Final answer:
Substance abusers often experience shame, euphoric recall, and relapse, regardless of their personality differences. Addiction involves both psychological and physical dependence, creating a cycle of increasing tolerance and withdrawal symptoms. Treatment for addiction aims to address these aspects holistically.
Step-by-step explanation:
Virtually all substance abusers experience a range of psychological and emotional challenges as a result of their addiction. While personality differences are vast, common experiences often center around emotions and behaviors such as shame, a sense of euphoric recall associated with drug use, and patterns of relapse. These experiences are emblematic of the complex nature of addiction, which encompasses both physical dependence and psychological dependence, along with tolerance and withdrawal symptoms. To manage and treat addiction, the condition must be approached as a holistic issue that affects both mind and body, encompassing all aspects from the biochemistry of the brain alterations to the socio-cultural stigma attached to drug use.
Psychological dependence is often highlighted by a craving for the drug and using it to relieve psychological distress, whereas physical dependence involves withdrawal symptoms upon cessation of use. Increasing tolerance leads to the need for more substance to achieve the same effects, which can escalate to overdose and death. Substance abuse treatment attempts to address these issues through various interventions, one example being the use of methadone to treat heroin addiction, substituting the illicit opioid with a legally prescribed medication to help manage withdrawal symptoms and decrease the risk of illegal drug use.