As this is the last post in this blog, I hope that with this blog much was learned.
Substance use, abuse, and addiction is a widespread problem among many. There are many classes of substances that one can become addicted to. There are many ways in which one can be influenced, including genetic predisposition. While, although, it may seem as though substance use, abuse, and addiction can be futile, there are also many options for hope and treatment. Substance dependency and compulsive behaviors do not have to be forever crippling. As the title of this blog says, 'if it's called rock bottom, why keep digging?'.
Here are some useful links if you, or a loved one, are struggling with substance abuse
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: http://www.samhsa.gov/
Alcoholics Anonymous: http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org
Narcotics Anonymous: https://www.na.org/
Al-Anon/Al-Ateen: http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/
Twelve Step Programs for Compulsive Behaviors:
Overeaters Anonymous: http://www.oa.org/
Eating Disorders Anonymous: http://www.eatingdisordersanonymous.org/
Gamblers Anonymous: http://www.gamblersanonymous.org
Emotions Anonymous: http://www.emotionsanonymous.org/
Codependents Anonymous: http://www.coda.org/
Non Twelve Step Recovery Programs:
SmartRecovery: http://www.smartrecovery.org/
Women For Sobriety: http://www.womenforsobriety.org
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Friday, March 28, 2014
Prevention
Is it possible to prevent substance abuse and compulsive behaviors? Well, that's a complex question that has complex answers. According to the book "Uppers, Downers, and All Arounders" (2011), "there are three traditional approaches to reduce the levels of drug use and abuse: Reduce the supply, reduce the demand, and reduce the harm."
Reducing the supply of psychoactive drugs includes legislation changes and legal penalties. Reducing the demand includes treating dependency, and "fostering prevention." Lastly, reducing harm includes harm that is caused to the user, their families, friends, and society. This can be done through treatment programs, medication replacement treatment such as Methadone and Suboxone, and the distribution of recovery resources.
In order to understand prevention, we obviously have to understand what drives addiction. The methods of what drives addiction range greatly from genetics, the disease/medical model, the psychodynamic model, the social model, and biopsychosocial model. Of course, some will argue that one model describes the etiology and cause, while others will argue it's a combination of one or more theories.
With that said, what about compulsive addicting behaviors?
One can look at compulsive addicting behaviors in the same light as drug and alcohol dependency.
Whatever the contributing factors to addiction, prevention is key.
Reducing the supply of psychoactive drugs includes legislation changes and legal penalties. Reducing the demand includes treating dependency, and "fostering prevention." Lastly, reducing harm includes harm that is caused to the user, their families, friends, and society. This can be done through treatment programs, medication replacement treatment such as Methadone and Suboxone, and the distribution of recovery resources.
In order to understand prevention, we obviously have to understand what drives addiction. The methods of what drives addiction range greatly from genetics, the disease/medical model, the psychodynamic model, the social model, and biopsychosocial model. Of course, some will argue that one model describes the etiology and cause, while others will argue it's a combination of one or more theories.
With that said, what about compulsive addicting behaviors?
One can look at compulsive addicting behaviors in the same light as drug and alcohol dependency.
Whatever the contributing factors to addiction, prevention is key.
Friday, March 21, 2014
Compulsive Behaviors and Addiction.
Often a topic of hot debate is compulsive behaviors and the term "addiction". Are compulsive behaviors addictions? Is someone who struggles with a compulsive behavior forever "in recovery" or is "recovered" possible?
Well, the answer to that depends on who you ask.
According to our text "Certain behaviors such as gambling, eating, shopping, sexual activity, video games, TV and the internet can become compulsive, mimicking compulsive drug use, and affecting the neuroanatomy and neurochemistry of brain cells in the same way that addictive drugs do" (Ksir 2011.)
The above, however, is not every compulsive behavior in the book. Self injury, for instance, is highly addictive and a widespread problem in society.
Psychology today (2013) states that " It is increasingly possible for people to experience so-called behavioral addictions"
I have seen first hand, and experienced myself, behavioral addictions.
Often the twelve steps can be used to treat behavioral addictions, and there is a plethora of twelve step meetings from "emotions anonymous" to "self injury anonymous" to "eating disorders anonymous" and even "sex addicts anonymous." The list goes on and on.
While this method is proven to be affective in the treatment of all 'addictions', and most will agree that behavioral addictions are true addictions, not all with agree on weather one can recover completely from them or not.
Well, the answer to that depends on who you ask.
According to our text "Certain behaviors such as gambling, eating, shopping, sexual activity, video games, TV and the internet can become compulsive, mimicking compulsive drug use, and affecting the neuroanatomy and neurochemistry of brain cells in the same way that addictive drugs do" (Ksir 2011.)
The above, however, is not every compulsive behavior in the book. Self injury, for instance, is highly addictive and a widespread problem in society.
Psychology today (2013) states that " It is increasingly possible for people to experience so-called behavioral addictions"
I have seen first hand, and experienced myself, behavioral addictions.
Often the twelve steps can be used to treat behavioral addictions, and there is a plethora of twelve step meetings from "emotions anonymous" to "self injury anonymous" to "eating disorders anonymous" and even "sex addicts anonymous." The list goes on and on.
While this method is proven to be affective in the treatment of all 'addictions', and most will agree that behavioral addictions are true addictions, not all with agree on weather one can recover completely from them or not.
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Recovery Demystified
The things most people become addicted to are:
Stimulants ~ cocaine, methamphetamine, caffeine, and nicotine
Depressants ~ opiates, sedative-hypnotics, alcohol
Psychedelics~ marijuana, LSD
Inhalants
Steroids
Prescription Medications
Compulsive behaviors.
According to Psychology today (2013) " Addiction is a condition that results when a person ingests a substance (alcohol, cocaine, nicotine, etc.) or engages in an activity (gambling, etc.) that can be pleasurable but the continued use of which becomes compulsive and interferes with ordinary life responsibilities, such as work or relationships, or health. Users may not be aware that their behavior is out of control and causing problems for themselves and others."
There are detox programs, acute care programs (such as psychiatric chemical dependency units), and rehab facilities for those struggling with addiction to almost anything, usually with the exception of stimulants such as nicotine and caffeine (possibly because these are seen as more socially acceptable.)
Although, studies show that the most frequently used and abused psychoactive substance in the world is caffeine, and according to Canadian dietician George Malkmus, "80 percent of North Americans consume it on a daily basis" (2010). Moreover, according to the CDC (2013) "Research suggests that nicotine may be as addictive as heroin, cocaine, or alcohol."
Speaking personally, as an ex smoker and someone who has struggled to decrease caffeine consumption, it floors me that there are not detox programs for these two substances.
Another substance that I'd like to touch on is Alcohol. Alcohol dependence and withdrawal are both insidious and quite dangerous, and can be fatal. Yet alcohol is legal. Having worked in a treatment center, the amount of havoc I've seen caused by alcohol addiction had been shockingly astounding.
Depressants, psychedelics, inhalants, prescription medications, and steroids are also addictive substances which often require intervention, and possible rehab treatment programs.
The point at which a person enters an inpatient rehab, medical detox, or outpatient program is often when they hit something called "rock bottom", or, if they are among the lucky ones - if an intervention is done.
Often rehab programs are based on something called "The Twelve Steps". A twelve-step program is a set of guiding principles (accepted by members as 'spiritual principles,' based on the approved literature) outlining a course of action for recovery from addiction, compulsion, or other behavioral problems. Originally proposed by Alcoholics Anonymous as a method of recovery from Alcoholism, it is now used widely for addictions, compulsions, and behavioral problems across the board.
Although twelve step programs are the most widely used form of treatment, there are some programs that are more holistic. For example, Passages Malibu states "Unlike other rehab centers, we don’t believe that addiction is a disease. Our research shows that people become dependent on drugs and alcohol because of one of these four causes:
1. A chemical imbalance
2. Events of the past you have not reconciled
3. Current conditions you can’t cope with
4. Things you believe that aren’t true" (Passages Malibu, 2014.)
The most important thing about addiction, I do believe, is to find what works for the person who is addicted, so they can live a full, happy, and healthy life.
In my next blog I'll talk about compulsive behaviors and addiction. How are compulsive behaviors similar to addictive substances? How are they different?
Stimulants ~ cocaine, methamphetamine, caffeine, and nicotine
Depressants ~ opiates, sedative-hypnotics, alcohol
Psychedelics~ marijuana, LSD
Inhalants
Steroids
Prescription Medications
Compulsive behaviors.
According to Psychology today (2013) " Addiction is a condition that results when a person ingests a substance (alcohol, cocaine, nicotine, etc.) or engages in an activity (gambling, etc.) that can be pleasurable but the continued use of which becomes compulsive and interferes with ordinary life responsibilities, such as work or relationships, or health. Users may not be aware that their behavior is out of control and causing problems for themselves and others."
There are detox programs, acute care programs (such as psychiatric chemical dependency units), and rehab facilities for those struggling with addiction to almost anything, usually with the exception of stimulants such as nicotine and caffeine (possibly because these are seen as more socially acceptable.)
Although, studies show that the most frequently used and abused psychoactive substance in the world is caffeine, and according to Canadian dietician George Malkmus, "80 percent of North Americans consume it on a daily basis" (2010). Moreover, according to the CDC (2013) "Research suggests that nicotine may be as addictive as heroin, cocaine, or alcohol."
Speaking personally, as an ex smoker and someone who has struggled to decrease caffeine consumption, it floors me that there are not detox programs for these two substances.
Another substance that I'd like to touch on is Alcohol. Alcohol dependence and withdrawal are both insidious and quite dangerous, and can be fatal. Yet alcohol is legal. Having worked in a treatment center, the amount of havoc I've seen caused by alcohol addiction had been shockingly astounding.
Depressants, psychedelics, inhalants, prescription medications, and steroids are also addictive substances which often require intervention, and possible rehab treatment programs.
The point at which a person enters an inpatient rehab, medical detox, or outpatient program is often when they hit something called "rock bottom", or, if they are among the lucky ones - if an intervention is done.
Often rehab programs are based on something called "The Twelve Steps". A twelve-step program is a set of guiding principles (accepted by members as 'spiritual principles,' based on the approved literature) outlining a course of action for recovery from addiction, compulsion, or other behavioral problems. Originally proposed by Alcoholics Anonymous as a method of recovery from Alcoholism, it is now used widely for addictions, compulsions, and behavioral problems across the board.
Although twelve step programs are the most widely used form of treatment, there are some programs that are more holistic. For example, Passages Malibu states "Unlike other rehab centers, we don’t believe that addiction is a disease. Our research shows that people become dependent on drugs and alcohol because of one of these four causes:
1. A chemical imbalance
2. Events of the past you have not reconciled
3. Current conditions you can’t cope with
4. Things you believe that aren’t true" (Passages Malibu, 2014.)
The most important thing about addiction, I do believe, is to find what works for the person who is addicted, so they can live a full, happy, and healthy life.
In my next blog I'll talk about compulsive behaviors and addiction. How are compulsive behaviors similar to addictive substances? How are they different?
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
The Rollercoaster of 'Recovery'...
Addiction is very cunning, baffling, and powerful. According to Alcoholics Anonymous (High and Dry, 2003) "When I stopped living in the problem and began living in the answer, the problem went away.”
So what does that mean? Is recovery from addiction possible?
In order to discern that, one must define recovery. The flaw with that is, that the essence of recovery is an individual process. One persons 'recovery' will almost certainly not look like anothers.
Furthermore, in my opinion with working in the field, it really depends on the substance in which the person is addicted to, the time in which they spent in their addiction, environmental aspects, predisposition and genetics. Addiction and recovery is not black and white. It's not an either or situation.
With that said, there are many substances and addictions that one can fall prey to:
Stimulants ~ cocaine, methamphetamine, caffeine, and nicotine
Depressants ~ opiates, sedative-hypnotics, alcohol
Psychedelics~ marijuana, LSD
Inhanlants
Steroids
Prescription Medications
and of course, compulsive behaviors.
In my next blog post, I'll go into each of the possibilities for addiction and their influence on the recovery process.
So what does that mean? Is recovery from addiction possible?
In order to discern that, one must define recovery. The flaw with that is, that the essence of recovery is an individual process. One persons 'recovery' will almost certainly not look like anothers.
Furthermore, in my opinion with working in the field, it really depends on the substance in which the person is addicted to, the time in which they spent in their addiction, environmental aspects, predisposition and genetics. Addiction and recovery is not black and white. It's not an either or situation.
With that said, there are many substances and addictions that one can fall prey to:
Stimulants ~ cocaine, methamphetamine, caffeine, and nicotine
Depressants ~ opiates, sedative-hypnotics, alcohol
Psychedelics~ marijuana, LSD
Inhanlants
Steroids
Prescription Medications
and of course, compulsive behaviors.
In my next blog post, I'll go into each of the possibilities for addiction and their influence on the recovery process.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Substance Misuse, Abuse, Addiction, and Dependence...
Did you know there is a difference between substance misuse, abuse, addiction, and dependence? I actually didn't either, but there is! In working at a residential treatment center that treats addictions, the line between use, misuse, abuse, addiction, and dependence often gets blurred. However, the difference between them is very real and very relevant.
Substance misuse refers to "the use of prescribed drugs in greater amounts than, or for purposes other than, those prescribed by a physician or dentist. For non prescription drugs or chemicals such as paints, glues, or solvents, misuse might mean any use other than the use intended by the manufacturer." (Hart, Ksir 2013.)
In working in "the field", we treated many clients who misused chemicals. This was mostly those who were scared to get addicted, scared they were going down the 'wrong road', or parents and family who were scared for their loved ones. I found that those who 'misused' chemicals were a challenge to treat, a challenge to reach, to help...
Substance abuse is basically substance misuse that 'causes problems or greatly increases the chances of problems occurring." (Hart, Ksir 2013.) These problems can range from psychological, legal, occupational, relational and social.
It has been my experience in working with substance troubles, that those seeking treatment at the "substance abuse" stage seem to be the most likely to participate in their own 'recovery.' This stage is early enough that chances are serious damage has not yet been done, yet serious enough that the potential of serious damage is staring the client in the face. That is, fear. Fear often triggers change.
Addiction is not a black and white term. Addiction has different meanings for different people. According to the book Drugs, Society, and Human Behavior (2013), "because the term is so widely used in everyday conversation, it is risky for use to try to give it a precise scientific definition, and then have our readers use their own long-held perspectives whenever we use the term. Therefore, we have avoided using this term, instead relying on more precisely defined terms such as dependence."
So what is dependence???
The term dependence is usually what people think of addiction. The substance use is so consistent that one can hardly function without using the drug (be it physical withdrawal or physiological withdrawal.) The dependence has all but taken over.
This, in my own personal opinion, is the most challenging to treat in the 'recovery' world. To be dependent on a substance is, in my experience, a delicate process of not only getting the person to release the hold the substance has over them, but getting them through detox, replacing that 'hold' with something else more constructive and 'fulfilling', and teaching that person how to live. There is a saying that a person stops emotionally aging at the time their dependence takes over. Now, that's food for thought.
So what do we do with all of this information?
Is recovery possible?
I'll address that and more in my next blog post...
Substance misuse refers to "the use of prescribed drugs in greater amounts than, or for purposes other than, those prescribed by a physician or dentist. For non prescription drugs or chemicals such as paints, glues, or solvents, misuse might mean any use other than the use intended by the manufacturer." (Hart, Ksir 2013.)
In working in "the field", we treated many clients who misused chemicals. This was mostly those who were scared to get addicted, scared they were going down the 'wrong road', or parents and family who were scared for their loved ones. I found that those who 'misused' chemicals were a challenge to treat, a challenge to reach, to help...
Substance abuse is basically substance misuse that 'causes problems or greatly increases the chances of problems occurring." (Hart, Ksir 2013.) These problems can range from psychological, legal, occupational, relational and social.
It has been my experience in working with substance troubles, that those seeking treatment at the "substance abuse" stage seem to be the most likely to participate in their own 'recovery.' This stage is early enough that chances are serious damage has not yet been done, yet serious enough that the potential of serious damage is staring the client in the face. That is, fear. Fear often triggers change.
Addiction is not a black and white term. Addiction has different meanings for different people. According to the book Drugs, Society, and Human Behavior (2013), "because the term is so widely used in everyday conversation, it is risky for use to try to give it a precise scientific definition, and then have our readers use their own long-held perspectives whenever we use the term. Therefore, we have avoided using this term, instead relying on more precisely defined terms such as dependence."
So what is dependence???
The term dependence is usually what people think of addiction. The substance use is so consistent that one can hardly function without using the drug (be it physical withdrawal or physiological withdrawal.) The dependence has all but taken over.
This, in my own personal opinion, is the most challenging to treat in the 'recovery' world. To be dependent on a substance is, in my experience, a delicate process of not only getting the person to release the hold the substance has over them, but getting them through detox, replacing that 'hold' with something else more constructive and 'fulfilling', and teaching that person how to live. There is a saying that a person stops emotionally aging at the time their dependence takes over. Now, that's food for thought.
So what do we do with all of this information?
Is recovery possible?
I'll address that and more in my next blog post...
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Substance Use, Abuse, and Addiction: Looking From the Outside In...
For 4 years I worked at a residential treatment center that treated substance abuse, use, and addiction. I, got to see first hand what the disease of addiction did to countless of individuals. Individuals who have their whole lives ahead of them. Individuals ranging of all ages, all genders, all races. Addiction surely does not discriminate. I also got to experience what addiction did to their friends and families. I became what many of these individuals called a mentor. I wore many hats in my position as a 'recovery advocate' and advocate I was.
There is a fine line between substance use, abuse, and addiction, and quite sadly this line often gets blurred.
In this blog I will not only dissect the differences between the three, I will also go in depth with the variety of substances one can become entrenched in. I will talk about detox, treatment, the twelve step process, and other recovery alternatives.
There is a fine line between substance use, abuse, and addiction, and quite sadly this line often gets blurred.
In this blog I will not only dissect the differences between the three, I will also go in depth with the variety of substances one can become entrenched in. I will talk about detox, treatment, the twelve step process, and other recovery alternatives.
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