1. Addictions and Effects 1
Running Head: ADDICTIONS AND EFFECTS
Addictions and Effects: Effects of Addictions on People
Breanna Lopez
Welby New Technology High School

2. Abstract
Addictions are something that effect people everyday. Every time you walk down the
street, go into your local Wal-Mart, there is sure to be someone for when addiction has
met them some time in their life. Addictions aren’t pretty, easy or make your life easier in
any way possible. They come with strings attached, and if anything, complicate things.
Addictions can be anything from meth to crack to even food. But they are all very hard to
break, some harder than others.

3. Addictions and Effects 3
Addictions and Effects: Effects of Addictions on People
Addictions cause the body to become dependent on a substance. It stops the body
from functioning normally. Without that substance in it, and makes you become
dependent on it. It’s basically having an obsession over something and you can’t control
it. Theirs is no limit when it comes to addictions. There are many different things that
people can become addicted to. It can range from alcohol and drugs such as crack, coke,
meth, heroin, LSD and mushrooms. Even food, video games, gambling, sex, internet and
shopping can become addictions. Anything that you obsess or loose control over can
become an addiction. Nicotine is the most addictive drug to date. It contains stimulate
which is the cause of why people become dependent/addicted to cigarettes and have a
hard time quitting. Meth and crack are right behind nicotine, these three are the most
addictive drugs known to the human race. Meth has stimulants in it similar to adrenaline.
People usually get addicted to meth because it gives them a rush and allows them to stay
up longer and become more alert. When high on it you are happy, and it amplifies the
things that make you happy and you also find things more “pleasurable.” But the side
effects and coming off of it are far worse and not worth the feeling of the high. Crack is a
lot more addictive when it is smoked; it gives a much better and faster high. It allows
your brain to release dopamine, which makes you think you are having fun.
Symptoms or side effects always come along with any addiction. The typical
symptoms for drug abuse are unable to meet your typical responsibilities. Such as not
going to work on time or going at all, or school. Feeling like you need the drug constantly
is another symptom, someone with an addiction can’t go the whole day without wanting
or needing whatever it is they are addicted to. Tolerance for the addiction becomes lower

4. and lower as the person continues to abuse it. When someone is addicted to something
they are hooked, and that is all they care about.
Usually someone will get addicted to something when they compulsively use it.
Most people think that they won’t be hooked on drugs the first time they try it, which is
far from the truth. Meth abusers, crack abusers and other drugs like that are hooked the
first time they try it. People get addicted because they loose control over their usage and
use it without really realizing it.
Sometimes someone will even claim that they have an addiction because of
something that happened to them in the past. Like if their parents didn’t care for them as
a child, or they are severely depressed and don’t have any motivation to live anymore.
There is evidence for a genetic link to addictions. It is said that hereditary accounts for
half the risk that a person will develop an addiction. Genes are a good clue to the theory
of addiction being hereditary. If it is in your family genes to have an addictive type of
personality, then you will too. The brain can cause someone addiction to become worse.
When someone takes a certain drug the brain will release things that make them feel
happy. So they chase after that feeling with whatever it is that they are addicted to. There
is really no type of person that is known to be more prone to addictions. Some people
might say that someone with an obsessive or perfectionist personality is the ones who get
addicted more frequently, but that isn’t a proven fact.
The effect of addictions on someone depends on how long they’ve been taking it,
how much, and the whole environment they are in. Some effects of stimulants are loss of
hunger; they become more alert, sleeping habits change, people will even become
paranoid and think that someone is after them or watching them, when really it is all in

5. Addictions and Effects 5
their mind. Alcohol makes someone feel relaxed and calm, and it impairs their mental
and physical functions. After someone is coming off drugs or alcohol they feel more
tired, they become panicked. Usually people will feel depressed after drugs or alcohol is
out of their body. Physically when people are on drugs they just let themselves go. They
don’t care to maintain a good personal appearance. Drug and alcohol abuse effect not
only the person themselves, but people around them also. Addictions can easily break up
a marriage, because the person with the addiction only cares about their addiction.
Someone with an addiction can loose friends, because they end up doing them over. They
loose trust with co-workers because they are no longer dependent. They loose everyone’s
trust because if the addiction is bad they will do everything in their power to feed that
addiction.
Of course there are cures for alcohol and drug problems. Most addicts just aren’t
strong enough to quit on their own, which is why there are programs and treatment
centers that are available for help with addictions. Therapy and medications are some of
the ways that doctors will try to cure someone’s addiction. Doctors don’t only try to cure
an addiction but they also try to have the person function more normally as they did
before the addiction. With any addiction comes with withdrawal. This is basically the
body coming off whatever it was that it was on. Since the body became dependent on it,
it needs it so it reacts. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms are nervousness, anxiety,
depression, fatigue, vomiting, black outs and other things. Drug withdrawal symptoms
are vomiting, seizures, mood swings and pains throughout the body. Addiction treatment
can be effective; it all just matters upon the person. If they continue to follow the steps
that they are given and live life right then it can be effective.

6. All in all addictions aren’t something that should be taken lightly. They can lead
to a complicated and a harmful life. They will chew you up and spit you out. Get help if
you or someone you know has an addiction.