Drug
Addiction. What is
addiction?
Addiction
is a disease which affects approximately one in ten people.
It centres in the mind and affects the physical body. Whilst the
most obvious aspect of addiction is the harmful
usage of the drug of choice – marijuana, powder cocaine, crack
cocaine, speed, ecstasy, heroin, methadone, crystal meth,
hallucinogens, benzodiazepines and other prescription medication
etc – it is the underlying
thinking which needs the most intensive treatment to break the
cycle of addiction.
The
physical aspect of addiction manifests itself as the body
adapts to the drug and becomes dependent upon it. This is most
apparent with certain prescription medications and heroin, for
which a medically managed detoxification programme is often the
most appropriate way of dealing with the withdrawal symptoms. All
drugs, however, when used to an addictive level, are likely to
have had a negative effect on the physical body.
All Trust The Process clients see our doctor on arrival to be
assessed, and to be prescribed a detoxification regime if
required.
The
mental aspect of addiction is the obsessive and
compulsive thinking surrounding drug usage. Even when the
individual is not actually using drugs, they can have
overwhelming cravings to do so. This is what compels the
addicted person to get drugs, often putting themselves at risk
in the process. This thinking manifests itself as a kind of
tunnel vision – blocking out, or at the very least overriding,
any rational thoughts of why they should not use. Even in the
face of extreme negative consequences,it
is this obsessional thinking which drives the addict to continue
their quest for more drugs.
Why else
does an individual use drugs when all evidence shows that it is
causing them great harm? One of the reasons
is that life without drugs, in the absence of a recovery
programme, can be extremely painful – the
addict feels compelled to use, despite the problems it is
causing in their life. Their thinking can be so distorted
that they believe that drugs are providing them with some relief
from life’s difficulties – it is life that is the problem
for them, not drugs. Deep down, however, most addicts know that
the drugs are destroying them and making life even harder to
deal with.
Recovering
from addiction
The
thought of stopping using drugs can be terrifying to people who
depend on them. People ask us: ‘what
will I do if I can’t take drugs?’ At ADUS Healthcare,
we help people to manage their fears by introducing them to the
world-renowned 12 step recovery programme, which provides
a genuine alternative to using mood-altering drugs. Addicts can
be extremely sensitive people – it is
this emotional sensitivity which needs to be managed in
order to maintain abstinence from drugs in the medium to long
term.
One
of the most powerful factors about coming into treatment for
addiction is that you are not alone anymore. Many addicts
try to hide their illness from family, friends and colleagues
for years, fearing what will happen if people find out. This can
lead to emotional and sometimes physical isolation from people,
which is soul-destroying.
Through
recovery, facets of addiction can actually be turned to the
individual’s advantage. Addicts can be incredibly
resourceful people, for example – so if these skills are
turned to better use, then they can achieve great things. The
connection between creativity and addiction is well-documented
– there are many painters, writers, musicians and actors who
have been affected by addiction. The 12
step programme helps people on a daily basis to assess
the healthy and unhealthy ways they are using their energy –
enabling them to identify positive and negative behaviour
patterns. Addicts who have long term recovery often describe how
recovery just gets better and better,
as deeper realisations are made about themselves and about how
to live their life. Ambitions are
realised in recovery. Relationships are restored and new
friendships are built. Life does not seem so frightening
anymore.
If
you are suffering with addiction, and if you want to change,
then making a commitment to your recovery is the first step.
If you really want to stop, then coming
into treatment will give you a fantastic opportunity to
experience the first phase of your recovery with other people
going through the same thing as you. Strong bonds are formed in
treatment with peers. Professionally trained counsellors, who
have multiple years of addiction recovery, know what you are
going through and can help you to break the grip of active
addiction. |
