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Overcoming Addictions
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Table of Contents
Introduction To Addictive Disorders
Understanding Addiction in Laymen’s Terms
Dominating Dependencies
(Relationships, Drugs, Alcohol, Gambling, Internet)
Recovery Tools
Treatment Alternatives
Support Groups, Organizations & Programs
Healthy Living, Healthy Choices Tips
Overcoming Addiction Rewards & Resources
Introduction To Addictive Disorders
In this guide, the Addictive Disorders discussed refer to health matters dealing
with both physical and psychological intense desires or cravings for substances
or behaviors that grow into dependency. For example, not only will alcohol and
drug dependency be addressed, but addictions dealing with issues like emotional,
“things” or “people” attachments. The general concept is that these cravings or
yearnings are ongoing in spite of the fact that they cause the addicted person,
and at times others, harm at various levels; social, psychological and physical.
And on the whole, the addictive disorders that are discussed are considered
progressive or advancing in nature, and chronic or lasting for a long period of
time, with distinct periods of recurrence.
There are some alarming
facts to consider regarding addictive disorders. For instance, a recent report
in the National Drug Addiction Recovery Month Kit showed the cost of alcohol and
illicit drug use in the workplace, including lost productivity, accidents and
medical claims to be an estimated $140 billion per year.
Another fact: every eight seconds, a person dies due to a tobacco-related
illness, according to the World Health Organization.
Also, an estimated 28
percent to 30 percent of people in the U.S.A. alone have an addictive substance
abuse disorder, a mental health disorder or both, according to a 2002 report by
the National Mental Health Association.
And alcohol abuse and
dependence occurs four times as much among men over the age of 65 than women in
the same age group, according to the Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health,
1999.
With Addictive Disorders
being such a large important part of everyday life, this ebook strives to help
clear up myths from facts and present an overview of the issues surrounding the
disorders. It includes information about some of the top addictions in society
today, along with a variety of solutions available to help with treatment and
coping, based upon the most recent studies, research, reports, articles,
findings, products and services available, so that you can learn more about
Overcoming Addictions.
For example, consider the
following and decide if it is myth or truth: addicts cannot be medically
treated. This is a myth. Some substance addicts can be medically treated via a
detoxifying program, followed up by treatment with new medicines like Bupropion
(Zyban) and Naltrexone (ReVia). These medicines help people who are refraining
from addictive substances to keep their desires for them in check.
Note that the contents here
are not presented from a medical practitioner, and that any and all health care
planning should be made under the guidance of your own medical and health
practitioners. The content within only presents an overview of Overcoming
Addictions research for educational purposes and does not replace medical advice
from a professional physician.
Understanding Addiction
in Laymen’s Terms
Many researchers believe
that addiction is a behavior that can be controlled to some extent and also a
brain disease. And since some testing with functional magnetic resonance imaging
(FMRI) found that all addictions tend to cause nearly the same reactions inside
the brain, there could be one type of control model for addiction health-related
issues. In other words, just as there is one disorder or disease labeled asthma,
there would be one for addiction, covering all addictions; gambling, smoking,
overeating, drugs, etc. Then one main treatment strategy or plan could be used
to treat all addictions.
How addiction works in a
nutshell is like this. The brain, the center of the body’s nervous system,
handles addiction by increasing dopamine levels in response to increased
reactions from behaviors, also referred to as compulsions, like gambling or over
eating, and / or in response to increased repeated substance abuse, like from
cocaine or alcohol. And this addiction affects the three functioning processes
of the nervous system; sensing, perceiving and reacting. How? Let’s take a quick
peak…
Dopamine, the chemical
transmitter to the “pleasure center,” the place where survival instincts like
eating and reproduction focus in the brain, activates cells individually or
energizes them. Each energized cell in turn energizes another cell, and so on
down the line, resulting in a spontaneous or systematic process of ecstasy or
elation.
The problem is the brain
doesn’t realize what it is that is causing the ecstasy reaction. So when this
flutter of activity increases the creation of dopamine for the negative
behaviors and substances like drugs, alcohol, gambling, etc., it neglects the
natural survival instinct reaction mechanisms, replacing them with the ecstasy
instead.
Note that also, depending
upon the addiction, nervous system functions are altered. So sensing, perceiving
and reacting functions of individuals are impeded. For example, alcohol is a
depressant and slows down all of these functions. So a drunk driver facing an
immediate collision will in all likelihood react slower than a healthy, alert
driver. And whether or not the addictive substances are inhaled, going into the
lung system; or injected, traveling via the blood system; or swallowed, entering
the digestive system, also affects different bodily reactions, responses and
overall health.
One long-term effect is an
increased tolerance level with dopamine reaching out into other brain areas that
cloud judgment and behavioral considerations and choices. And ultimately
depression results, even amidst opposing or negative stimuli, like the negative
effects of narcotics on behaviors and on the body / mind and like trying to
withdrawal or discontinue use.
Note: other long-term
effects can include changing of the brain’s shape and possible permanent brain
damage, depending upon the addiction and length of compulsive activity. And
other health problems like cancer from cigarette smoking can result.
Addiction summed up is:
compulsive behavior despite negative consequences.
OTHER FACTORS IN
ADDICTION
Of course no two people are
100 percent the same. So since internal genetic and external environmental and
behavioral factors and influences vary, so can addiction issues with each
person. In other words, a child born of an alcoholic parent may have an altered
or different brain chemistry or make up than a child not born of an alcoholic.
However, other factors need to be taken into account with regards to whether or
not and to what extent the child is susceptible to addictive behaviors or
substances. For instance, genetics, mental state and the environmental setting
of the child, especially during early developmental years could all play key
roles as to how the child or growing adult will react when confronted with
certain behaviors or instances.
So take for example a
soldier. Surviving temporarily on the only remedy available in hostile
territory, he becomes addicted to morphine while outside his element or home
environment. Later he returns to his home environment. Will he stay addicted to
the morphine? Will it be difficult to stop using it?
The answers vary, depending
upon the soldier’s predisposition or susceptibility to addiction; his home
environment, his mental state, his genetics with family history, and other
factors. In other words, if he came from a background of living long-term with a
family of addicts, socialized with addicts in his neighborhood and school
environments, and already battled with smoking cigarettes, marijuana and other
substances routinely, this soldier may have a difficult time withdrawing from
morphine. Whereas, a soldier who had never seen addiction up close before,
either in his family, neighbors, school friends, etc., and who otherwise came
back with a fairly healthy mental state, may be able to stop using morphine with
little or no problems and get back to his “normal” routine.
Which leads to, “How can
you tell if someone is addicted or not?
To be continued
Health News:
MSN
Live Search: addictions site:msnbc.msn.com
Search results
Addictions- msnbc.com
Addictions ... India banned smoking in public places on Thursday, leaving public health officials with a much tougher task: get the nation's estimated 120 million smokers to stub ...
Scripts that addict - Addictions- msnbc.com
Why just one cigarette can hook some smokers
Anti-smoking drug may be tied to suicide risks - Addictions- msnbc.com
Government regulators said Friday the connection between Pfizer's anti-smoking drug Chantix and serious psychiatric problems is "increasingly likely."
Report: Ban smoking in public places - Addictions- msnbc.com
Only smoke-free buildings and public places truly protect nonsmokers from the hazards of breathing in other people?s tobacco smoke, says a long-awaited surgeon general?s report
Suicide risk from anti-smoking drug probed - Addictions- msnbc.com
Government scientists are investigating whether a Pfizer Inc. drug used to help smokers quit cigarettes also increases suicidal thoughts and violent behavior.
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Google
addictions - Google News
addictions - Google News
United Way gives Gateway a boost in breaking addictions - Great Falls Tribune
United Way gives Gateway a boost in breaking addictions
Great Falls Tribune, MT - 38 minutes ago
Stinar said incentives are important for a person who had a drug or alcohol addiction and is trying to break the cycle of abuse. "When somebody uses one of ...
Pair take second chance and turn it into mission accomplished - Modesto Bee
Modesto Bee
Pair take second chance and turn it into mission accomplished
Modesto Bee, CA - 1 hour ago
McCauley completed the New Life program, which can range from one to three years, depending on how long it takes to kick addictions and gain education and ...
Directors say lives have been miraculously turned around Modesto Bee
all 4 news articles
Eating away at addictions - Irish Independent
Eating away at addictions
Irish Independent, Ireland - Oct 11, 2008
Patrick Holford tells Joy Orpen how he believes the right diet can assist in beating addictions and can also boost our natural energies By Joy Orpen ...
MOTHER Program helps women beat addictions - Beckley Register-Herald (subscri...
MOTHER Program helps women beat addictions
Beckley Register-Herald (subscription), WV - Oct 11, 2008
By Bev Davis Any woman 18 or older who wants to beat drug or alcohol addition could be a candidate for a recovery program operated through FMRS Health ...
Quaid's got it all together now - Edmonton Sun
Quaid's got it all together now
Edmonton Sun, Canada - 3 hours ago
"I cleaned my life up after my addictions, and when I came back to work I found out it wasn't so easy to pick up where I left off," the actor told ...
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Yahoo!
Yahoo! News Search Results for addictions
Yahoo! News Search Results for addictions
United Way gives Gateway a boost in breaking addictions (Great Falls Tribune)
Gateway Community Services provides many ways for alcohol and drug addicts to recover and work their way back into the community.
Quaid's got it all together now (Calgary Sun)
Dennis Quaid recently discussed the difficulties he faced when he returned to filming after sorting out some personal demons. "I cleaned my life up after my addictions, and when I came back to work I found out it wasn't so easy to pick up where I left off," the actor told parade.com.
Concordia dedicates $32M facelift (Fargo Forum)
At $32 million, the recently completed Knutson Campus Center makeover is Concordia College's priciest construction project. Advertisement: ADDICTIONS TATTOOING & BODY $15 Off ANY Tattoo over $65 Text this to your phone and bring it in to receive $15 off any tattoo over $65!!
$LUMPING THE SHARK (New York Post)
Benny the Loan Shark has something in common with banks - he's made loans to subprime borrowers in danger of defaulting. But he's not likely to get taxpayer money to buy his nonperforming assets, so the low-level street lender is thinking of a...
PBS appraiser takes a look at F-M treasures (Fargo Forum)
It was a 100-degree day about 10 years ago when Mike Anderson stopped by an estate sale in Detroit Lakes, Minn. Advertisement: ADDICTIONS TATTOOING & BODY $15 Off ANY Tattoo over $65 Text this to your phone and bring it in to receive $15 off any tattoo over $65!!
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