Primer on AddictionDr. Dawn-Elise Snipes PhD, LPC-MHSP, LMHC, NCC

Executive Director AllCEUs

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Objectives Define Addiction (Characteristics) Describe How Addiction Develops Compare Chemical and Behavioral Addictions

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Addiction Definition Substance, activity or person used to escape from

negative feeling states despite negative consequences

Addictions can be chemical or behavioral They help people escape distress by providing a rush

of pleasure chemicals. Even though nothing about the person’s situation has

changed, the activity or substance causes a feeling of euphoria making them forget (or not care) about their distress

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Activity When you are angry/stressed/depressed, what do you

do? For each behavior you identified, ask yourself:

How do I benefit from this?How does this negatively impact me?What alternatives are there?How would I benefit from these alternatives?What might be the drawbacks to the alternatives?

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Activity cont… Results

Some of these behaviors are escape behaviors Which can help you distract or escape for a timeGive you a chance to de-escalate and get out of your

emotional mind Other behaviors may help you

Change the situationChange how you feel about the situation

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Activity: Identifying Escape Behaviors

For each of the behaviors listed below which you use to escape/distract yourself/get a rush… Give examples of what you do to engage in this behavior. What is the benefit of this behavior for just helping you

escape? What are the drawbacks for this behavior? How can I avoid using this behavior as an

escape/substitute addiction?

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Activity: Identifying Escape Behaviors

Which of the behaviors listed below do you use to escape/distract yourself/get a rush… Activities

Breaking the Law Creating Drama Drugs and/or Alcohol Exercise Food/Eating Gambling Internet Pornography RelationshipsRisk Taking/Adrenaline Sex Shopping Work

Activity: Escape Behaviors cont… Using behaviors to escape or avoid dealing with

things, or to make yourself feel better may be a sign of psychological relapse.

Relapse starts long before you return to using your addiction of choice.

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Defining Addiction: Diagnostic Criteria Give at least one example of how that has applied to

you over the past 6 months. Explore why you may be doing each behavior

Used more than intended, spent more money than intended or spent more time than intended engaging in addictive behaviors.

Been unsuccessful at stopping or significantly reducing my use of addictive behaviors

Tolerance increased? That is have you needed more of the same substance or activity or needed to combine them

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Defining Addiction: Diagnostic Criteria Engaged in risky behaviors Spent more time than intended thinking about use,

planning to use, using or recovering from use? Spending more time engaging in addictive behaviors and

less time with friends, family, in work or school related activities or pursuing hobbies, sports or other interests.

In the past six months I have experienced emotional or physical side effects as a result or using or withdrawing from use. (i.e. depression, anxiety, nausea, headaches, shakes etc.)

Summary Addiction is a way of escaping from distress People have a variety of escape behaviors Escape behaviors are useful unless they are used

to the exclusion of coping skills There are a variety of things that can make life

unmanageable Once addictions are used, it causes or worsens

neurochemical imbalances Recovery involves identifying and coping with the

physical, mental and situational causes of the distress