for Drug Abuse and Dependence
An individual's
initiation of drug use is obviously not due to a person's desire to feel
miserable when the drug is absent. The individual begins drug use
because he or she wants to feel good, escape bad feelings, or perhaps for
other social reasons. Due to psychological reinforcement of the addict's
behavior, it is extremely difficult to change, to the point where addiction
can be seen as permanent.
Certain psychological
explanations can be made for a person's eventual addiction, which can be
independent of physical dependence. Positive
and negative reinforcement, along
with classical conditioning are
additional reasons for an individual's addiction.
Sustaining drug
use is not always dependent on the individual's fear of the consequences
of withdrawl. Heroin addicts often become re-addicted (between 56
and 77% in one case study), even after the physical withdrawl symptoms
have been defeated through abstinence. Individuals may perpetuate their
abuse of a drug because they crave the pleasurable effects of the drug,
or because they feel that they need it in order to function.
Please visit the following the links
to explore this topic:
Positive
Reinforcement
Negative
Reinforcement
Classical
Conditioning
For further information on this topic please follow the following links: