What Is Drug and Alcohol Addiction?
Addiction—also known as substance use disorder (SUD)—is a chronic condition involving the compulsive use of drugs, alcohol, and/or prescription medications, despite harmful consequences. Over time, repeated substance use alters the brain’s reward system, making it difficult to feel pleasure without the substance. This neurological disruption is a major factor in why people become addicted, struggle to quit, and often relapse. Substance abuse damages health, destroys relationships, hinders success at work or school, and increases the risk of serious medical conditions and death. Alarmingly, more than 130 Americans lose their lives each day to opioid overdoses.
Who Struggles With Addiction?
Addiction doesn’t discriminate—it can affect anyone, including friends, family members, neighbors, coworkers, or healthcare professionals. If you or someone you care about is battling alcohol or drug dependency, you are not alone. The latest data reveals:
- Nearly 1 million adolescents (ages 12–17) struggle with substance use
- Over 5.1 million young adults (ages 18–25) are affected
- Around 13.6 million adults (ages 26 and older) live with addiction
- More than 1 million seniors (ages 65 and up) also face substance abuse issues
What Are the Core Symptoms of Addiction?
Addiction symptoms can affect every area of life—biologically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. Warning signs often include dramatic shifts in behavior, health, or moral decision-making. Learn more about the types of symptoms below.
What Causes Substance Use Issues?
Brain function plays a key role in the development of addiction. The way the brain responds to rewards and pleasure significantly influences addictive behavior. Genetics, early exposure to substances, and environmental influences also increase susceptibility. For instance, individuals with a family history of addiction are at greater risk. Starting drug or alcohol use during adolescence further elevates the chances of developing a substance use disorder.
Addiction frequently co-occurs with other mental health conditions, including:
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- ADD/ADHD
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Warning Signs of Drug and Alcohol Addiction
If you’re wondering whether you or someone else may have an addiction, look out for these common warning signs across four major areas:
Biological Signs & Symptoms
- Sudden shifts in energy levels or physical activity
- Noticeable weight gain or loss
- Poor hygiene or self-care
- Bloodshot, watery, or glassy eyes
- Irregular sleep or eating habits
- Experiencing hangovers or frequent nausea
- Memory blackouts while under the influence
- Needing more of the substance to feel its effects
- Withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit
Psychological Signs & Symptoms
Becoming defensive when questioned about substance use
Guilt or shame related to drinking or drug habits
Feeling anxious, moody, or depressed without the substance
Using drugs or alcohol to cope with stress or sadness
Preoccupation with the next opportunity to use
Feeling trapped or helpless to change your behavior
Spiritual Signs & Symptoms
Breaking personal or workplace rules and boundaries
Lying or being deceitful
Stealing to support the addiction
Hiding substance use from loved ones
Making excuses and failing to follow through on commitments
6 Types of Addicts
Not all individuals struggling with addiction are the same. Through extensive brain imaging research, six distinct brain patterns have been identified that are commonly associated with different types of addiction.
This type is characterized by obsessive thinking patterns and difficulty shifting focus. Individuals may fixate on drug or alcohol use and struggle to break repetitive behavior cycles. They often become stuck on specific thoughts or routines, with limited ability to see alternatives. Brain SPECT scans typically show heightened activity in the anterior cingulate gyrus, often linked to low serotonin levels.
Impulsive addicts struggle with self-control and may act on urges despite having strong intentions to quit. The most common brain imaging finding is reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which plays a key role in decision-making, focus, and impulse regulation. Low dopamine levels are often involved. This type is frequently associated with ADD/ADHD and is more commonly observed in males.
This group exhibits both impulsive and compulsive tendencies. SPECT scans reveal decreased activity in the PFC (linked to impulsivity and low dopamine) alongside increased activity in the anterior cingulate gyrus (associated with compulsive behaviors and low serotonin). This dual pattern is often found in individuals with a family history of alcohol addiction, particularly in children and grandchildren of alcoholics.
These individuals often turn to substances like alcohol, marijuana, or prescription painkillers to manage feelings of sadness, loneliness, or emotional emptiness. This pattern is more frequently seen in women. Brain scans commonly show elevated activity in the deep limbic system (linked to mood regulation) and reduced function in the PFC.
People in this category typically use substances such as alcohol, cannabis, pain relievers, or sleep aids to calm chronic anxiety, worry, or tension. Physical symptoms like headaches, muscle stiffness, upset stomach, and rapid heartbeat are common. These individuals often fear the worst and may be socially withdrawn or easily startled. SPECT imaging often reveals overactivity in the basal ganglia, typically related to low GABA levels. This type is also more common in women.
This type is linked to issues with memory, mood regulation, and emotional outbursts. Abnormal activity in the temporal lobes may be due to past head trauma, infections, oxygen deprivation, environmental exposure (like toxic mold), or inherited conditions. Brain scans generally show reduced function in the temporal lobes, although in some cases, overactivity is observed.