What Is Addiction? Counselling Sydney, Central Coast and Online
Australia has one of the highest rates of alcohol abuse in the world - 1 in 5 Australians are believed to meet the criteria for drug abuse or drug dependence. Around 3,200 people die as a result of excessive alcohol consumption in Australia and 81,000 people are hospitalized, according to the data from Australian National Alcohol Strategy. Australians are just as reluctant to seek treatment as their American counterparts, according to research from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre: the average delay to seek treatment from the time of onset of an alcohol use disorder is 18 years with a range from 14-23 years.
South Pacific Private Hospital Spring 2012 Newsletter.
Definition of Addiction - American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)
- Addiction is a chronic brain disorder and not simply a behavioural problem.
- It is not just the substances that a person uses that makes them an addict, nor is it even the quantity or frequency of use. It is about what happens in a person's brain when they are exposed to rewarding substances or rewarding behaviours.
- These substances turn on the reward circuitry in the brain and related brain structures.
South Pacific Private Hospital Spring 2012 Newsletter.
Everything you thought you knew about addiction is wrong
For his book Chasing the Scream, Johann Hari spent three years researching the war on drugs and questioning the ways in which we treat addiction.
Published on Jul 9, 2015
"What really causes addiction — to everything from cocaine to smart-phones? And how can we overcome it? Johann Hari has seen our current methods fail firsthand, as he has watched loved ones struggle to manage their addictions. He started to wonder why we treat addicts the way we do — and if there might be a better way. As he shares in this deeply personal talk, his questions took him around the world, and unearthed some surprising and hopeful ways of thinking about an age-old problem."
More...
- A habit becomes an addiction when there is loss of control over the habit.
- Once an addiction takes hold it is difficult to stop without professional help.
- Johann Hari says that "the opposite of addiction is not sobriety - it is connection."
- It is usually a very pleasurable experience to start and yet can lead to feelings of guilt and shame later.
- It leads to secretive behaviour to cover up the addiction as friends and family become more concerned.
- It is usually regarded as problematic for close friends and family as they notice the changes in behaviour.
- Promises to stop are often followed by more guilt and shame as it becomes increasingly difficult to let go the addiction.
- Addictions can involve alcohol, recreational and prescription drugs, cigarette smoking, caffeine, pornography, sex, love, shopping, hoarding, money, gambling, eating/food, chocolate, sugar, work, recognition and approval, internet surfing, mobile phones, checking Facebook and e-mails and so on...
What is the effect of addiction on relationships?
Usually the effect is very damaging and very often will lead to the end of a relationship over time.
In fact it is a loss of connection with a meaningful and purposeful life that creates the emotional environment for addiction.
An erroneous belief is sometimes held that if "I just love my partner enough they will stop".
Meanwhile as this partner's bank account dwindles, self esteem plummets, the house is at risk of being re-possessed, the children are scared and hope has gone out the window...no sign of change is happening.
It often takes the drastic step of a partner leaving the marriage for change to happen. Only when the support is withdrawn, the addiction can no longer be maintained and the addict will have no choice but to find help.
Does it have to get this bad?
If help is sought earlier enough and there is a commitment to change with ongoing support, then the scenario is less dramatic.
Change involves identifying what led to the addiction in the first place by exploring Family of Origin issues. Addiction can be a spiritual crisis of some kind and a cry for help.
Learning new coping mechanisms is an important part of change and identifying and changing negative belief patterns.
There are a number of local facilities than offer various options for rehabilitation from addiction. South Pacific Private Hospital on Sydney's Northern Beaches is one such facility.