About Drug and Alcohol Addiction

About Addiction

Addictive drugs activate the brain’s reward systems. The promise of reward is very intense, causing the individual to crave the drug and to focus his or her activities around taking the drug. The ability of addictive drugs to strongly activate the brain reward mechanisms and their ability to chemically alter the normal functioning of these systems can produce an addiction. Drugs also reduce a person’s level of consciousness, harming their ability to think or be fully aware of present surroundings.

The Cycle of Addiction

What Is A Drug?

In medical terms, a drug is any substance that when taken into a living organism may modify one or more of its functions. Drugs can provide temporary relief from unhealthy symptoms and/or permanently supply the body with a necessary substance the body can no longer make. Some drugs produce unwanted side affects. Some drugs lead to an unhealthy dependency that has both physiological and behavioral roots.

Why People Use Drugs

No one wants to be a drug addict or alcoholic, but that doesn’t stop people from getting addicted. The most commonly asked question is simply - how? How could my son, daughter, father, sister, or brother become a liar, a thief, someone who cannot be trusted? How could this happen? And why won’t they stop?

The first thing you must understand about addiction, is that alcohol and addictive drugs are basically painkillers. They chemically kill physical or emotional pain and alter the mind’s perception of reality. They make people numb. For drugs to be attractive to a person there must first be some underlying unhappiness, sense of hopelessness, or physical pain that they wish to escape.

Drug Addiction Follows A Cycle Like This:

The life cycle of addiction begins with a problem, discomfort, or some form of emotional or physical pain a person is experiencing. They find this very difficult to deal with.

We start off with an individual who, like most people in our society, is basically good. This person encounters a problem or discomfort that they do not know how to resolve or cannot confront. This could include problems such as difficulty “fitting in” as a child or teenager, anxiety due to peer pressure or work expectations, identity problems or divorce as an adult. It can also include physical discomfort, such as an injury or chronic pain. The person experiencing the discomfort has a real problem and feels their present situation is unendurable, yet sees no good solution to the problem.

Everyone has experienced this in life to a greater or lesser degree. The difference between an addict and the non-addict is that the addict chooses drugs or alcohol as a solution to the unwanted problem or discomfort.

The Addiction Progresses…

Analogous to an adolescent child in his first love affair, the use of drugs or alcohol becomes obsessive. The addicted person is trapped. Whatever problem he was initially trying to solve by using drugs or alcohol fades from memory. At this point, all they can think about is getting and using drugs. They lose the ability to control their usage and disregard the horrible consequences of their actions.

Alcohol And Drug Tolerance

In addition to the mental stress created by their unethical behavior, the addict’s body has also adapted to the presence of the drugs. He will experience an overwhelming obsession with getting and using his drugs, and will do anything to avoid the pain of withdrawing from them. This is when the newly-created addict begins to experience drug cravings. The individual now seeks drugs both for the reward of the “pleasure” they give him, and also to avoid the mental and physical horrors of withdrawal. Ironically, the addict’s ability to get “high” from the alcohol or drug gradually decreases as their body adapts to the presence of foreign chemicals. He must take more and more, not just to get an effect but often just to function at all.

At this point, the addict is stuck in a vicious dwindling spiral. The drugs being abused have changed him both physically and mentally. He has crossed an invisible and intangible line. He is now a drug addict or alcoholic.

Drugs and Problems

A person tries drugs or alcohol. The drug APPEAR to solve his problem. He feels better. Because he now SEEMS better able to deal with life, the drugs become valuable to him.

The person looks at drugs or alcohol as a cure for unwanted feelings. The painkilling effects of drugs or alcohol become a solution to their discomfort. Inadvertently the drug or alcohol now becomes valuable because it helped them feel better. This release is the main reason a person uses drugs or drinks a second or third time. It is just a matter of time before he becomes fully addicted and loses the ability to control his drug usage.

Drug addiction results from excessive or continued use of physiologically habit-forming drugs in an attempt to resolve the underlying symptoms of discomfort or unhappiness.

How Drugs Affect Behavior

The addict will now attempt to withhold the fact of their drug use from friends and family members. They will begin to suffer the effects of their own dishonesty and guilt. They may become withdrawn, difficult to reason with, and possibly develop strange behavior. The more they use drugs and alcohol, the guiltier they will feel, and the more depressed they will become. They will sacrifice their personal integrity, relationships with friends and family, theirs job, savings, and anything else they may possess in an attempt to get more drugs. The drugs are now the most important things in their life. Their relationships and job performance will go drastically downhill.

There is such a thing as a “drug personality”, which is artificially created by drugs. Drugs can change the attitude of a person from his original personality to one secretly harboring hostilities and hatreds he does not permit to show on the surface.

This establishes a link between drugs and increasing difficulties with crime, production and the modern breakdown of social and industrial culture.

The drug personality includes such characteristics as:
•Mood swings.
•Unreliable. Unable to finish projects.
•Unexpressed resentment and secret hatreds.
•Dishonesty. Lies to family, friends, employers.
•Withdraws from those who love him. Isolates self.
•May appear chronically depressed.
•May begin stealing from family and friends.

Drug Metabolites

Drugs and alcohol are broken down in the liver. When a person drinks or uses drugs over a period of time, the body becomes unable to completely eliminate them all. These metabolites, (the substances the body converts the drugs or alcohol into) although removed rapidly from the blood stream, become trapped in the fatty tissues. The problem that needs to be addressed is that these drug residues remain for years.There are various types of tissues that are high in fat content, and these tissues are turned over very slowly. When they are turned over, the stored drug metabolites are released into the blood stream and reactivate the same brain centers as if the person actually took the drug. The former addict now experiences a drug re-stimulation (or “flashback”) and drug craving. This is common in the months after an addict quits and can continue to occur for years, or even decades.

The Cycle Of Quitting, Withdrawal, Craving And Relapse.

When the addict initially tries to quit, cells in the brain that have become used to large amounts of these metabolites are now forced to deal with much decreased amounts. Even as the withdrawal symptoms subside, the brain “demands” that the addict give it more of the drug. This is called drug craving. Craving is an extremely powerful urge and can cause a person to create all kinds of “reasons” they should begin using drugs or drinking again. He is now trapped in an endless cycle of trying to quit, craving, relapse and fear of withdrawal. Eventually, the brain cells will again become used to having lowered drug metabolites.

However, because deposits of drug or alcohol metabolites release back into the bloodstream from fatty tissues for years, craving and relapse remain a cause for concern. Left unhandled, the presence of metabolites, even in microscopic amounts, cause the brain to react as if the addict had actually taken the drug again, and can set up craving and relapse even after years of sobriety. To prevent relapse due to the above scenario the solution is the Narconon New Life Detoxification procedure.

CLASSIFICATION OF DRUGS

Prohibited Drug - Which includes opium and its active components and derivatives, such as heroin and morphine; coca leaf and its derivatives, principally cocaine; alpha and beta eucaine; hallucinogenic drugs, such as mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and other substances producing similar effects; Indian hemp and its derivatives; all preparations made from any of the foregoing; and other drugs and chemical preparations, whether natural or synthetic, with the physiological effects of a narcotic or a hallucinogenic drug; or (As amended by B.P. 179 dated March 2, 1982).

Regulated Drug - Which includes self-inducing sedatives, such as secobarbital,
phenobarbital, pentobarbital, barbital, amobarbital and any other drug which contains a salt of a derivative of a salt of barbituric acid; any salt, isomer or salt of an isomer, of amphetamine, such as benzedrine or dexedrine, or any drug which produces a physiological action similar to amphetamine; and hypnotic drugs, such as methaqualone, nitrazepam or any other compound producing similar physiological effects; (As amended by PD No.1683 dated March 14, 1980).

MARIJUANA
(HARMFUL EFFECTS)

Marijuana, often called grass, pot, or weed is a crude drug made from Cannabis sativa, a plant that contains a mind-altering (psychoactive) ingredient called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Marijuana slows down the user’s mental and psychomotor activities. Users don’t remember what they have learned when they are high. The effects of marijuana can also impair thinking, reading comprehension and verbal and mathematical skills. Marijuana creates other health problems related to: the reproductive system, the heart, the lungs. It has been found that marijuana use may lead to cancer. Long-term regular use of marijuana may lead to psychological dependence. Once started, it may take more of the drug for the user to get the same effect. Young marijuana users are more likely to go on experimenting with other drugs.

IMMEDIATE EFFECTS:

1. Faster heartbeat and pulse rate
2. Bloodshot eyes
3. Dry mouth and throat
4. Altered sense of time/disorientation
5. Forgetfulness/inability to think
6. Impaired reflexes, coordination and concentration
“Acute panic anxiety reaction” – extreme fear of losing control

LONG TERM EFFECTS:

1. Chest pain
2. Irregular menstrual cycle
3. Temporary loss of fertility for both sexes
4. Premature babies/low birth weights
5. Cancer

Marijuana “burn-out” (dull, slow moving, inattentive, and unaware of surroundings)

SHABU
(HARMFUL EFFECTS)

Shabu is a white odorless crystal or cyrstalline powder with a bitter numbing taste. In the street name for the chemical substance known as Metamphetamine. It is also popularity known as “poor man’s cocaine”. Other slang names are “shabs, ubas, S, siopao, sha and ice”.

ACUTE:

1. Produces anxiety, irritability, irrational behavior, talkativeness and loss of self control.
2. Results in loss of appetite and inability to sleep.
3. Can lead to acute psychotic reactions, violent and destructive
4. behavior and recklessness that may result in accidents.

PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS:

Include chest pain, irregularity of heartbeat, hypertension, convulsion and death from cardiac arrest.

PSYCHOLOGICAL & PHYSICAL DEPENDENCE:

This chemical substance is known to produce psychological and physical dependency.
These are characterized by anxiety, tension and craving for the substance. This substance-seeking behavior can lead to various criminal and other anti-social acts. Withdrawal symptoms occur when drug use is abruptly stopped. Among these are feeling of apathy, hypersomnia (excessive period of sleep) and depression. Depression may lead to suicide.

LONG-TERM EFFECTS:

Psychiatric consequences are the major features of chronic “Shabu” abuse and dependency. Prolonged use and even a single exposure especially if administered intravenously can lead to manifestations of a full blown psychosis which is similar to schizophrenia characterized by the presence of paranoid delusions, auditory and visual hallucinations. The paranoia may lead to violent and aggressive behavior. Some chronic users have difficulty concentrating or remembering things. Diminished ability to cope with problems and difficulties in facing reality are common. Loss of interest in sex, ambition or motivation may also result.

Chronic snorters may suffer from severe irritation of the nasal passages and at times may even develop tissue perforation of the nasal bleed. Renal damage, heart disease and strokes have been documented among chronic abusers.

Injecting “shabu” from contaminated needles may lead to risk of infections resulting in inflammation of the blood vesels (Phebitis), infection of the heart valves (Endocarditis), blood poisoning (Septicemia), and the most dreaded disease AIDS, all of which can lead to death.

INHALANTS
(HARMFUL EFFECTS)

IMMEDIATE EFFECTS:

1. Confusion/Disorientation
2. Distorted perception of time & distance
3. Aggressive behavior/violence
4. Hallucination
5. Illusions
6. Nausea and vomiting

LONG TERM EFFECTS:

1. Loss of memory
2. Inability to think
3. Muscle cramp and weakness
4. Numbness in limbs
5. Abdominal pains
6. Damage to the central nervous system, kidneys and liver
7. Bone marrow depression

SEDATIVE/HYNOTIC DRUGS
(HARMFUL EFFECTS)

Sedative-Hypnotics (tranquilizers, sleeping pills, sedatives) are drugs which depress or slow down body functions. These are drugs that can be dangerous when not taken according to a physician’s instructions.

1. Slurred speech
2. Poor judgment

Regular use of the sedative and hypnotic drugs can cause both physical and psychological dependence. User will have to take larger doses to get the same effects.

Users feel they used the drug to function. When regular users stop using these drugs suddenly, they may develop physical withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, insomia, anxiety, convulsion or death.


ECSTACY

Ecstacy is the name given to 3-4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) by a Los Angeles manufacturer of the drug in order to market it. Other street names of MDMA or “Adam” or XTC is a synthetic, PSYCHOACTIVE (mind allering) drug with hallucegenic and amphetamine like properties. Its chemical structure is similar to two other synthetic drugs, MDA and methemphetamine which are known to cause brain damage. MDMA is a so called “designer drug” which are known has become a worldwide problem as well as a serious health threat. It is known to be the cause of several deaths in the US and Europe.