Addiction to Drugs, Video Games, and Caffeine

Addiction to Drugs, Video Games, and Caffeine

Elizabeth Salazar

Com/156 Version 6

April 21, 2013

Facilitator, Patrick Corbett

Abstract

Addiction to Drugs, Video Games, and Caffeine

Would it surprise you that anyone can become addicted to drugs, video games, and caffeine anytime of the day? When discussing addictions, most of us think of illegal substances, however, there are other things that one can become addicted to, such as caffeine and video games. When a person has an addiction, they lose touch with reality. They forget about the things that matter most, like family and work. This presentation will discuss three types of addictions: drugs, caffeine, and video games. I will also break down some of the underlying causes, and effects of addictions.

There are several reasons an individual makes a decision to use drugs. An individual turns to drugs because the loss of a job, loss of a home, loss of a sibling, poor health issues, social influence, and family issues Individuals become addicted because of the feeling (pleasure) they get from the drug. There is a negative outcome every time an individual does the drug (heroin) such as, stealing. Exposing yourself to the drug (heroin) causes an emotional imbalance. Becoming addicted to a drug such as, heroin is harmful to your health, for example it causes health disorders (Heyman, 2009, p. 119).

An addict does not think of doing other things other than using the drug (heroin). An addict priorities change they do not think of playing sports, swimming, and any curricular activity with their family. Using drugs affects the individual, for example the loss of their role in society, the loss of family, cause health issues, and the recovery process is extensive. If the individual is a role model, such as a teacher or someone you look up too, it will go against them if they chose to do drugs. Other examples of role models are doctors, firefighters, policemen, and judges. These individuals have a big influence on children, they look up to these role models and want to become just like them. (Heyman, 2009, p. 126) A parent who spends too much time playing video games instead of working is not a good role model.

There are individuals who play too many hours of video games and it starts to consume their whole day. Games such as EverQuest are addicting because it continues adding players to the game, and it becomes a never ending process. (Mileham, 2008, p. 131). Playing the EverQuest game for several hours releases dopamine levels, which make a person feel a sense of pleasure. (Mileham, 2008, p. 132). Playing video games is not as harmful compared to using drugs but there are still consequences in any kind of addiction. The consequences that can arise from playing to many hours of video games are there priorities changing, a loss of a relationship, and not working for a living. Video games influence the individual by continuing to play for hours. (Mileham, 2008, p. 135). Playing video games can affect the individual’s intellect, oppose to using drugs that affect your health. Video games help the person to become knowledgeable and well educated. (Mileham, 2008, p. 136). Playing too many hours of video games affects the priorities of the individual such as, affecting their work performance. When an individual begins to play video games from the moment they get home, until the next day, it starts to affect their work ethics in a negative way. (Mileham, 2008, p. 137).

Playing video games oppose to drinking caffeine does not affect the individual in the same way for example, the loss of a job will not be due to drinking too much caffeine. Using drugs does not compare to playing video games, and caffeine. Caffeine addiction does not compare to using serious narcotics addictions such as, heroin. (Braun, 1996, p. 174). On the contrary, drinking too much caffeine will help the individual by staying awake due to the strong feeling of continuing to drink several cups of coffee. The process of ceasing the coffee habit and playing video games compared to the cease of drugs differ in the affects, using drugs can cause health disorders, playing video games causes the loss of a relationship, drinking coffee causes headaches and stomach irritation. (Braun, 1996, p. 175). The addictions you form from drinking too much caffeine and playing too many hours of video games cannot compare to the addiction of using drugs, the recovery process in using drugs is extensive. Recovering from using a drug consists of, first to admit you are sick of it, ready for a change, and being admitted to a recovery facility. (Braun, 1996, p. 176). Caffeine and narcotics appeal to the individual in that they crave the taste but caffeine is not a competitive drug compared to (heroin). Braun, 1996, p. 176). Consuming coffee can become a habit, which can form an addiction. (Braun, 1996, p. 185). When you form the addiction of drinking coffee and you want to stop, it can cause a headache. Drinking coffee also causes your stomach to become irritated because of the acid in it. (Braun, 1996, p. 183).  Drinking too many cups of coffee can become an addiction but it will not drive you to steal, however being addicted to drugs can compel you to steal. Refraining from drinking to many cups of coffee does not affect the individual in the same way as playing video games because it does not cause headaches or your stomach to become irritated. (Braun, 1996, p. 182).