About Addiction

Addiction is a chronic disorder/disease that involves a pattern of abuse that interferes with the addicted individual’s ability to continue fulfilling responsibilities on physical, mental, employment, familial and social levels, generally affecting every aspect of the individual’s life.  Substance abuse continues by such individuals despite serious problems and consequences to their health, family and even the law.  This addiction is believed to be caused by both genetic and environmental factors and affects people across all populations regardless of gender, race, creed, religion, nationality, culture, income or education.  Its course follows a predictable pattern in most individuals, worsening over time and leading to more serious problems.   It includes the abuse of alcohol and of prescription drugs as well as illegal drugs and substances leading to physical or psychological dependence on the drug which leads to either or both tolerance requiring more of the substance to gain the same effect or withdrawal without the use of the drug. 

Common symptoms of addiction include

• Craving, a need or compulsion to use the substance
• Loss of control of frequency and amount of use of the substance
• Tolerance
• Withdrawal symptoms include anxiety, nausea, vomiting, cramping, sweating,
   shakiness, hallucinations (delirium tremens), and even seizures

Consequences to medical health include

• Increased incidence of numerous cancers
• Pancreatitis—a painful inflammation of the pancreas
• Cirrhosis of the liver
• Neuropathy—degeneration of parts of the nervous system affecting the sense of touch and of movement
• High blood pressure
• Sexual dysfunction
• Depression and anxiety
• Dementia
• Traffic accidents and fatalities
• Accidental deaths and increased incidents of suicide

Common signs of addiction include

• Using to escape problems or to relax
• Isolating from friends and family
• Losing interest in formerly important activities
• School and work problems
• Hanging out with new friends who abuse substances
• Spending a lot of time planning how to get their drugs of abuse
• Stealing and selling things to buy their drugs of choice
• Attempting to stop or reduce use without success
• Mood swings, depression, anxiety and anger
• Changes in eating and sleeping habits