Scientific Foundations of Health
Module- 4
Avoiding risk and harmful habits.
Presented by
Dr. Shwetha H J
Faculty
Department of Biotechnology
B.M.S. College of Engineering
Characteristics of health compromising behaviors
Occur gradually:
▪ Individuals are exposed to, becomes susceptible to the behaviour, experiments with it, and later engages in its regular use
▪ Not acquired at once, through a process may make different interventions important at the different stages of vulnerability,
experimentation, and regular use
Substance of all kinds is predicted by some of the same factors
▪ High level of conflict with parents
▪ Poor self-control
▪ Might be coping mechanisms to manage a stressful life
Common profile of those who engage in substance abuse
▪ Penchant for deviant behaviour, with low self-esteem, and with problematic
family relationships often show higher levels of these behaviours
▪ Poor school performance, family problems, deviance, difficult temperament
DIFFERENT STAGES OF ADDICTIONS
STAGE 1: Experimentation- The voluntary use of drugs without experiencing any negative social or legal consequences
STAGE 2: Regular Use- Substance use just becomes another part of the routine.
STAGE 3: High-Risk Use- Takes precedence over other facets of your life.
STAGE 4: Addiction Final stage-complete dependency upon the substance When addicts don’t receive them, their body
lets them know in the form of symptoms like shakes, sweats, tremors, and other frantic behaviours.
Recognizing and avoiding of addictions
ADDICTIONS - Addiction is the inability to Stop using a substance or engaging in a behaviour even though it is causing
psychological and physical harm.
Addiction and misuse are different- Misuse refers to the misuse of a substance at high doses or in inappropriate situations
that could lead to health and social problems.
However, not everybody who misuses a substance has addiction. Addiction is “fact or condition of being addicted to a
particular substance, thing, or activity.”
TYPES OF ADDICTIONS
Physical Addictions: These are addictions to substances that are
ingested or otherwise put into a person’s body:
● Alcohol ● Tobacco ● Opioids ● Prescription drugs ● Cocaine
● Marijuana ● Amphetamines ● Hallucinogens ● Inhalants ● PCP
Behavioural Addictions:
Behavioral addiction is classified as any time that one loses control of their actions in order to engage in behaviors that
result in brief feelings of happiness.
● Food Addiction ● Internet Addiction ● Pornography Addiction ● Using computers and/or cell phones
● Video Game Addiction ● Work Addiction ● Exercise Addiction ● Spiritual obsession (not to be confused with religious
devotion) ● Shopping ● Gambling
Recognizing an addiction:
The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) defines addiction as a chronic disease that affects the brain’s reward,
motivation, and memory functions. Someone with an addiction will crave a substance or other behavioural habits.
General signs of addiction are:
▪ lack of control, or inability to stay away from a substance or behaviour
▪ decreased socialization, like abandoning commitments or ignoring relationships
▪ ignoring risk factors, like sharing needles despite potential consequences
▪ physical effects, like withdrawal symptoms or needing higher dosage for effect
▪ Ignoring other areas of life to fulfil or support their desires.
Dealing with addiction
Initially, people may feel that addiction is a myth and they can quit any time they want.
This can also occur with substance abuse and behavioural addictions.
Making any kind of change involves a process that starts with
pre-contemplation and moves into contemplation.
Once one makes that decision to change, they begin the process of preparing to take action.
How to avoid addiction
1) Avoid Temptation and Peer Pressure
2) Seek help for mental illness
3) Examine the risk factors
4) Keep a well-balanced life
How addiction develops and addictive behaviors
▪ Drugs use is often voluntary in the first instance .
▪ The development of a full addiction occurs through a variety of circumstances.
▪ A person whose brains reward circuitry has not altered as a result of addiction experiences positive feelings in relation to
generally rewarding behaviour, such as exercising , being with family , or consuming delicious food.
▪ However, the brain changes during a substance related disorder can take a long time to bring back to a healthy state.
▪ This might motivate a person to repeat these behaviour and regain the positive feeling.
▪ Substances produce a euphoric feeling by triggering large amounts of dopamine in certain regions of the brain responsible
for the feeling of reward.
▪ Addiction occurs when the act of using a substance takes over these circuits and increases the urge to consume more and
more of the substance in order to achieve the same rewarding effect
▪ As a part of regularly consuming large amounts of a substance ,
the body may become accustomed to its effects and metabolize it
more efficiently.
▪ The person may require increased amounts of the substance to
achieve the same effect that smaller amounts of the substance
used to create.
▪ Substance related disorders also impact the area of the brain
responsible for emotions and decision making . Eventually
people end up taking a substance not to feel good , but to feel
“normal "by prevention of withdrawal symptoms
Influencing factors for addictions
•Genetics. Once you've started using a drug, the development into addiction may be influenced by inherited (genetic)
traits, which may delay or speed up the disease progression
•Mental health disorder. People with mental health disorder such as depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD) or post-traumatic stress disorder likely become addicted to drugs.
•Using drugs can become a way of coping with painful feelings, such as anxiety, depression and loneliness, and can make
these problems even worse.
•Peer pressure. Peer pressure is a strong factor in starting to use and misuse drugs, particularly for young people.
•Lack of family involvement. Difficult family situations or lack of a bond with your parents or siblings may increase the
risk of addiction, as can a lack of parental supervision.
•Early use: Using drugs at an early age can cause changes in the developing brain and increase the likelihood of
progressing to drug addiction.
•Environment. Environmental factors, including your family's beliefs and attitudes and exposure to a peer group that
encourages drug use, seem to play a role in initial drug use
Differences between addictive people and non addictive people and their behavior with society
Substance addiction
Addictive Non-Addictive
• Increases anxiety and tension. • No anxiety and tension.
• Nicotine creates an immediate sense of relaxation • Able to focus and be productive.
• Withdrawal symptoms and increased cravings • Better mental stability
• Cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, • Disease free
and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease • Risk of Disease is low
(COPD),tuberculosis. • No medical expenses
• Medical expenses is high • Stronger immune system
• Weaken immune system • Better productivity
Behavioral addiction
Addictive Non-addictive
• Loss of money • Financially stable
• Poor decision making because of greed. • Better decision making.
• Debts. • No debts
• Impaired family relationships • Happy family
• Stress • No stress
• In turn causes depression, ulcer etc., • No health issues
• Some cases death • Hence productivity
• Effects family status
