The common image of an addict is of someone hooked on heroin or cocaine. But most addicts will probably never have seen hard drugs. Alcohol, nicotine and certain prescription drugs, as well as some types of activity, such as gambling and even shopping, can all be addictive. Whatever the substance, addictions can do wide-ranging damage to physical and mental health.
Even when affected by smoking-related diseases, some smokers just cannot overcome their addiction to nicotine. Heavy drinkers can blights their lives – from relationship problems to unfulfilled potential at work – through alcohol abuse.
In some people, the drive to keep consuming certain substances or to repeat a certain types of behavior is overwhelming, even when the consequences are disastrous. But what drives this self-destructive behavior?
The Roots of Addiction
Addiction – also known as dependence – develops gradually through a complex interaction between the user, the substance (or behavior) and their environment. Dependence usually arises from increase tolerance of a substance or behavior: two glasses of wine in the evening becomes four, or the midweek lottery becomes as unmissable as the weekend flutter. Once a craving has set in, behavior is profoundly influenced by the need for more of the same.
There are a wide range of addictive substances: nicotine and alcohol are two of the most obvious. Others include painkillers, slimming pills, laxatives, and illegal drugs such as cocaine and heroin. Less obvious candidates to add the list include caffeine, sugar, chocolate and junk food.
Gambling is a major behavioral addiction, but there are a host of others arousing concerns among health experts, such as working long hours, surfing the internet, exercise, video games, television and even sex.
Addiction: In the Genes?
As knowledge of the brain and of human genetics has developed, addiction has come to be seen as an illness. There does appear to be a generic factor for alcohol and smoking dependence. One 1960s study looked at the smoking behavior of 42 pairs of twins who had been raised apart.
In 18 pairs, both twins were non-smokers, while 15 pairs smoked. Only in nine of the pairs did the twins not show the same behavior. This strongly suggests a genetic influence.
Real Lives: The Shopaholic
Barbara died of cancer just before her 80th birthday. At least it had been quick, but she had not stopped smoking – even when she was ill. Barbara had always been a heavy smoker, explained her sister Mary, ever since she was young women during World War II. She drank a lot of black coffee too - at least 20 cups a day.
However, what really startled Mary was her discovery when she came to sort out Barbara’s flat. There was drawer after drawer of pretty underwear – most of it unworn. In the wardrobe she found over 40 jumpers, still in their carrier bags, and around 60 dresses. She counted 102 pairs of shoes, most of them brand new.
There were two more wardrobe in the spare room, both crammed with clothes. The kitchen was full of unused gadgets. There were seven televisions around the flat. Barbara’s husband had left her comfortably off but there was not much left for Mary, her only relative. Mary wasn’t worried by that – she was just astounded that she had never known about her sister’s shopping addiction.
Treating Addictions
There are various approaches to the treatment of addiction. Medication is sometimes used to treat alcohol, nicotine, shopping and food addictions. Nicotine patches, for example, can help to wean someone off cigarettes, while the drug Antabuse (disulfiram), which is used to treat alcoholism, replaces the sensation of pleasure that the person gets from drinking with nausea.
However, fighting the physical addiction is just part of the story; most addicts need to learn new attitudes and patterns of behavior if they are to succeed in the long term. Behavioral therapy can be very effective against additions.
One strategy involves rewarding the individual for reaching certain goals. Above all, people should not be punished for addictions, but encouraged to adopt more positive behaviors that provide the same psychological rewards without indulging the addiction.
Five Stages of Recovery
To overcome an addiction successfully, there are a number of stages that must be worked through.
- Acknowledging the problem – Becoming aware of the addiction and acknowledging it is the first step towards recovery.
- Building awareness – A period of honest thinking about the effects of the addiction and ways to bat it.
- Resolving to stop – The decision to give up an addiction demands strong resolution and must come from the addicted person themselves. Joining an appropriate group –f form Weight watchers to Gamblers Anonymous – can help maintain the resolve to beat the addiction.
- Changing behaviors – Establishing different habits and activities to avoid situations associated with the addiction can be crucial in the early stages of overcoming it. In the long term, a new perspective, attitude and lifestyle should develop.
- Keeping vigilant – For many people, the final stage of recovery is without end. Keeping free from addiction becomes a lifetime process of reinforcing healthy new behaviors, and ultimately, leading the path to a happy and fulfilling life.