Overcoming Addiction
	Drug Addiction <  Previous Contents Next  >

Even though we all know what drug addiction means and this addiction needs no introduction, we may still benefit from asking the question: what is drug addiction? Many of us have taken drugs all of our lives. There are drugs which are prescribed by doctors, such as painkillers, anti-depressants and drugs that treat various diseases and disorders. Many of these drugs will create dependencies, physical and/or psychological.

When we speak of addictions, we are referring to a situation where the drug is not necessary for the person and where it does more harm than good.

There are two components of drug addiction which have been mentioned earlier: physical dependency and psychological dependency. Physical dependency is the state of physical being wherein a person takes the drug continuously and where the body is already used to the effects of the drug. The effects of this is that the person must continue using the drug, or else he will feel pain or discomfort. Psychological dependency, on the other hand, is a lot more dangerous than physical dependency since it not only involves the body but the mind as well. Just like the body, when the mind is involved, the drug frees the mind of the pain and replaces it with extreme pleasure, and doesn’t feel able to cope without using it. When the drug is not in use, it produces more cravings for a person, which are heightened when the person feels stressed.

The Disease Model of Drug Addiction

The cause of drug addiction, according to this theory, is that it is a form of dysfunctional learning. Certain drugs take control over neurological functions involving reward and motivation, which leads to aberrant learning. According to an article on the Duke University website, “exposure to cocaine triggers changes in a brain region called the striatum -- a reward center that also plays a fundamental role in movement and emotional responses. Cocaine leads to a sharp increase in communication among nerve cells in the striatum that use dopamine as their chemical messenger. This brain chemical surge is responsible for the feeling of pleasure, or high, that leads drug users to crave more.” Since this has a huge effect on the body, drug abuse now becomes involuntary, with the immediate desire in seeking pleasure through these drugs.”

One of the effects of taking drugs is long-term depression (LTD) in brain circuits that are associated with the process of addiction, suggesting that addictive behavior may become reinforced by learning mechanisms.

The Reward System

Drugs are classified and work in different ways. The reward and pleasure exhibited from these drugs also vary.

• Depressants such as benzodiapines and alcohol function by heightening the affinity of the receptor of its ligand, GABA. Narcotics, such as methadone and morphine, work by imitating endorphins – chemicals which are produced in the body. These substances are also called as “downers” in that they take away the pain and promote relaxation.

• Stimulants such as nicotine, amphetamines, and cocaine actually boost the signal of dopamine in two ways: either by stimulating the release of it or by blocking the absorption of it. These stimulants, called “uppers” cause an increase level of energy and awareness in an individual. The effects give the person a different high but after its effects have worn off, the person feels depressed or down again. This causes the person to want to take the drug again and again.

There have been many prescription or over the counter drugs which can be addictive if it is not used properly. Medications that involve steroids, for example, are tremendously addictive, as well as sleeping tablets, such as valium. There are also drugs which are not available over the counter and are not considered to have medical value at all which can be considered as addictive. As far as addiction is concerned, these drugs may be legal for government study but they may be illegal to sell, illegal to use or even illegal to possess.

Former president of the United States Richard Nixon, in 1972, even issued a memorandum to stamp out drug addiction and to stop crimes that are connected to drugs. But today the problem is still rampant, with the additional problem that when these addicts don’t have enough money to support their habit, they often turn to crime.

Drug Addiction Recovery

There are several methods to treat drug addiction and there are lots of factors to consider – such as the amount of drugs used, how long the individual has been addicted to the drug, medical complications and the needs of the individual. Treatment is essential to the drug addict as well as to the people who are in constant contact with this person.

There are organizations in the United States and around the world such as Narcotics Anonymous, and which help individuals along the same lines as Alcoholics Anonymous in facing their problems, using the 12-step recovery program. They not only aid in helping out the drug addict but they get to the root of the problem, as discussed in a previous chapter. And in other ways, there are also substance rehabilitation centers or rehab centers which help drug addicts by isolating them from drugs and from those people who influence them to take drugs. There are also outpatient clinics which offer both individual counseling and group counseling. Usually, there is a physician or a specialized doctor to help in prescribing medications which could help the drug addict in dealing with the problem (the most frequent symptom that these medications can help is anxiety).

Cognitive-Behavioral Theory

Some rehab centers in the US and also in the UK have been offering a variety of treatment programs for drug addicts. They use Cognitive-Behavioral Theory (CBT), which looks at the relationship between thoughts, feelings and attitudes, being aware that a change in these areas affects the whole individual. CBT looks at addiction as a behavior and not as a disease and therefore, it is curable and doctors involved in this program see the real possibility of healing.

Replacement Drugs

There are also other ways to control drug addiction, such as replacing the drug with another drug, and one of these drugs is methadone. Methadone itself is quite addictive, but it is used because it is considered less harmful to the person than heroine, and can be legally administered by doctors.

Alternative therapies

Chiropractic adjustments, surprisingly, have been found effective in combination with other treatments. These adjustments can help by restoring the normal functioning of the nervous system that had been disturbed by misaligned joints.

Other alternative treatments include acupuncture, herbs, hypnotherapy, creative visualization, biofeedback and homeopathy.

However, treatment for drug addiction depends on different factors, such as the personality of the person, the perception of spirituality and religion, the history of diseases or illnesses of the person, and the availability of the programs that are being offered.