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What is addiction?

Addiction... your life gets off track. Drugs, alcohol, medicines or gambling, for example, become the main focus of your life. De Hoop considers addiction to be slavery. Addiction controls the addict. If you are addicted, you are not free to make your own choices. Addiction has several characteristics.

Dependence
The main characteristic of addiction is psychological dependence. You have a large irresistible craving to use a certain substance or show a certain behavior. Addiction can also involve physical dependence. If you discontinue use, you become ill. Using addictive substances does not always cause physical dependence.

Craving
Your craving for the substance determines your whole life. Your thoughts, emotions and actions are aimed at one thing: the desired substance. You spend a considerable amount of time and energy on obtaining it. You neglect your work as well as important social or recreational activities. You continue using despite the negative consequences.

Loosing control
Another characteristic of addiction is loosing control over the use or behavior. You are being controlled by the substance. You would do anything to obtain the substance as quickly as possible.

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Meer informatie

When are you addicted?
Before you can determine whether or not you are addicted, you have to know what addiction is.
How can you break with addiction?
It can be very difficult for you to stop using addictive substances. But change is also a possibility for you!
Alcohol
Alcohol is formed when yeast transforms the sugars in fruits into alcohol. Different kinds of grains can also be used for the production of alcohol.
Ecodrugs/mushrooms
Ecodrugs include all natural products with psychedelic effects. This involves plants and herbs with known hallucinogenic, sedative or stimulating effects.
Hashish
Hashish (stuff) is extracted from the hemp plant, which is also called cannabis sativa. Hashish is the resin of the hemp plant that is pressed in chunks and cut into little parts for sale.
Heroin
Heroin is an opioid (narcotic drug), which is extracted from the poppy plant. If you cut into the unripe seedpods of the poppy plant, you derive a milky substance.
LSD
LSD is manufactured from lysergic acid. It is usually eaten as a paper trip. It is also sold as small bright-coloured tablets. Just a small dose of LSD is sufficient to experience a trip.
Smartdrugs/smartproducts
Smartdrugs are often confused with smartproducts. Smartdrugs are medicines, however, that are prescribed to treat forgetfulness, dementia and epilepsy.
Speed
Speed or amphetamine is a chemically manufactured stimulant. Its effects are similar to the effects of cocaine but the effects last longer.
Tobacco
Tobacco consists of the dried and cut leaves of the tobacco plant. Tobacco that is being smoked usually consists of several kinds of tobacco, aromatic substances and flavourings
Weed
Weed is more commonly called marihuana. It is extracted from the hemp plant, also called cannabis sativa. Weed consists of the dried tops of the plant and usually has a green colour.
XTC (ecstasy)
XTC is a chemically manufactured drug, which is most commonly used during weekends and at parties. XTC does not only have a stimulant but also a mind-altering effect.
Gambling
In gambling, there are two core elements: money and chance.
Eating disorder
There are several kinds of eating disorders. Anorexia and bulimia nervosa are the most common ones.