Addiction is a disease where someones lifestyle is altered by destructive behavior. Such as drugs, alcohol abuse, gambling, sex, tobacco, eating or any other obsessive behavior that may cause harm to the mind or body or that changes one's lifestyle negatively. According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse in 2005, "In 2003, nearly 20 million people over the age of 12 in the United States reported having used an illicit drug. Over 15 million people abused prescription drugs such as pain medication in 2003, more than double the number that did so in 1992. In addition, 119 million Americans over the age of 12 reported alcohol use of some kind."Addictions are learned and sometimes people judge others if they are not familiar with addiction. Most people with an addiction do not have the intention to want to hurt themselves or anyone else. Some researchers say our brains are primed for addiction and others tend to disagree and say that the conditions of addiction are learned or caused by or from depression or other disorders.
I believe the main issue here is how to help these people. Addiction will continue to be part of human life and there will be people who will need this continuous help. How can we help them? Many people may say rehab, but the main obstacle with rehab is whether or not they want the help. Most addicts aren't aware of their addiction "problem" and if they are aware they easily want to push the blame on something or someone else. Providing an intervention for someone may save their life. Here is a video clip on intervention, the affects of addictions and the steps it takes to become sober. This second video clip is of Alyson a drug addict who was faced with an Intervention by her family and friends on the A&E Show "Intervention."
Many people do not get the help they need. I think many addicts do not want help because they will then be faced with the issues they tried to drowned at an early stage in their life, usually where there addiction(s) began. I want to believe there is always some light to a person who needs help. I believe people never lose who they are it is just lost in the alteration and negative changes they make either consciously or subconsciously to escape the problems they were having. People with addictions need help and they may seek it in different ways and times to the people they love. If you know someone with an addiction or are interested in the subject visit this website(thank you Tom!) for helpful tips and helplines/sites. It is never to late to seek help or to learn about addiction and how to help in ways like an intervention.
3 comments:
I believe that your topic this week holds a very important message...addicts are not just the stereotypical junkie prostitute or homeless alcoholic... This problem affects people we love and care about, like family members and friends. Addiction affects people from all races, financial and educational backgrounds. We must take action to help these people through interventions and treatment programs. Unfortunately, like you said, the biggest problem oftentimes is that these people refuse to admit that they have a problem. Great post, great topic. Everyone will be personally affected by the consequences of addiction at least once in their lives.
This topic is a very important one and I am glad that you brought it up. I also appreciate the link to recieve help. I myself have loved ones and acquaintances who have suffered addictions. It is a sad reality, especially the fact that loved ones can't do anything to help, in the end the adict must want to help themselves or else the vicious cycle wont stop.
I have recently learned that the "war on drugs" has been halted due to the "war on terror." The goverments reason for this and allowing drugs to be imported into this country without consequence is due to the fact that the drug lords are working with the United States by providing information about terrorists. The United States plan is once we win the war we can go back to old business and fight against the druglords.
For me this topic hits close to home. My older brother suffers from an alcohol addiction and like you said, it is often times difficult to intervene when the person with the addiction refuses help. Unfortunately, my brother is no longer a part of my life because his addiction has ruined our relationship. However, I think it is wonderful that there are so many resources available to those who do want to seek help. You had a lot of great information in your post and I enjoyed reading it.
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