Drug & Alcohol Addiction

Drag & Alcohol Addiction.

Alcohol and drug addiction is a very a major health problem now, because Use of alcohol and drugs is one of the leading causes of death and injury.

Alcoholism is a primary illness or disorder characterized by some loss of control over drinking, with habituation or addiction to the drug alcohol, causing interference in any major life function, e.g. health, family, job, spiritual, friends, legal.

A physical or psychological need for a habit-forming substance, such as a drug. In physical addiction, the body adapts to the substance being used and gradually requires increased amounts to reproduce the effects originally produced by smaller doses.

Addiction creates dependency on a psychological and/or physical level. Some drugs create dependency on both levels, e.g. heroin, where you obviously become extremely addicted on a psychological level, but even if you wanted to stop, your body becomes totally dependent on the stuff which leads to extreme withdrawals when trying to come clean.

Reasons.

1learned behavior,

2 genetic predisposition,

3mental illnesses: bipolar disorder, panic disorder, anxiety disorder, posttraumatic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Alcoholism signs:

· Preoccupation or Craving: Spending large amounts of time thinking about your next drink

· Increased Tolerance: Needing more to get the same effect

· Continued Use: Inability to reduce/stop your intake despite progressively damaging consequences

· Withdrawal Symptoms: Like the shakes or nausea and need a drink just to get to 'normal' again

· Drink Alone: Often drink secretively to avoid getting caught drinking and to avoid suspicion

· Regular Blackouts

· Hide your Supply: Always have alcohol available, often on you, just 'in case' you need some

· Find an Excuse to Drink: You'll always be able to justify having a drink, e.g. 'I've had a bad day, I'm stressed out... or any other 'creative' reason

· Failed Promises: Have promised on more than one occasion (even to yourself) that you'll cut down or quit without being able to

· Family and Friends Avoided: Often don't want to do things and spend time with the people you usually do - becoming vague and distant

But there are two broad criteria that are used to identify alcoholism and drug addiction, from which everything else follows. i) Dependence and ii) Loss of Control.

Drug addiction

Addiction is a cunning, complex and powerful illness that will have an addict behave in ways you would never even dreamt possible. What then are some drug addiction behaviours to look out for?

· Mood Swings – these can range from extreme happiness and euphoria... to the absolute depths of despair and depression, sometimes turning to violence and physical abuse.

· Change in Behavioral Patterns – spending time with new ‘friends’, spending less time doing things previously enjoyed, more time spent sleeping, becoming increasingly difficult and irritable... are all behaviours to look out for.

· Secrecy and Isolation – withdrawing and isolating are often behaviours of a drug addict, especially when trying to hide their addiction, with much of what they do then being clouded in secrecy.

· Lies and Manipulation – an addict will do anything to protect their addiction... lie to your face without flinching and manipulate you into turning things into your fault when you confront them... or have you believe you’re imagining things when you raise concerns about their behavior.

· Stealing and begging – to fund their habit, addicts will often turn to extreme behaviours to ensure they can generate money to buy their next stash. This might involve begging on the street, working scams to get people to give them money; and in severe cases when using highly physically addictive drugs like crack and heroin, resort to stealing, often from those closest to them. The most extreme cases involve drug addicts resorting to prostitution to fund their addiction.

Drug & Alcohol Addiction

Drug-addict

Дата добавления: 2015-10-31