Addiction
Category
📚
LearningTranscript
00:00I don't know, they think it's cool or something?
00:17Dear Tim and Moby, what is addiction?
00:20From KJ.
00:22An addiction is defined as the inability to stop a behavior, no matter how harmful or
00:26dangerous it may be.
00:29The behavior can be anything from risk-taking to playing video games, but addiction usually
00:33refers to a dependence on drugs or alcohol.
00:38A drug is really any substance that affects the functions of your body.
00:43Prescription drugs are used by doctors to fight diseases and relieve pain.
00:48Even those can be abused, but there are drugs that are made to be abused.
00:52We've heard about these, marijuana or pot, cocaine, heroin, crack, ecstasy, and so on.
00:59Like prescription drugs, these drugs change the way your body operates.
01:03The results can be unpredictable, dangerous, and addictive.
01:07If a drug is physically addictive, it means two things.
01:12First of all, people who keep using that drug will need more and more of it to get the same
01:16effect.
01:17This is called building tolerance.
01:20And second, suddenly stopping the drug will lead to unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
01:25Well, in less dangerous drugs like caffeine, those symptoms might just be headaches, irritability,
01:32and trouble sleeping.
01:33But in harder drugs like opiates, withdrawal can lead to serious fevers, muscle spasms,
01:39vomiting, and in severe cases, even death.
01:43Most drugs that are physically addictive are psychologically addictive, too.
01:46That means they're hard to quit because they make the user feel good.
01:50Even if someone is only psychologically addicted to a drug, it can be just as hard for them
01:54to stop using it.
01:56Any drug addiction can really mess with your life.
01:59Well, any time you take a drug just for fun, it's called substance abuse.
02:05Substance abuse becomes addiction when you abuse the drug not because you want to, but
02:10because you're dependent on it.
02:12Addicts feel they have no choice in abusing a drug.
02:15They'll often lie or steal to get it.
02:18Their whole lives end up revolving around getting high.
02:21And besides all the health risks you take from abusing drugs, they mess up other parts
02:25of your life, too.
02:27Addicts have trouble thinking clearly and making good decisions, and that affects their
02:31performance in school, sports, relationships, and just about everything they do.
02:37Fortunately, there are warning signs you can look for if you suspect someone you care about
02:42is addicted to drugs or alcohol.
02:45These include mood swings, withdrawal from family and friends, changes in weight, trouble
02:50with schoolwork, and loss of interest in hobbies or other activities.
02:54If you, a friend, or a family member have a substance abuse problem, you should definitely
02:58talk about it with an adult you trust.
03:01Me?
03:02What do you mean?
03:05My comic book collection?
03:08That's not an addiction.
03:09I can stop whenever I want.