ADDICTION

Drugs, Alcohol, and Behavioral Addiction

 What is Addiction?
• Addiction is a psychological and physical inability to stop consuming a
chemical, drug, activity, or substance, even though it is causing
psychological and physical harm.
• The term addiction does not only refer to dependence on substances such
as heroin or cocaine. A person who cannot stop taking a particular drug or
chemical has a substance dependence.
• Some addictions also involve an inability to stop partaking in activities,
such as gambling, eating, or working. In these circumstances, a person has
behavioral addiction.
• Addiction is a chronic disease that can result from taking medications. The
overuse of prescribed opioid painkillers, for example, causes 115 deaths
everyday in the United States.
• When a person experiences addiction, they cannot control how they use a
substance or partake in an activity, and they become dependent on it to cope
with daily life.
DRUG ADDICTION
Causes, Symptoms, Adverse Effects and Complications
 What is Drug Addiction?
• Drug addiction, also called substance disorder, is a disease that affects a
person’s brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of
legal or illegal drug or medication. Substances such as alcohol, marijuana
and nicotine also are considered drugs. When you’re addicted, you may
continue using the drug despite the harm it causes.
• Drug addiction can start with experimental use of a recreational drug in
social situations, and for some people, the drug abuse becomes more
frequent. As time passes, you may need larger doses of the drug to get
high. Soon you may need the drug just to feel good. As the drug abuse
increases, you may find that it’s increasingly difficult to go without the
drug. Attempts to stop drug use may cause intense cravings and make you
feel physically ill (withdrawal symptoms).
 What are the causes of drug addiction?
Like many mental health disorders, several factors may contribute to development
of drug addiction. The main factors include:
• Environment. Environmental factors, including your family’s beliefs and
attitudes and exposure to a peer group that encourages drug use, seem to play a
role in initial drug abuse.
• Genetics. Once you’ve started using a drug, the development into addiction
may be influenced by inherited (genetic) traits, which may delay or speed up the
disease progression. If you have a blood relative, such as parent or sibling, with
alcohol or drug addiction, you’re at greater risk of developing a drug addiction.
• Mental health disorder. If you have a mental health disorder such as
depression, Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or post-
traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), you’re more likely to become addicted
to drugs. Using drugs can become a way of coping with painful feelings,
such as anxiety, depression and loneliness, and can make these problems
even worse.
• Peer pressure. Peer pressure is a strong factor in starting to use and
misuse drugs, particularly for young people.
• Lack of family involvement. Difficult family situations or lack of a bond
with your parents or siblings may increase the risk of addiction, as can a
lack of parental supervision.
• Early use. Using drugs at an early age can cause changes in the
developing brain and increase the likelihood of progressing drug
addiction.
• Taking a highly addictive drug
 Symptoms
Drug addiction symptoms or behaviors include, among others:
• Feeling that you have to use the drug regularly—daily or even several
times a day
• Having intense urges for the drug that block out any other thoughts
• Over time, needing more of the drug to get the same effect
• Taking larger amounts of the drug over a longer period of time than you
intended
• Making certain that you maintain a supply of the drug
• Spending money on the drug, even though you can’t afford it
• Not meeting obligations and work responsibilities, or cutting back on social or
recreational activities because of drug use
• Continuing to use the drug, even though you know it’s causing problems in your life
or causing you physical or psychological harm
• Doing things that you normally wouldn’t do, such as stealing
• Failing in your attempts to stop using the drug
 Adverse Effects/Complications
• Changes in the brain. Physical addiction appears to occur when repeated
use of a drug changes the way your brain feels pleasure. The addicting
drug causes physical changes to some nerve cells (neurons) in your brain.
Neurons use chemicals called neurotransmitters to communicate. These
changes can remain long after you stop using the drug.
• Methamphetamine, opiates and cocaine are highly addictive and cause
multiple short-term and long-term health consequences, including
psychotic behavior, seizures or death due to overdose.
• Ecstasy or molly (MDMA) can cause dehydration, electrolyte imbalance
and complications that can include seizures. Long-term, MDMA can
damage the brain.
• Getting a communicable disease. People who are addicted to a drug are
more likely to get an infectious disease, such as HIV, either through
unsafe sex or by sharing needles.
• Accidents. People who are addicted to drugs are more likely to drive or
do other dangerous activities while under the influence.
• Suicide
• Family problems
• Work issues
• Problems at school
• Legal issues. Legal problems are common for drug users and can stem
from buying or possessing illegal drugs, stealing to support the drug
addiction, driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or
disputes over child custody.
• Financial problems
 ALCOHOL
ADDICTION
Symptoms, Adverse Effects and Complications
 What is Alcohol Addiction?
• Alcohol addiction, also known as alcoholism, is a disease that affects
people of all walks of life. Experts have tried to pinpoint factors like
genetics, sex, race, or socioeconomics that may predispose someone to
alcohol addiction. But it has no single cause. Psychological, genetic, and
behavioral factors can all contribute to having the disease.
 Symptoms
• Heavily relying on drinking and inability to stay sober for an extended period
of time
• Increased quantity or frequency of use
• High tolerance for alcohol, or lack of “hangover” symptoms
• Drinking at inappropriate times such as first thing in the morning, or in places
like church or work
• Wanting to be where alcohol is present and avoiding situations where there is
none
• Changes in friendships; someone with an alcohol addiction may choose
friends who also drink heavily
• Avoiding contact with loved ones
• Hiding alcohol, or hiding while drinking
• Dependence on alcohol to function in everyday life
• Increased lethargy, depression, or other emotional issues
• Legal or professional problems such as an arrest or loss of a job
 Adverse Effects/Complications
Alcoholism can result in heart disease and liver disease. Both can be fatal.
Alcoholism can also cause:
• Ulcers • Bone loss
• Diabetes complications • Vision problems
• Sexual problems • Increased risk of cancer
• Birth defects • Suppressed immune function
• If someone with an alcohol addiction takes dangerous risks while
drinking, they can also put others at risk. According to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drunk driving, for example, takes
28 lives everyday in the United States. Drinking is also associated with an
increased incidence of suicide and homicide.
BEHAVIORAL
ADDICTION
Types, Causes, Signs, Adverse Effects
 What is Behavioral Addiction?
• Behavioral addictions (also called process addictions) follow the same
pattern as substance-based addictions, and they result in problems in many
areas of individual’s life. These are a set of behaviors that a person
becomes dependent on and craves.
 Types of Addictive Behavior
Some behavioral addictions include, but not limited to the following:
• Gambling addiction • Coffee/caffeine addiction
• Sex addiction • Exercise addiction
• Internet addiction • Work addiction
• Shopping addiction • Tattoo addiction
• Video game addiction • Porn addiction
• Food addiction • Kleptomania
 Causes of Behavioral Addiction
Oftentimes, people with behavioral addiction are born from a combination
of elements that include:
• Genetic Predisposition
• A Permissive environment
• A severe trauma
• Acute stress
 Signs of Behavioral Addictions
• Spending the majority of your time engaging in the behavior, and becoming
dependent on the behavior as a way to cope with emotions and to “feel
normal”
• Continuing despite physical and/or mental harm
• Having trouble cutting back despite wanting to stop
• Neglecting school, work, or family to engage in the behavior more often
• Experiencing symptoms of withdrawal (i.e. depression, irritability) when
trying to stop
• Minimizing or hiding the extent of the problem
 Effects
• There are physical consequences to these behavioral addictions. For
example, people with sex addiction may suffer from Sexually transmitted
diseases (STDs), and internet and gaming addicts may develop carpal
tunnel, headaches, and suffer from neck and back pain. Psychological
withdrawal symptoms are similar to those seen in drug addiction,
including cravings, anxiety, and sleeping problems.
• People with behavioral addictions may not suffer the same physical risks
to their health that people with drug addiction experience. But, leaving a
behavioral disorder untreated can cause immense suffering for the person
addicted and their loved ones.
 TREATMENT AND
WITHDRAWAL
For Drug Addiction, Alcoholism, and Behavioral Addiction
 Treatment for Drug Addiction
• Treatments for prescription drug abuse tend to be similar to those for
illicit drugs that affect the same brain systems. For example,
buprenorphine, used to treat heroin addiction, can also be used to treat
addiction to opioid pain medications. Addiction to prescription stimulants,
which affect the same brain systems as illicit stimulants like cocaine, can
be treated with behavioral therapies, as there are not yet medications for
treating addiction to these types of drugs.
• Behavioral therapies can help motivate people to participate in drug
treatment, offer strategies for coping with drug cravings, teach ways to
avoid drugs and prevent relapse, and help individuals deal with relapse if
it occurs. Behavioral therapies can also help people improve
communication, relationship, and parenting skills, as well as family
dynamics.
• Finally, people who are addicted to drugs often suffer from other health
(e.g., depression, HIV), occupational, legal, familial, and social problems
that should be addressed concurrently. The best programs provide a
combination of therapies and other services to meet an individual patient’s
needs. Psychoactive medications, such as antidepressants, anti-anxiety
agents, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotic medications, may be critical for
treatment success when patients have co-occurring mental disorders such as
depression, anxiety disorders (including post-traumatic stress disorder),
bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. In addition, most people with severe
addiction abuse multiple drugs and require treatment for all substances
abused.
 Treatment for Alcohol Addiction
Someone with alcohol addiction may benefit from treatments including:
• Drug therapy
• Counselling
• Nutritional changes
• Therapy is useful to help teach someone how to manage stress of recovery and
the skills needed to prevent a relapse. Also, a healthy diet can help undo
damage alcohol may have done to the person’s health, like weight gain or loss.
• Alcohol addiction may involve several different treatment methods. It’s
important that each person get involved in a recovery program that will
support long-term sobriety. This could mean emphasis on therapy for someone
who is depressed, or inpatient treatment someone with severe withdrawal
symptoms.
 Treatment for Behavioral Addiction
• Behavioral addiction is a treatable condition. Treatment options include
psychotherapy and psychopharmacotherapy or a combination of both.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the most common form of
psychotherapy used in treating behavioral addictions; it focuses on
identifying patterns that trigger compulsive behavior and making lifestyle
changes to promote healthier behaviors.
 Withdrawal Symptoms
When a person has an addiction, and they stop taking the substance or
engaging in the behavior, they may experience certain symptoms. These
symptoms include:
• Anxiety • Vomiting
• Irritability • Fatigue
• Tremors and shaking • A loss of appetite
• Nausea
• If a person has regularly used alcohol or benzodiapines, and they stop
suddenly or without medical supervision, withdrawal can be fatal.
 REHABILITATION
Definition and Its Benefits to a Person who has an Addiction
 Rehabilitation
• Rehabilitation is a care that can help you get back, keep, or improve
abilities that you need for daily life. These abilities may be physical,
mental, and/or cognitive (thinking and learning). You may have lost them
because various reasons, thus, rehabilitation can improve your daily life
and functioning.
 Benefits of Entering a Rehab Center
• Secure Atmosphere. A secure environment will have the ability to
maintain any drug or alcohol addict away from any sort of temptations
while being in a secure and safe atmosphere.
• Counsellors. Counsellors who know about their dependence would be the
best ones to assist in any addict to get past their dependence and on to a
better life.
• Learning. Learning about dependence, the way to conquer it , relapse
prevention, and much more is just another advantage which helps
individuals to realize there’s a means to live without alcohol or drugs.
• A daily routine. Drug and alcohol rehab centers require their patients to take
part in a daily schedule. The individual goes to a group therapy, one-on-one
treatment, alternative treatment, and 12-step support groups at a specified
time. A fantastic treatment center will also teach recovering addicts around
good nutrition and also have patients participate in daily routine fitness.
• Zero Tolerance. A zero tolerance policy implies that nobody is permitted
to bring alcohol or drugs to the therapy center. Most rehabilitation centers
will request the individual to leave if they are caught with alcohol or
drugs. Nobody wants to be enticed while in therapy; as getting off drugs
and alcohol is their purpose for being there.
• Privacy. Privacy is something which provides most alcohol and drug
addicts reassurance through their recovery process. Nobody should ever
learn about anybody getting clean unless they need them to.
• Aftercare. Aftercare is the maintenance you need after therapy. Aftercare
needs to be a part of any therapy center’s program; it helps prevent a
relapse, which prevents any addict from returning to their previous
dependent state.
Did you know that...
• Angelina Jolie, a Hollywood actress,
succeeded in defeating her addiction? “I did
almost every type of drug in existence.
Those were really dark times of me.” She
said in an interview.
• Jolie used to suffer from anorexia and
depression. By the time she got the lead
role for Lara Croft movie, she was already
“clean.”
References:
1. Mayo Clinic, Substance use and disorder
2. Healthline, What is Alcohol Addiction?
3. Very Well Mind, Behavioral Addiction
4. Addiction Center, Behavioral Addictions: A Growing Problem:
5. Medical News Today, What is Addiction?
6. Mission Harbor, What are the different types of behavioral addictions?
7. Wikipedia, Behavioral Addiction
8. Medline Plus, Rehabilitation
9. Ranzcp2015.com, Benefits of Entering a Rehab Center
10. Bright Side, 15 Celebrities who battled addiction and won

Prepared by: Marvie (Intern)

Presented by: SRSPC interns