Addiction And The Treatment Of Addiction

Cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, alcohol, opium, tobacco, hypnotics, just to name a few. Addiction is a chronic disease that affects the chemicals in the brain. It dysfunctions the circuits in the brain that deal with memory, reward, sex, motivation, behavior, relationships and emotions all mostly resulting in substance use or other behaviors to fulfill those circuit rewards. This world is in a current addiction epidemic on drugs. Let’s try to understand addiction to make it a little clearer.

Addiction has a way of pulling your attention away from your basic needs and making it harder for you to succeed in life. It's a sad truth that I've seen happen to so many people over the years. These are good people, with good brains and real potential, but addiction takes over and they can only focus on that aspect of their life.

Many people believe the misconception that an addiction is a moral problem and not a disease. To better understand the reasons why an additicition is in fact a disease; I will identify several types of addictions, and the problems associated with them. I will examine reasons why certain people are more susceptible for developing an addiction. Also, I will determine why many addicts deny their problems and many recovery methods addicts use to fight their illness. Researching these issues, will help aid my claim that addiction is a disease.

Addiction can be separated into three categories: mind (neurological), body (physical), and spirit (psychological). Within in this breakdown addiction can possibly be explained and properly understood.

As the disease model argues that there is no cure for addiction, the only treatments available aims to reduce or suppress the urge to use drugs (McNeece & DiNitto, 2012). Firstly, addicts

In the article “What Can I Say to Make You to Stop?” written by Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation writes about how a friend/family member can do to help their loved one find help with addiction. It also gives advice regarding how to help them. When I was going through my addiction days this sort of information would have helped my family immensely. It’s hard to have someone you care about have an addiction and not know what to do, or how to help. So, I will be discussing on how the main points the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation talk about in their article could really help others, with friends/family members that have an addiction problem.

Addictions are strongholds and bondages that are more often than not difficult to overcome. The addiction holds a person’s well-being captive which result in unusual behavioral patterns. According to Gabor Maté and Arold Langeveld “addiction means be to a slave” relatively speaking when a person is addicted in reality they are a slave to the stimuli. Furthermore the outcome of addiction will result in behavioral patterns that will satisfy the addiction.

What is clear is that addicted people seek the sensations associated with substance abuse – euphoria, disinhibition, stress reduction. One of the bases of addiction is how susceptible an individual is to the pleasurable effects of drugs, besides the physiological need that becomes clearer and stronger over time. There has been a theory regarding an “addictive personality” (individuals are prone to become addicted to certain substances, given their personality) but further research yield no pertinent results in this case (Maisto, Galizio, and Connors,

Addiction is a disease in which the body must have medication to eschew physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms. When utilizing this type of medication, behaviour becomes compulsive and uncontrollable. Addiction leads to people making irrational decisions that interfere with ordinary life responsibilities. There have been drugs that increase, the cause of addiction, such as: marijuana, opioid, pain relievers, and cocaine. Addiction endeavored a compelling and influential impact on the brain that is distinguished in three different categories: craving for the object of addiction, loss of control over its use, and continuing involvement with it despite adverse consequences. (Understanding Addiction. 2011)https://www.helpguide.org/harvard/how-addiction-hijacks-the-brain.html

There are several theories of addiction. All of them are imperfect. All are partial explanations. It is for this reason that it is important to be aware of and question addiction theories.

This then results in lack of control when the same outcome can no longer be established. This leads to increasing dosage or behavior to try and achieve the same high or to possibly better it. Substance addictions leave the body constantly craving a good feeling despite the consequences they may have. In order to understand the real mentality of someone with addiction/s is to examine a person in a philosophical and psychological way.

When I began this class I had a very specific experience and understanding of addictions. One of the major influencers in my view of addictions has been my mother. This is something I never fully processed until I began really learning about addictions and what they do to people. I had impressions of addiction which were completely off base, and I had never taken the time to filter my prejudices through the reality of addictive disorders. Nevertheless, this project and this class has had a wonderful effect on my perception of those struggling with addictions.

Addiction can have very harmful effects, but the truth is that there are people all around us struggling with this every day. After reviewing causes, treatment, and remission of this disease I hope that you now have more information on addiction and its’ effects.

There is not only one theory that why people become addictive to drugs, however there is always a combinations of many factors. Here are the major two theories as to why this social problem of drug abuse exists in the society. Firstly, The genetic theory (Schukit. P.no 452.“ Theories On Drug Abuse”) is related to biological aspects. Genetic factor plays a pivotal role in the physiological drive of an individual. Genetic theory means transmission of genes to children by their parents. An individual may become addictive to the substance if any of his ancestor was also addicted to that same substance. Secondly, Self-esteem theory (Howar B. Kaplan,Phd. Pno157. “Theories On Drug Abuse”), this theory is based upon self-esteem motives. The key variables of self-esteem theory are drug availability, feelings of inferiority or superiority, social pressure/acceptability, coping mechanism, immediate gratification and life style. People falls under the theory of self-esteem become dependents of illicit substances like hallucinogens, barbiturates, amphetamines, marijuana and alcohol. These substances are observed as an alternative action to self-rejecting attitudes.

Addictions are very dangerous emotionally, psychologically, and physically. There are three main points to an addiction - the actual addiction and the symptoms, the addiction cycle (downhill spiral), and how to treat or where to treat an addiction. This essay will outline the main points for an addict and will serve as a guide for an addict or family of an addict.