for an addiction?
Addiction is a treatable condition and can be reversed. You can visit your GP for recommendations. There are many services across the UK that help people to recover from addiction. You can also speak to the Samaritans for free on 116 123 for advice.
If you are admitted to a treatment program, you might stay as an inpatient in a rehabilitation centre. If you are an outpatient you may attend daily group and individual therapy sessions.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (talking therapy) is used to help overcome addiction.
Specialists can help you to detox from drugs and provide medicines to help, such as methadone for someone who is coming off of heroin.


Opioid addiction: what are the signs of dependency and how is it treated?
By Dr Oscar D’Agnone
2021-02-28
It can be scary to admit that you or your loved one has an addiction to painkillers. Dr Oscar D'Agnone is the Medical Director of The OAD Clinic in London and here he shares the signs of opioid dependency and gives an insight into the specialised treatment that he uses to help someone with an addiction. See more


Is it easy to become addicted to opioid painkillers when living in chronic pain?
By Dr Oscar D’Agnone
2021-02-27
Pain is a common symptom that some people may have to live with every day. But medicating chronic pain in conditions such as arthritis, migraines and fibromyalgia, could be a slippery slope for some who may rely on these pain relievers, such as opioids, too much. Here, one of our top psychiatrist Dr Oscar D'Agnone explains how it's so easy to become addicted to painkillers. See more


How to overcome and avoid addiction in the COVID-19 pandemic
By Dr Richard Bowskill
2021-02-25
Many people are developing an addiction as a result of the pandemic. Dr Bowskill spells out why this is happening and how to identify addiction in yourself, friends and family. He also explains how addiction can be overcome. See more


Addiction counselling: using talk therapy to treat alcoholism
By Dr Oscar D’Agnone
2021-02-21
Recovering from alcoholism is a journey, and for many, a lifetime commitment. Alcohol addiction counselling can guide you along that road to recovery by giving you a safe space to speak to a specialist allowing you to be more aware of your problem and gain control of your addiction. Leading London psychiatrist, Dr Oscar D'Agnone, describes what happens when you attend a typical counselling session. See more
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Dr Lars Davidsson
PsychiatryExpert in:
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Dr Oscar D’Agnone
PsychiatryExpert in:
- Addiction
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Dr Raman Sakhuja
PsychiatryExpert in:
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Dr Ashutosh Kaushal
PsychiatryExpert in:
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The OAD Clinic
The OAD Clinic
25A Eccleston Street, Belgravia, SW1W 9NP
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Anglo European Clinic
Anglo European Clinic
2 Harley Street W1G 9PA
No existe teléfono en el centro.
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The OAD Clinic
25A Eccleston Street, Belgravia, SW1W 9NP, Central LondonExpert in:
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Alcohol-related problems
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
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Anglo European Clinic
2 Harley Street W1G 9PA, W1G Marylebone LondonExpert in:
- ADHD
- Anxiety
- Depression
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