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Drug Addiction
What
is it ?
• We all need a buzz in a life. It can help
with anything from stress to boredom. Whatever turns us on, everyone feels
the desire sometimes to indulge him or her themselves and take a break
from reality. Anything from shopping to gambling, drink or drugs. But
you can have too much of a good thing and sadly, many don't realise this
until its too late to quit. By then, the buzz has become a way of life:
an addition
• An addiction is a compulsion to use substances
or persist with certain behaviour in order to feel good or to avoid feeling
bad. It can dominate your mind, and keep you coming back for more, while
some habits can also create a constant craving in your body. An addiction
is different for everyone, depending on your vice and the kind of person
that you are.
Physical Addiction
A dependency that develops through repeated use of a drug, which changes
body chemistry, e.g. alcohol, heroin and tranquillisers. It means your
body develops a hunger for the drug, which you have to keep feeding.
Psychological Addiction
A dependency that develops through repeatedly behaving in a certain way
until you feel you can't manage without it. Your mind can get hooked on
almost any activity that changes your mood. Mental cravings can also play
a part in physically addictive habits.
What are the signs?
Addiction doesn't happen overnight. It takes time to face the fact you
may have lost control Think of your number one vice, be it boozing or
cruising the net, then ask yourself the following questions: It is an
important part of your life? Do you spend most of the day doing it? Do
you indulge to change the way you're feeling? Have you ever done it in
secret? Does the prospect of quitting unsettle you? Do you react badly
when people suggest it's a problem? If you've answered yes to any of the
above, perhaps it's time you asked yourself whether you control your habit
or whether it controls you?
What about addictions in others?
Sometimes it can become apparent that someone close to you has developed
a habit they can't break. Their behaviour may change, often adopting a
particular pattern as the addiction assumes importance in their life.
Often, however, an addict will take great steps to hide their habit from
others. Even if you know someone who has an addiction problem you cannot
control their habit or stop them unless they want your help. An addict
has to recognise he or she has a problem before you can take steps to
get them over it. Until then, all you can do to make them aware that you
are prepared to offer your support when they're ready.
Be aware of misuse
Not every user can be classified as addicted or dependent yet can
be misusing alcohol or drugs. Misuse occurs when the physical, psychological
and social well-being of the user is adversly effected by their drug/alcohol
use e.g. binge drinking, polydrug use.
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