Relevant information about Addictions.
There is quite a variety of Addictions, people has addiction to: alcohol, drugs, tobacco, sex, gambling, among others. Despite the substance or addictive object may change, the dependence and addictive behaviour remain still.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), define this substance dependence:
"When an individual persists in use of alcohol or other drugs despite problems related to use of the substance, substance dependence may be diagnosed. Compulsive and repetitive use may result in tolerance to the effect of the drug and withdrawal symptoms when use is reduced or stopped. This, along with Substance Abuse are considered Substance Use Disorders...."
Addictions involve then, a chronic condition characterized by compulsive and repetitive use producing substance dependence and long-lasting chemical changes in the brain. Despite its negative effects, it became a habit and behaviour that is very difficult to change and disrupt people’s lives.
The dependency produced by this substance is both psychological and physical. As every addictive substance induces pleasant states and relieves distress, addicts get used to this feelings and start to need them compulsively. Due to adaptive changes in the brain produced by this addictive substances, body gets used, develop tolerance and needs more substance each time to obtain same effect. The physical dependence is such that quit consume can be not only very difficult but also it cause withdrawal symptoms.
In many addictive disorders the body gets used to the substance and its effects and when intake is cut appears the abstinence syndrome.
Signs and symptoms of addiction
Many people drink alcohol, use drugs or gamble without major consequences. However, sooner or later some realize they have lost their ability to make good decisions and are "beyond the line".
Addiction signs vary widely depending on the problem and the person.
Generally there is an addiction problem when:
- Affects mental and physical health
- Involves breaking the law
- Threatens the financial stability
- Damages relationships and friends
Treatments
Historically, addiction has been defined with regard solely to psychoactive substances (for example alcohol, tobacco and other drugs). Now a days, definition is wider including all kinds of psychological dependency on such things as: gambling, food, sex, pornography, Internet, work, exercise and shopping. Each addiction has an specialized treatment: alcohol addiction treatment, bulimia / anorexia treatment, drug / chemical rehabilitation, gambling addiction, tobacco addiction treatment, sex addiction treatment, to name a few.
Despite each treatment does something different and has different services available, there are some shared objectives overall:
- Explore how addiction affects the person’s life
- Plan a particularized treatment and post-treatment program according to the Patient’s needs and possibilities
- Reconnect the person with his/her environment
- Educate about the risks associated with dependence
- Teach techniques for a healthy and balanced life
- Provide guidance and support services and connect the person to self-help groups and mutual support such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
- Offer information and support to the family
As any addictive behaviour includes psychological y psychical dependence, a good treatment should include and combine medication and therapy. Generally, the first and most difficult step is to recognize there is a problem and ask for help. Addicts usually think they can stop whenever they want but admitting they have a problem is the fist step to the cure. Treatments usually begin with detoxification and are followed by a customized treatment. Withdrawal symptoms can became a hard obstacle. Then, it is essential to work preventing relapse and maintaining a drug–free lifestyle. The main objective is to regain control of their lives. After the recovery process is achieved successfully, the Patient starts the post-treatment process in order to go on with his life with a medical control and supervision.
The potential devastation and negative effects that compulsive consume can wreak on the life of the suffer and those around him or her, make the treatment essential. Treatments work to overcome the possible complications and reduce the damage as soon as possible. There are some potential positive aspects that only result from a good intervention.
Despite no one starts out with the desire to become an addict or wants to cause hardship for themselves, frequently, addiction will only end up making a problem worse than the other. Addiction is a serious illness and not merely a habit you can give up at any moment. It usually starts out as a method of coping with problems and stressful Experiences, and also as a way to feel more comfortable or secure. Regardless this original intentions, drug and chemical abuse will take control of life and eventually will make those problems worse and become a problem in and of itself. In this cases, treatment is not only important but also mandatory to stop as soon as possible this cycle of addiction.
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