The Psychology of Addiction

Many people falsely consider addiction a personal issue, a problem of an individual lacking the willpower to stop misusing the addictive substance or activity. This is far from the truth.  

The truth is this: addiction is a chronic and complex condition.  

What is substance misuse? Why is it important to understand the psychological impact of addiction? 

The term “addiction” is often integrated into everyday conversation, with mentions of “chocolate addicts”, “workaholics” and the like. In reality, addiction is a serious and complicated condition that may have harmful consequences. To fully understand addiction, we must first define it.  

The Canadian Mental Health Association defines addiction as the following: “...a complex process where problematic patterns of substance use or behaviours can interfere with a person’s life. Addiction can be broadly defined as a condition that leads to a compulsive engagement with stimuli, despite negative consequences.” 

Addictions can be substance related, like the misuse of drugs and/or alcohol, or behavioural, like gambling or Internet gaming. 

The term addiction is not how we make a proper diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. This manual is a commonly used guide for psychiatrists and psychologists when conducting psychological assessments and conveying psychological diagnosis. The manual describes a variety of substance use disorders, as well as two behavioural addictions.   

Addiction develops through the brain’s pleasure pathway. Over time, addiction alters the brain's circuitry, making it harder for people to control their urge for intense and rewarding experiences. 

When we repeatedly engage in pleasurable activities like using drugs or gambling, our brain cells adjust their connections to become more efficient at transmitting the signals related to those experiences. As a result, they become less responsive to other sources of rewards. Basically, the brain becomes stuck in its addictive patterns. 

These brain changes are a normal part of the brain's ability to adapt, known as neuroplasticity. Recovery from addiction also relies on neuroplasticity. When we change our behavior, we are rewiring our brain. 

What are the psychological factors that contribute to addiction? 

There are many factors that may cause addiction, including biological, cultural, social, environmental, situational and psychological elements. Addiction is complex and experienced differently by everyone who struggles with the condition. The journey to addiction isn’t along a single path and there is no single factor that determines that addiction is inevitable. People may become addicted because of a number of psychological factors, including:  

Mental health issues: Co-occurrring mental health conditions and substance misuse challenges are very common, with approximately 50 percent of Amercian individuals struggling with mental health issues, like anxiety or depression, also being impacted by substance misuse.  

Stress: Stressful life events, like work-related stress, distressing situations or trauma, and poor coping strategies may impact the risk of addiction. In fact, the feeling of stress relief may enhance the pleasure of the substance use.  

Under the umbrella of psychotherapy, many different types of therapy can be considered for substance misuse and behavioural addiction treatments. Some of the most common are: 

Cognitive-behavioural therapy: This may be the most common form of therapy for substance misuse treatment, as it aims to help individuals learn healthy strategies to address their cravings. 

Dialectal behaviour therapy: This type of treatment teaches four techniques to regulate feelings and cravings: mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness.  

Family therapy: This form of therapy involves the whole family in the recovery journey. 

Contingency management: This form of treatment encourages positive habits and rewards participants for staying away from the substances and activities they crave.  

While applying these practices is not required, they can help individuals develop effective ways to cope and create a strong support system, which can positively impact the recovery journey.   
 

How do we destigmatize substance misuse for effective treatment? 

Stigma is the negative beliefs and behaviours associated with a particular topic. When it comes to substance misuse and behaviour addiction, inaccurate assumptions and the use of derogatory terms like “junkie” or “user” perpetuates the stigma. This stigma may lead to an individual having trouble finding work or a place to live, or being misunderstood by others. 

The stigma may also decrease an individual's willingness to seek help and treatment.  

So, how can we help destigmatize addiction? Here are some tips:  

Don’t label people by their addiction: Avoid using terms like “he’s clean/dirty”, “junkie”, etc. Instead, use terms like “an individual struggling with substance misuse.”  

Educate yourself: The more we understand about addiction, the less likely we’ll be to look down upon those suffering from addiction. 

Understand that addiction can impact everyone: It doesn’t matter how you grew up, where you work, or how much money you make, it’s possible for anyone to struggle with addiction.  

Treat addiction as a condition: Addiction is a medical and/or mental health condition and should be seen as such. Addiction is not a choice.  

Be a human: Those challenged by addiction need to be seen and treated like all other members of the community, with kindness and support. 

If you are living with addiction or know someone who is, the steps toward recovery are hard ones to make. If you’re ready to seek the support of a psychologist, let us help you find the right one. Visit askforhelptoday.ca today.