Post on 02-Jan-2016
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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