Without drug cravings, drug addictions would be lessened significantly. The craving obviously perpetuates the addiction and the abuse that occurs with drug use. Drug cravings can be physical or psychological. Physical drug cravings happen when a drug dependent person builds up their tolerance to a drug or drugs over time. Drug cravings, like other physical cravings, are taken as a symbol that the individual should give the body what it thinks it needs.
Drug cravings are very powerful and compel many people to use drugs. Even though the cravings may seem like they are uncontrollable, they can be controlled and one does not have to act upon such cravings. When a person is in a drug recovery program, they can learn to tolerate cravings and not act upon them. Then, many are in a good position to start taking back control of their lives.
If someone has never been addicted to drugs, it might be difficult to understand addictive cravings. To understand this, they might imagine that they have gone a very long time without eating. They are extremely hungry, even faint and weak. The hunger has been going on way too long and they can’t focus on anything else. When someone is that hungry, very often all they can do is think about and crave their favorite foods. They might even be able to smell and taste that succulent burger or steak, or the sharp, fresh taste of berries blended with sweet whipped cream.
If they get hungry enough, nothing can stop them from running to get food, especially if it were available. As soon as they consumed that wonderful food they’d been thinking about so passionately and craving, they’d feel completely satisfied. (narconon.org)
Drugs that are addictive activate the brain’s reward systems. The promise of reward is very intense, which in turn causes drug cravings. These intense drug cravings force the addict to focus his or her activities around taking the drug.
An addicted person experiencing drug cravings will feel like life itself is dependent on getting and consuming whatever substance is causing those cravings. They will feel justified in saying or doing whatever it takes to feel that satisfaction and relief. But that relief will only last until that drug starts to wear off, which might just be a few hours or might be a day.
“The more an individual use drugs and alcohol, the guiltier they will feel, and the more depressed they will become. They will sacrifice their personal integrity, relationships with friends and family, their job, their savings, and anything else they may have in an attempt to get more drugs to satisfy the intense drug cravings. The drugs are now the most important things in their life. Their relationships and job performance will go drastically downhill.” (drug-rehabs.org)
Drug cravings are very powerful and make it extremely difficult to overcome drug addiction.