Capítulo #14 Las Adicciones

Addictions: Addiction is a chronic disease that causes physical or psychological dependence on substances or behaviors. It creates a compulsive need to consume despite negative consequences, alters brain circuits linked to reward, motivation, and control, and sometimes the individual cannot stop consuming or engaging in the behavior on their own, requiring professional support. The body becomes accustomed to the dose, demanding more to feel the same effect, and physical or mental discomfort arises if the substance is not consumed. When we talk about addictions to a substance (excluding substances like alcohol and tobacco, since these are legal), I dare say there is a prejudice against these individuals in society, because they are seen as criminals or repulsive people. Anti-substance campaigns often portray addicts in a derogatory way, but we must look beyond this derogatory thinking and prejudice. Countries like Spain and Portugal have created campaigns against substance abuse, legalizing consumption, allowing possession of quantities that do not exceed personal use, and instead of treating addicts as criminals, the state provides support, offering psychological and medical assistance, recognizing addiction as a disease. Even the WHO defines it as an “alteration or deviation from the physiological state in one or more parts of the body, due to generally known causes, manifested by characteristic symptoms and signs, and whose evolution is more or less predictable.” We must pay the same attention to behavioral addictions because these addictions form more unconsciously. That's why it's difficult to identify addictive behavior, as it can involve most activities that might be considered everyday, such as sugar, gambling, food, video games, and even good habits like excessive exercise or a compulsive need to organize everything. That's why we must pay attention to whether this activity affects our dopaminergic system or if we are dedicating most of our time to it, because while any behavior can generate addiction, not every behavior becomes an addiction. Follow us on: Epifanía Podcast https://www.instagram.com/epifania_of... https://www.facebook.com/share/1EMQDN... https://www.tiktok.com/@epifania.podc... Ricardo Duran https://www.instagram.com/alamo_duran... https://www.facebook.com/share/1J3PFE... Ulises Flowers https://www.instagram.com/joseulises.... https://www.facebook.com/share/1EQBTh...