Addiction

Addiction is described as a chronic disorder that occurs due to number of factors including genetic heritage, biological/pharmacological behaviors, and social environment. Addiction is classified by the repetitive use of substances and/or behaviors despite the clear evidence of the detrimental effects not only to the individual but to those surrounding the individual as well, subsequent of the substance abuse or behavior.

An addiction does not necessarily mean an addiction to a drug or alcohol, but can also be uncontrolled behaviors such as pornographic addiction, sex addiction, gambling addiction, or other behaviors that are uncontrollable regardless of their negative consequences. An addiction will generally take over aspects of an individual’s life, and in some cases, can be the sole focus of one’s life.

When you become addicted to any substance, whether it be alcohol or other drugs, your brain function and chemical make-up actually changes in certain ways. Someone who is considered to be addicted uses drugs without thinking of the consequences, such as problems with health, money, relationships and their performance at work or at school.

Any individual can develop an addiction, even if it does not run in their family. An addiction can be illegal drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine, crack, heroin, or methamphetamine. People can also develop addictions to prescription drugs through excessive doses and too frequent of doses. Addictions can even occur to substances that you may not consider to be a drug. Coffee contains caffeine, and your body can develop an addiction to it, the nicotine in cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, and of course the more well-known legal substance considered to be a drug, alcohol.
If you feel yourself or someone you know may have an addiction to a substance, there are a few warning signs you can identify to determine whether or not there is potentially an addiction problem.

- If the individual continues to abuse a substance, even after doing so has caused problems financially, in school or work, health-wise, or in their relationships with family, friends or their significant other, odds are that they probably have an addiction problem.
- If it’s yourself that you are questioning about an addiction, you can think about your drug use habits, and whether or not you have developed a higher tolerance to the drug or substance that you are using. A higher tolerance means that more of the drug or substance is needed than in the beginning of the drug use in order to achieve the same effects, or high.

Physical warning signs of addiction include:
- Changes in appetite, either an increase or decrease, changes in eating habits, unexplained sudden weight loss or gain
- Slowed pace, staggering when walking, overall poor physical coordination
- Sleeplessness, awaking at abnormal times, abnormal laziness.
- Red or teary eyes, dilated pupils, blank stares
- Cold or sweaty palms, shaky hands
- Unusual puffiness, blushing or paleness in the face
- The scent of an unusual substance on the breath, body or clothing
- Excessive hyperactivity or being excessively talkative
- Development of a runny nose or a hacking cough
- Signs of needle marks on lower arm, leg, or feet
- Unusual or unexplained nausea, vomiting or unwarranted sweating
- Tremors
- Irregular heartbeat
- Changes in appearance, lacking care for how they look
- Actually finding the person in possession of drug paraphernalia
If you do notice any of the previous signs, remember that they do not necessarily mean that the person definitely has a problem with addiction. Any one or a combination of these signs can mean there is potentially an addiction to a substance, but it’s important not to immediately jump to conclusions or attack the person who may be in trouble with addiction. This could infuriate them, and cause them to stop talking to you, or pull away even farther, allowing them to be dragged even deeper into the depths of addiction.

So, you ask, can addiction be treated? The answer is yes, but addiction is a persistent, relapsing disease that currently has no definitive cure. Some individuals, who have decided they’ve had enough of the addiction controlling their lives and seek out addiction treatment, have unfortunately not been able to kick the addiction on the first attempt. It may take several attempts for a person to remain addiction free.

Identifying, accepting, and admitting that you have an addiction is the first step in beating and treating the addiction. The second step is understanding that you can take control over your life back, away from the grasps of addiction. Addiction, though it may have started during traumatic or stressful times in your life, cannot make you forget about the things you can’t control. You can only control you, and how you want to handle addiction. Don’t let an addiction control you anymore.