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Addiction: Frequently Asked Questions

What is addiction?

Addiction is commonly defined as the abuse of a psychoactive substance to the point where it interferes with an individual’s health, economic or social functioning. The abuse is associated with a need for increasing amounts to achieve the same effect. The word ‘addiction’ is frequently misused and habit may be a more accurate description.
The term "addiction" refers to a strong dependence or habitual use of a substance or practice, despite the negative consequences of its use. This may refer to substance addictions, (e.g. alcohol, illicit or prescription drugs) or behaviour al addictions, (e.g. work, food, sex, gambling, relationships, computers, pornography, cutting etc.). An addiction may be harmful to a person's mental, physical and spiritual health, their connections with family and friends, their work life and economic functioning.
Addiction: self-induced changes in neurotransmission that result in behavior problems. Addiction is the use of a substance or activity for the purpose of lessening pain or augmenting pleasure, by a person who has lost control over the rate, frequency, or duration of its use, and whose life has become progressively unmanageable as a result.
Addiction is a complex brain disease. It is characterized by drug craving, seeking, and use that can persist even in the face of extremely negative consequences. Drug-seeking may become compulsive in large part as a result of the effects of prolonged use on brain functioning and, thus, on behavior. For many people, relapses are possible even after long periods of abstinence.
Addiction to alcohol and other drugs is characterized by compulsion, loss of control, and continued use in spite of adverse consequences.

Is addiction an illness?

Responsibility vs. Control with an illness. We are used to recognizing that there are medical problems we can’t control. We are responsible for treating these problems, but we are not in control of the illness. A person whose heart goes too slow or too fast must take responsibility to treat a condition they cannot control. In the brain there are parts of us we can control and parts we cannot control. We are responsible for being accountable to both.
We think so and so does the World Health Organisation though we do know that some people disagree with this notion.

Is addiction a disease?

This is a trick question! Entering into a debate on this question takes up time and energy from helping your loved one, although I agree that there are valid philosophical, financial and medical bases for disagreement. My own perspective is that addiction is enough like a disease that we should treat it as one.
The short answer is yes, addiction is a disease, particularly if you look at the word in its parts: dis-ease. Addiction isn't a disease in the sense of a cold or flu; you can't catch it from someone; it's not a bacteria or virus. Instead, it's more like a chronic condition that may reappear after years of abstaining if you don't take precautions.

Is addiction hereditary?

There is plenty of evidence for a connection between genetic endowment and addiction to alcohol and drugs. By analyzing patterns of inheritance, researchers have learned that heredity accounts for about half of the risk that a person will develop an addiction. Addiction is a medical illness and develops in the same way as many other illnesses.

Is addiction in the family?

Half of all patients diagnosed as alcoholic are born into families where alcohol is used heavily, suggesting that familiar influence, genetic factors, or more likely both, play a role in the development of addiction. What also needs to be noted is that when people don’t gain a sense of moderation through their development they can be just as likely, if not more likely, to abuse substances than people born into alcoholic families.

What is sexual addiction?

Sexual addiction is the way some people attempt to fill inner emptiness, medicate past pain, or deal with the stresses in their life to the point that their sexuality becomes their major coping mechanism in their life. Often, sex addiction is used the same way a mood-altering drug is used to change the mood of the addict. While the individual cannot often stop this sexual behavior for any lengthy period of time on their own, they believe like many addicts that they can. ...

What is drug addiction treatment?

The SAT program is a multidisciplinary, medical/psychiatric and scientific approach for the treatment of substance addiction. SAT targets the root of drug use and drug dependency. The SAT program does not rely on old, out-dated treatment models. SAT provides a comprehensive treatment. Thus. it is much more than just a “program.”

What is food addiction?

Food addiction is a physical and emotional addiction to food. The two most addicting being sugar and white flour.Food addicts use food to run from and or medicate painful feelings or from life in general. At our treatment facility, we treat the physical and the emotional issues simultaneously to ensure a successful recovery.

Does hypnosis cause addiction?

Hypnosis never causes addiction. Because there is nothing given to you from outside. During hypnosis you solve your problems using your own powers. David Spiegel is one of the most famous psychotherapists and hypnotist of the world and says “People, including physicians may worry if they think there might be some risks with hynosis but hypnosis is neither dangerous nor has side effects, as in the medical treatments.”

What is your current addiction?

Right now, I'm completely addicted to KFC's Popcorn Chicken. It tastes so good, and it is so satisfying!! The only thing is that it's not cheap. I mean, it's cheaper than a full meal, but it's about the cost of one of those expensive shakes or a Coffee Coolatta. It's much less expensive just to eat some crackers and a yogurt , some cheese or a piece of fruit, and that would be much more healthy. ...

What is addiction or dependence?

A modern definition of an addict or dependent person is someone who desires to keep a minimal quantity of drugs in the bloodstream at all times in order to feel well or normal.

What is the Narconon philosophy on addiction?

There is no such thing as a “victim” in the Narconon way of thinking. Even if life has dealt one a bad hand of cards, the road out is through personal recognition of responsibility for one’s own condition.

What is addiction medicine?

It is the treatment of addictive disease, the psychopharmacology of drugs, new research strategies in the management of drug abuse problems, and proper prescribing practices for physicians.

Is addiction voluntary behavior?

Most people start as an occasional user, which is a voluntary decision. Over time, voluntary users can become compulsive users. Continued use of addictive substances cause changes in how your brain functions, sometimes in dramatic ways, at other times in more subtle ways. Either way, the unfortunate result is often compulsive and even uncontrollable substance abuse.

What are the main signs of addiction?

If you are still using when you are causing harm to yourself and/or others then this is a sign of addiction. If you are looking at this website, there is almost certainly a problem.

What is alcoholism/substance addiction?

Addiction is a disease that includes the following four symptoms: Craving - A strong need, or urge, to drink or use. Loss of control - Not being able to stop drinking/using. Physical dependence - Withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety after stopping drinking/using. Tolerance - The need for greater amounts of alcohol/drugs to get “high.”

WHAT IS "ADDICTION" OR SUBSTANCE DEPENDENCE?

Using mood altering substances is a matter of degree or severity. Addiction unfolds along a continuum. At one end, a person’s occasional drink, for example, is not a problem at all. At the other end, his or her use of alcohol has become extremely serious, perhaps even life threatening. Dependence results when an individual is preoccupied with using alcohol or drugs and continues the behaviour compulsively despite ever increasing negative consequences to life, health and self-esteem.
Source: aacts.ca

Is addiction biologically caused?

It is believed that there are some genetic and biological predispositions to addictions. However, these risks can be managed through proper education and /or treatment.

What is alcohol or drug addiction?

Alcohol or drug addiction is a complex brain disease. It is characterized by compulsive, at times uncontrollable alcohol or drug craving, seeking and use that persist even in the face of very negative consequences. Alcohol or drug seeking becomes compulsive in large part as a result of the effects of prolonged drug use on the brain functioning and, thus, on behavior. For many people, alcohol or drug use becomes chronic, with relapses possible even after long periods of abstinence.

Steroids and addiction?

More and more people are realizing that steroid can be addictive. On the DSMV - IV Diagnostic Criteria for Substance Dependence, steroids score 5 out of 7; (2) Withdrawal, (3) Loss of control (amount & time), (5) Preoccupation, (6) Adverse consequences (social) and (7) Adverse consequences (health). The remaining 2 are borderline; (1) Tolerance and (4) Loss of control (control or quit). In addition, pain, discomfort and insomnia are associated with steroid use. This can cause the user to seek to self-medicate. ...

What are the Treatments for Cocaine Addiction?

There is no cure for drug addiction of any kind, but cocaine rehab is the best way to treat cocaine addiction. A cocaine detox begins the process if you are experiencing physical withdrawal when you first stop taking the drug. This is followed up with a treatment plan that is customized for each individual and includes everything from support groups to personal therapy sessions to alternative therapies and some good old fashioned down time and healthy food.

What are the Effects of Cocaine Addiction?

Cocaine addiction not only affects your brain chemistry, your moods and emotions, your ability to maintain at work and keep up with your responsibilities to your family, drains your bank account and gets you into legal trouble, it also hurts everyone around you. Your family lose a mother or sister or aunt or cousin or grandmother. Your friends lose someone they can depend on. Your community loses all that you have to offer. The effects of cocaine addiction are practically boundless.

What is Cocaine Addiction?

Addiction to cocaine is a medically researched and proven phenomenon that grips both animals and humans alike powerfully, so much so that animals in studies will choose cocaine over food and water. Humans are no different. Cocaine addiction can have you choosing the drug and the high over your family, friends, work, hobbies… everything important to you and those around you. The changes that the drug creates in your brain’s chemistry making it harder and harder to quit over time. ...

What is Heroin Addiction?

Heroin is an opiate based drug that is either snorted or shot intravenously, and when it is used regularly over a relatively short period of time, heroin addiction results. Contrary to popular belief, no one form of heroin use is more addicting than another. Over time, heroin addiction will result no matter how you ingest the drug.
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