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Overcoming Addictions
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Table of Contents
Introduction To Addictive Disorders
Understanding Addiction in Laymen’s Terms
Dominating Dependencies
(Relationships, Drugs, Alcohol, Gambling, Internet)
Recovery Tools
Treatment Alternatives
Support Groups, Organizations & Programs
Healthy Living, Healthy Choices Tips
Overcoming Addiction Rewards & Resources
Introduction To Addictive Disorders
In this guide, the Addictive Disorders discussed refer to health matters dealing
with both physical and psychological intense desires or cravings for substances
or behaviors that grow into dependency. For example, not only will alcohol and
drug dependency be addressed, but addictions dealing with issues like emotional,
“things” or “people” attachments. The general concept is that these cravings or
yearnings are ongoing in spite of the fact that they cause the addicted person,
and at times others, harm at various levels; social, psychological and physical.
And on the whole, the addictive disorders that are discussed are considered
progressive or advancing in nature, and chronic or lasting for a long period of
time, with distinct periods of recurrence.
There are some alarming
facts to consider regarding addictive disorders. For instance, a recent report
in the National Drug Addiction Recovery Month Kit showed the cost of alcohol and
illicit drug use in the workplace, including lost productivity, accidents and
medical claims to be an estimated $140 billion per year.
Another fact: every eight seconds, a person dies due to a tobacco-related
illness, according to the World Health Organization.
Also, an estimated 28
percent to 30 percent of people in the U.S.A. alone have an addictive substance
abuse disorder, a mental health disorder or both, according to a 2002 report by
the National Mental Health Association.
And alcohol abuse and
dependence occurs four times as much among men over the age of 65 than women in
the same age group, according to the Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health,
1999.
With Addictive Disorders
being such a large important part of everyday life, this ebook strives to help
clear up myths from facts and present an overview of the issues surrounding the
disorders. It includes information about some of the top addictions in society
today, along with a variety of solutions available to help with treatment and
coping, based upon the most recent studies, research, reports, articles,
findings, products and services available, so that you can learn more about
Overcoming Addictions.
For example, consider the
following and decide if it is myth or truth: addicts cannot be medically
treated. This is a myth. Some substance addicts can be medically treated via a
detoxifying program, followed up by treatment with new medicines like Bupropion
(Zyban) and Naltrexone (ReVia). These medicines help people who are refraining
from addictive substances to keep their desires for them in check.
Note that the contents here
are not presented from a medical practitioner, and that any and all health care
planning should be made under the guidance of your own medical and health
practitioners. The content within only presents an overview of Overcoming
Addictions research for educational purposes and does not replace medical advice
from a professional physician.
Understanding Addiction
in Laymen’s Terms
Many researchers believe
that addiction is a behavior that can be controlled to some extent and also a
brain disease. And since some testing with functional magnetic resonance imaging
(FMRI) found that all addictions tend to cause nearly the same reactions inside
the brain, there could be one type of control model for addiction health-related
issues. In other words, just as there is one disorder or disease labeled asthma,
there would be one for addiction, covering all addictions; gambling, smoking,
overeating, drugs, etc. Then one main treatment strategy or plan could be used
to treat all addictions.
How addiction works in a
nutshell is like this. The brain, the center of the body’s nervous system,
handles addiction by increasing dopamine levels in response to increased
reactions from behaviors, also referred to as compulsions, like gambling or over
eating, and / or in response to increased repeated substance abuse, like from
cocaine or alcohol. And this addiction affects the three functioning processes
of the nervous system; sensing, perceiving and reacting. How? Let’s take a quick
peak…
Dopamine, the chemical
transmitter to the “pleasure center,” the place where survival instincts like
eating and reproduction focus in the brain, activates cells individually or
energizes them. Each energized cell in turn energizes another cell, and so on
down the line, resulting in a spontaneous or systematic process of ecstasy or
elation.
The problem is the brain
doesn’t realize what it is that is causing the ecstasy reaction. So when this
flutter of activity increases the creation of dopamine for the negative
behaviors and substances like drugs, alcohol, gambling, etc., it neglects the
natural survival instinct reaction mechanisms, replacing them with the ecstasy
instead.
Note that also, depending
upon the addiction, nervous system functions are altered. So sensing, perceiving
and reacting functions of individuals are impeded. For example, alcohol is a
depressant and slows down all of these functions. So a drunk driver facing an
immediate collision will in all likelihood react slower than a healthy, alert
driver. And whether or not the addictive substances are inhaled, going into the
lung system; or injected, traveling via the blood system; or swallowed, entering
the digestive system, also affects different bodily reactions, responses and
overall health.
One long-term effect is an
increased tolerance level with dopamine reaching out into other brain areas that
cloud judgment and behavioral considerations and choices. And ultimately
depression results, even amidst opposing or negative stimuli, like the negative
effects of narcotics on behaviors and on the body / mind and like trying to
withdrawal or discontinue use.
Note: other long-term
effects can include changing of the brain’s shape and possible permanent brain
damage, depending upon the addiction and length of compulsive activity. And
other health problems like cancer from cigarette smoking can result.
Addiction summed up is:
compulsive behavior despite negative consequences.
OTHER FACTORS IN
ADDICTION
Of course no two people are
100 percent the same. So since internal genetic and external environmental and
behavioral factors and influences vary, so can addiction issues with each
person. In other words, a child born of an alcoholic parent may have an altered
or different brain chemistry or make up than a child not born of an alcoholic.
However, other factors need to be taken into account with regards to whether or
not and to what extent the child is susceptible to addictive behaviors or
substances. For instance, genetics, mental state and the environmental setting
of the child, especially during early developmental years could all play key
roles as to how the child or growing adult will react when confronted with
certain behaviors or instances.
So take for example a
soldier. Surviving temporarily on the only remedy available in hostile
territory, he becomes addicted to morphine while outside his element or home
environment. Later he returns to his home environment. Will he stay addicted to
the morphine? Will it be difficult to stop using it?
The answers vary, depending
upon the soldier’s predisposition or susceptibility to addiction; his home
environment, his mental state, his genetics with family history, and other
factors. In other words, if he came from a background of living long-term with a
family of addicts, socialized with addicts in his neighborhood and school
environments, and already battled with smoking cigarettes, marijuana and other
substances routinely, this soldier may have a difficult time withdrawing from
morphine. Whereas, a soldier who had never seen addiction up close before,
either in his family, neighbors, school friends, etc., and who otherwise came
back with a fairly healthy mental state, may be able to stop using morphine with
little or no problems and get back to his “normal” routine.
Which leads to, “How can
you tell if someone is addicted or not?
To be continued
Health News:
MSN
Live Search: addictions site:msnbc.msn.com
Search results
Addictions- msnbc.com
Addictions ... U.S. reaches anti-smoking milestone Thirty years after it began as just another quirky movement in Berkeley, Calif., the push to ban smoking in restaurants, bars and ...
Anti-smoking drug may be tied to suicide risks - Addictions- msnbc.com
Government regulators said Friday the connection between Pfizer's anti-smoking drug Chantix and serious psychiatric problems is "increasingly likely."
Scripts that addict - Addictions- msnbc.com
Why just one cigarette can hook some smokers
INTERACTIVE: Street drugs - Addictions- msnbc.com
A look at how heroin, cocaine and other drugs affect the body
Report: Ban smoking in public places - Addictions- msnbc.com
Only smoke-free buildings and public places truly protect nonsmokers from the hazards of breathing in other people?s tobacco smoke, says a long-awaited surgeon general?s report
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Google
addictions - Google News
addictions - Google News
Psychotherapist Addictions Specialist - Seattle Times
Psychotherapist Addictions Specialist
Seattle Times, United States - Aug 18, 2008
Day to day accountabilities incorporate counseling or psychotherapy services and addiction treatment to lawyers. The position will assess current ...
Unit opens to help patients with addictions - Glasgow Evening Times
Unit opens to help patients with addictions
Glasgow Evening Times, UK - Aug 19, 2008
An important part of that is to provide the appropriate care and treatment for people trying to overcome addictions." While the unit offers day care to ...
Redundancy and the threat of a great depression - Financial Times
Redundancy and the threat of a great depression
Financial Times, UK - 13 hours ago
By Emma Jacobs Philip Joslin, a senior clinician at Lifeworks, a private clinic in London dealing with addictions and depression, believes redundancy "is ...
Support Groups: Addictions/Recovery - Modesto Bee
Support Groups: Addictions/Recovery
Modesto Bee, CA - Aug 18, 2008
COUPLES IN RECOVERY: For married couples seeking to repair the damage addiction has done to their relationship with each other and God. ...
How To Overcome Sex Addiction - the - Corsavoo.com
How To Overcome Sex Addiction - the
Corsavoo.com, France - 16 hours ago
That's where addictions come in. Addictions are escape mechanisms used to temporarily relieve uncomfortable feelings. For the addicted person to really ...
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Yahoo!
Yahoo! News Search Results for addictions
Yahoo! News Search Results for addictions
Lack of counselling, addictions programs for Labrador inmates (CBC Newfoundla...
Inmates at the Labrador Correctional Centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay are without proper counselling and addictions services, and at least one inmate says such lack of support may lead him and others to reoffend.
Garrett bringing up state average for addictions recovery (Cumberland Times-N...
Garrett County is helping to bring up the state average in many areas of drug and alcohol addictions recovery statistics for both adults and teens.
Recovering addict to spread message of sobriety on Green (Daily Record)
MORRISTOWN -- A Morristown man who is recovering from cocaine addiction will host an informal group discussion on drug use at 4 p.m. on Thursdays on the Green for people seeking to overcome their own addictions to drugs.
Support groups (The Patriot-News)
Addictions support group, "Victory in Jesus," 7:30 p.m., second and fourth Fridays of the month, Word of Grace Church, 3814 N. Progress Ave., Susquehanna Twp. Information: Rick Crone, 541-0926.
Redundancy and the threat of a great depression (Financial Times)
Philip Joslin, a senior clinician at Lifeworks, a private clinic in London dealing with addictions and depression, believes redundancy "is not just a matter of economic survival. It threatens people's very identity".
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