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Addiction doesn’t always involve drugs or alcohol. There are different types of addiction, including behaviors like gambling, sex, and even internet use. Both substance and behavioral addictions hijack your brain, making you dependent on them to feel happy or, sometimes, even just balanced.

Types of addictions

No one addiction is “worse” than another. Even if you don’t have to worry about withdrawal symptoms, your brain will still crave what’s making it satisfied—regardless of your financial situation, relationship issues, or overall well-being.

Substance addiction

• Substance use disorders (SUDs) might be the most well-known forms of addiction. There are many different types of addictive substances, including
• Alcohol
• Prescription drugs, including benzos and painkillers
• Illicit opioids, like heroin and fentanyl
• Cocaine
• Marijuana
• Meth

Drug or alcohol use doesn’t always start because of experimentation or recreational use. Sometimes, people turn to drugs or alcohol to escape or numb underlying mental health issues. Other times, they might become addicted to a substance after a medical treatment that had them take prescription drugs.

Behavioral addiction

Behavioral addictions can sometimes have a very simple origin. Perhaps you were in a casino with a friend, put down a random bet on a random table to pass the time, and you won. That sudden feeling of winning may have caused a chemical release in your body that you’d never felt before. To replicate that feeling, you then continue to gamble. But, as is almost always the case, the house comes out on top, which can lead to some serious monetary problems (which then will lead to job and family issues as well).

Addictive behaviors don’t start as an addiction but can spiral out of control. Even healthy behaviors can become addictive. These behaviors all have the potential to become compulsive and addictive:

• Eating
• Work (workaholism)
• Exercise (orthorexia)
• Gambling
• Shopping (shopaholism)
• Gaming
• Porn, sex, and/or love
• Internet and/or screens
• Social media

While behavioral addictions don’t necessarily have the same effect on someone’s physical health, they can certainly impact other areas of life.

What addiction does to the brain

No matter what type of addiction someone lives with, the mechanism is essentially the same. Substance use and addictive behaviors work by targeting the reward system in the brain. This floods the brain with feel-good chemicals, like dopamine and serotonin, which cause a sense of pleasure and reward. Soon, the brain causes cravings because it wants the same pleasurable feelings to happen again—the beginning of the addiction cycle.

The addiction cycle

• Tolerance: As the brain craves pleasure from the addiction, it takes more of that substance or behavior to achieve the same level of pleasure and satisfaction.
• Dependence: Over time, the brain learns that it doesn’t need to produce the chemicals that the addiction will produce. So, without substances or compulsive behaviors, it finds it hard to function properly.
• Cravings: To make up for the brain not feeling pleasure or satisfaction, it sends strong craving signals to drink, take drugs, or engage in compulsive behavior.
• Relapse/use: Compulsive use of substances or engaging in addictive behavior—in increasingly high doses—releases the same chemicals in the brain and relieves cravings, no matter what kind of consequences the addiction has on someone’s life.

While the life consequences depend on the type of addiction, many addiction disorders can cause a higher risk of infectious diseases, organ damage, and accidents. The addiction may lead to problems at home, work-related issues, and financial difficulties. While many people will realize that their habits are causing problems, they are unable to control their addiction.

Co-occurring SUD and behavioral addiction

Research shows that many people struggling with one form of addiction are likely to experience another. While some individuals may develop a single addictive behavior, a significant number report multiple co-occurring addictions, such as substance use combined with compulsive gambling, shopping, or gaming .

Studies have also found that those with co-occurring addictions tend to experience more severe consequences, including poorer mental health, increased financial strain, and greater difficulty maintaining relationships.

PCP, short for phencyclidine, was last used commercially in the U.S. in 1978. However, it’s still available illicitly, and people are still using the drug. While angel dust isn’t nearly as popular as it once was, the risks of using it at all are still just as real.

What is angel dust?

Phencyclidine is also known as “angel dust,” “boat,” “hog,” “embalming fluid,” and other names. It was initially developed as an anesthetic for surgery but has since been discontinued due to its severe side effects.

Angel dust is a powerful dissociative anesthetic that can make people who use it feel detached from their bodies. Because of the effects it has on the mind, the drug is classified as a hallucinogen. It’s classified as a Schedule II controlled substance, meaning it poses a high risk for abuse and can lead to dependence. It’s illegal for the general population to make, take, or sell this drug.

PCP use has declined

The number of people who use angel dust is much lower than in the 1960s and 1970s. According to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, though, about 8.8 million Americans over the age of 12 used hallucinogens, including PCP. Phencyclidine was the least popular hallucinogen on the survey, behind LSD and ecstasy.

Even though fewer people are using angel dust, some might come in contact with the drug if they use other drugs. Sometimes, PCP is cut into meth, LSD, and other drugs because it is so cheap to produce illicitly.

How people use angel dust

PCP can be used in several different forms. Pills and powders can be ingested or crushed and smoked or snorted. Sometimes, PCP is available in liquid form, which people can inject or dip cigarettes or marijuana joints into. Cigarettes or joints dipped in PCP are sometimes called “happy sticks” or “supergrass.”

Is PCP addictive?

Yes, PCP is addictive. Like other drugs, people can become dependent on PCP and have withdrawal symptoms and cravings when they don’t take the drug. They feel the urge to continue using angel dust even when they experience negative side effects on their health, relationships, and other areas of life.

How do people on PCP act?

Phencyclidine stopped being used clinically because of its negative effects, including psychosis and dysphoria. But the drug’s hallucinogenic effects—in addition to the reported sense of being invincible or strong—are exactly why it became so popular recreationally. Many people who take this drug do so to escape a reality that they feel is worse. These effects typically only last for a few hours, though:

• Lethargy or sluggishness
• A feeling of invincibility or inflated strength
• Hearing or seeing things that aren’t there
• Feeling detached from physical surroundings
• Violence or suicidal thoughts/behaviors

Furthermore, the angel dust high manifests differently in different people. Someone taking PCP may experience a good trip or a bad trip, and there’s no way to influence the outcome.

The risk of overdose

Overdose is a serious concern for people who use PCP. For some, the drug can trigger severe psychotic symptoms that last after the drug wears off. Seizures and coma can result from high doses of the drug. Additionally, because the drug can lead to violence and suicidal thoughts/behaviors—especially at high doses—it can cause death or serious injury.

How PCP abuse affects your mental health

Like many other substances, angel dust does have the potential to lead to mental health issues. People with a history of mental illness should be cautious, as PCP can worsen preexisting conditions. Some of the mental health issues that could potentially be caused by PCP use include anxiety and depression. Even short-term or low-dose use of PCP can cause severe mental health symptoms, such as:

• Psychosis
• Delusions
• Hallucinations
• Anxiety
• Paranoia

Long-term use of PCP, or taking PCP at too high a dosage, can also cause permanent damage to your brain. These effects can be so severe that they last a lifetime, even if you stop taking the drug.

Symptoms of PCP use

Over time, PCP use can result in symptoms like:

• Memory problems
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Trouble learning or speaking
• Severe weight loss
• Psychosis

Shooting PCP intravenously also increases the risk of contracting diseases such as hepatitis and HIV.

OCD isn’t just about being overly neat or particular. It’s a condition that can take over daily life, affecting work, relationships, and overall well-being. The constant need to check, clean, arrange, or seek reassurance can make even the simplest tasks feel exhausting. What’s important to know is that OCD is treatable.

Exposure and response prevention (ERP)—a type of talk therapy—is usually the first type of treatment someone with OCD will experience. They may or may not also be prescribed a medication, usually an antidepressant, to help manage symptoms alongside ERP.

Goals of OCD Treatment

Treatment for OCD aims to reduce the impact it has on your life. Intrusive thoughts, compulsions, anxiety, depression—and unhealthy coping mechanisms you use, like substance use—can all be addressed during treatment. Your treatment plan will be tailored to you to allow you to find ways to reduce stress, cope with triggering situations and obsessive thoughts, and break the cycle of OCD. It might include talk therapy, medication, or a combination of the two.

The Best Medication for OCD

Medication can be an effective tool in treating OCD, especially for people who deal with co-occurring depression and/or anxiety. That’s because the primary class of medications prescribed for OCD are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These medications help regulate serotonin levels in the brain, which play a key role in regulating mood and anxiety.

• Fluoxetine (Prozac): Often used at higher doses than for depression, Fluoxetine has been shown to significantly reduce OCD symptoms.
• Sertraline (Zoloft): One of the most frequently prescribed SSRIs, it helps many individuals manage intrusive thoughts and compulsions.
• Fluvoxamine (Luvox): Specifically approved for OCD, this medication is particularly effective for individuals who experience severe compulsions.
• Paroxetine (Paxil): Though effective, it may have more side effects compared to other SSRIs.
  Escitalopram (Lexapro): Sometimes used off-label for OCD, it is generally well-tolerated.

If SSRIs aren’t effective, clomipramine (Anafranil), a tricyclic antidepressant, is another option. While effective, it often has more side effects than SSRIs. Finding the right medication can take time. Dosages for OCD are often higher than those used for depression or anxiety, and it may take 8–12 weeks to see full effects. Some people have to try multiple medications before they find one that works and has tolerable side effects.

Possible Side Effects of OCD Medications

While these medications can be life-changing for many, they also come with potential side effects. Some individuals experience nausea, dizziness, fatigue, or headaches, especially in the first few weeks of treatment. Sexual dysfunction, weight changes, and gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea or constipation are also common. In some cases, SSRIs can increase feelings of restlessness or agitation before they begin to take full effect.

Many people stop taking their OCD medication because they experience side effects. Be open with the mental health professional you’re working with about any side effects you experience. They may be able to adjust your dosage, prescription, or form of the medication you’re taking to make it more tolerable and effective.

What Dosage Is Best?

It depends. People with OCD typically require higher doses of SSRIs for them to be effective, but some people need to start with low doses and work their way up to the effective dose slowly, sometimes over weeks or months.

Prescriptions, when monitored by a mental health professional, can be safe and effective, but everyone will have a different experience. You might find that you don’t tolerate one SSRI or a specific dosage. Your provider can adjust your medication and/or dosage to find a balance between symptom relief and side effects.

You should never adjust your dosage, how you take your medication, or the type of prescription without talking to your provider. Additionally, you shouldn’t just stop taking your medication because you feel okay unless your doctor tells you to; SSRIs work by constantly affecting the serotonin levels in your brain—they’re not “rescue” medications that stop you from feeling stressed in specific situations.