Addiction:What can be done about it?

Activity.
Summary about addiction.

An addiction is a physiological or psychological dependence on a substance or activity.Physiological dependence means that the body has become accustomed to a drug and needs these chemicals just to function and is determined when a person experiences tolerance and withdrawal. Tolerance means that the body becomes used to the effect of the drug.Withdrawal occurs when the person stops taking a drug on which he or she is physiologically dependent and experiences painful physical symptoms. Psychological dependence means that a person comes to depend on the feeling received from a drug. The person believes that he or she can control the use of the drug and is not causing any harm.

Intervention.

Means interrupting the downward slide before the addict hits bottom.The addicted person usually meet first with a drug and alcohol counselor and someone from a support group such as Alcoholocs Anonymous to learn about addiction and discuss how they have been affected by it.

Recovery.

Entails 3 important steps: The first is recognize that there is a problem with alcohol or drugs.The second is make the decision to give them up.the third step is to actually remove these drugs from the body.This process is called detoxification and shoul take place under medical supervision.Alcoholism and drug dependence cannot be cured.They can,however, be prevented from progressing further

Treatment Choices.

A support group is a group of people who share a common problem and work together to help each other and themselves to cope with and recover from that problem.Regular attendance at such support groups is the most popular form of ongoing treatment for addictions.Alcohol and drug treatment centers offer a wide range of services:

• Detox units that help an addict through detoxification.
• Inpatient treatment centers are facilities where a person stays for a month or more.
• Outpatient treatment centers.The patient live at home during the treatment but he or she Have to spend a few hours each day at the center.
• Halfway houses.Offer housing, counseling and support meetings for 6 months to a year.

Codependency.

Some people who live with an alcoholic or drug addict become codependent.Codependents try to protect the addict from facing the consequences of the drug problem. They lie for the addict, lend money and make excuses.Such actions, of course, do not help the addict.

Source. Hartmann,Pamela;Blass,Laurie.(2007)Quest 2:Reading and Writing.McGraw Hill.Page.214