Addiction: Recognizing the ProblemAddiction is one of the most costly public

health problems in the United States. It is a progressive syndrome, which means

that it increases in severity over time unless it is treated.

Substance abuse is characterized by frequent relapse, or return to the abused substance.

Substance abusers often make repeated attempts to quit before they are successful

AddictionThe first step in getting help with an

addiction is to recognize that a problem exists

Sometimes it is the people close to the addict or alcoholic who first recognize the problem or it could be the addict himself or herself.

In either case there are clear-cut warning signs of addiction

Warning SignsContinual concern about where the next “fix”

drink or pill, for example will come fromChoosing friends who can supply the

addictive substanceChanges in appearance or personal habitsIrritability, nervousness, personality changes

or mood swingsViolent behaviorBlack-outsNeeding increasing amounts of a substance

to feel “normal”

Phase of AddictionEarly Phase/Use

Thinks about alcoholTalks to all their friends about how much fun

they had using alcoholWant to go out and drink againTalks more about getting drunk with friendsWhen they go out with friends all they want to

do is drinkFeels good when drinkingJealous if friends drink without themFeels alone when he/she is not drinking

Phases of AddictionMiddle Phase/ ABUSE

Depends on alcohol for a social lifeWon’t go to a party without drinkingSpends more free time drinking alcoholFriends warn them that they are drinking too

muchFamily sets rules for he/she to stop drinkingGrades start to fallSkips school to drinkGets depressed when not drinkingParticipates in risky behaviors

Phases of AddictionLate Phase/ADDICTION

Relies on alcohol for self esteemDepends on alcohol for social supportUnreasonable fear of lossLoses friends because they try to get them to

stop drinking, now they drink aloneFamily threatens to send them away to drug

treatment facilityGets suspend/expulsion from school because of

alcoholTotal life revolves around alcohol/next drinkExperiences withdrawal symptoms when not

drinkingGets into accidents, injuries to self and may

injure other due to alcohol

The Slide into AddictionFirst use or occasional useOccasional trouble with the drugRegular use of the drugMultiple drug useIncreasing dependencyTotal dependency

InterventionIs the interruption of the addiction continuum

before the addict or alcoholic hits bottomConsists of meeting between family members

or other significant people in the addicts life and a drug counselor

These take place without the addict knowingThe next step is a surprise meeting with the

addict that forces the person to face the seriousness of his or her addiction.

There is a plan for immediate treatment after the meeting takes place

The Recovery ContinuumRecovery means learning to live an alcohol free

or drug free life.It is a process that happens over timeA recovering person never says, “I am cured”,

but rather “ I am recovering”It is an on-going, lifelong process.It happens at different rates and in different ways

for different people. Many will remain drug free, but RELAPSES, slips

from recovery, or periodic returns to drinking and drug use, occur.

No matter how many times a person relapses, RECOVERY is always there

Recovery ContinuumDetoxification- the removal of all drugs from

the bodyThis should take place under medical

supervisionInvolves restoring the person’s mental health

and learning to build healthy relationshipsTotal ABSTINENCE from mood-altering drugs

including alcohol

Treatment OptionsSupport Groups- group of people who share

a common problem and work together to help one another.Meetings are help frequently an all over the

worldMeetings are confidential and members can

remain anonymous because no one gives last name and its FREE AA, CA, NA

TreatmentAlcohol and Drug Treatment Centers

Many specialize in treating teenagers with addictions

Either privately owned, or state and community alcoholism and mental health clinics

Since drug and alcohol dependence are considered disease, some health insurance plans may cover at least some of the cost Detox Units In-patient Treatment Out-patient Treatment Continuing Programs Halfway Houses

Families dealing with AddictionWhen someone in a family has a drug

dependency, other members of the family must learn to cope with the addict’s problems.

There are many Support groups for people involved in the lives of alcoholics and other drug addictsAL-ANON- worldwide self-help for people who are

close to alcoholicsIt focuses on detachment or pulling back form the

involvement in someone else’s addictionALATEEN- support program for people ages 12 to

20 whose parent, other family members, or friends having drinking problems