The medical terminology of addiction is a neuro-biologic disorder that has genetic, psychosocial, and environmental dimensions and is characterized by one of the following: compulsive behavior, which is the continued use of a substance despite its detrimental effects, impaired control over the use of a drug, and craving for the drug, which is a preoccupation with a drug’s use for non-therapeutic purposes. There are often deviant behaviors that go along with an addiction such as theft and forgery, that are used to pay for the addiction.
Most people tend to associate addiction with drugs and alcohol, which is also called substance abuse, but the term can also mean an obsession, compulsion or excessive dependence with other things such as nicotine, gambling, pornography, or even the computer, to name just a few.
People taking opiate medications, such as morphine, to combat severe chronic pain can become addicted because of the continual need to increase the dose, as their tolerance levels increase, to get relief. They develop a physical dependence on the drug and if they were to just stop taking it, they would experience some withdrawal signs and symptoms. For this reason, they are weaned off of the drug by using progressively lower amounts over an extended period of time. Other drugs that can produce withdrawal symptoms when abruptly stopped are oral steroids, some antidepressants and benzodiazepines. If you are taking any of these medications you should see a doctor regularly to avoid unnecessary complications.
People who abuse drugs and/or alcohol usually share one or more feelings including guilt, shame, fear, hopelessness, failure, rejection, anxiety or humiliation. The presence of these feelings could have been part of the cause that fueled the addiction in the first place. A basic need to feel accepted by ones peers has started more than one person on the road to addiction. Others seek the use of drugs and/or alcohol as a coping mechanism to get through a rough period in their lives. Still others use them as a total escape from a life they can no longer deal with. No matter the cause or circumstances, there is help available, and all it takes is one phone call to get started.
If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow today. We are here to help.
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http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/
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I got hurt at work and was on pain meds for several months. I found myself taking extra pills because they weren't lasting as long as they should. Then I was taking them more often than I really needed them. When I realized what was happening it really scared me. I contacted the doctor and he got me weaned off of them. That's as close as I ever want to get to a problem. I can see how it easilly could have spiraled out of control.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to all of the negative feelings you listed. I can handle one or two at a time but when they all start screaming my name I slide back into the pit of drugs and alcohol. So far I've been able to find my way back, but each time gets a little harder. I know I should get help, but I haven't asked for it yet. I keep thinking it won't happen again. I might just be lying to myself. I know where you are. Thanks for being there.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like an easy trap to fall into. I thank my lucky stars that it never happened to me or anyone I was close to.
ReplyDeleteI've heard of several people who have gotten addicted to pain pills. My brother was one of them. He started taking them with alcohol too. I caught him adding whiskey to his morning coffee once. He ended up getting cancer and now he doesn't smoke, drink or mess with drugs. I guess a scare like that can send you down the straight and narrow path pretty quickly.
ReplyDeleteUse of a computer can be addictive. I know a woman who worked all day, ran home and got on the computer and stayed there until 1 or 2 in the morning. She had fairly young kids too. They were lucky if she ordered something for them. Mostly they ate sandwiches. She spent most of her time either in chat rooms or playing games with other people she met online. I think that would be possitively awful to be chained to a computer that long.
ReplyDeleteMy parents are both addicts and they would be offended to hear me say that. They started using pot in high school and never gave it up. Mix that with daily doses of alcohol for both. They don't see it as a problem, they both have jobs and they have each other. I think I may have been an accident. I've surely never been made to feel I was anything special. I'll be 18 next month and I'm out of here. I doubt they'll even miss me.
ReplyDelete