What is addiction?

Addiction is a complex, and understanding its markers is the first step toward unraveling its grip.

🔍 Beyond Repeated Use:
Repeated use alone doesn’t define addiction. It’s when the ability to control use crumbles, impacting daily life and functioning—whether at school, work, or home.

🕰️ Time Devotion:
Addiction demands time, a significant chunk of it. Whether obtaining, using, or recovering from its effects, the substance or behavior becomes an all-consuming presence.

💭 The Overpowering Craving:
Craving takes center stage, reaching intensity that eclipses all other thoughts. In places tied to past use, the mind becomes a captive audience to the insatiable desire.

🚨 Risk and Consequences:
The peril of addiction extends to hazardous situations and the development of physical or psychological problems.

📈 Tolerance and Withdrawal:
As the journey into addiction unfolds, tolerance grows—demanding increased amounts for the same effect. Withdrawal, on the other hand, introduces a storm of distress after abruptly halting the substance.

If you are experiencing addiction, reach out to a primary care provider