- Addiction is a disease
- Abstinence is the only method to control addiction
- Treatment will help in controlling addiction
- Treatment can be given at any stage but is easier in the early phase
You ask questions and we’ll try to provide answers. Here are some questions people have been asking us. If you don’t see a question listed below, or need more explanations or clarifications, send us an email on dwijsmart@yahoo.com. We’ll be glad to provide an answer.
What are the common misunderstandings about addiction?
– Addicts are bad, misbehaved, lazy or useless people.
– Addicts should not be treated unless they are violent or fall in gutters and create problems in social setting.
– People who do not abuse/drink continuously, that is throughout the day, don’t have a problem.
– People who are into substance abuse can be left alone if they earn well and work well.
– Alcohol, ganja are used in festivals, while cough syrups etc. are medicines, therefore they can be consumed without any harm.
– Alcohol improves appetite and sexual libido.
– Smoking filtered cigarette and drinking foreign liquor is fashionable and an occupational etiquette.
What does research and science say about addiction?
Addiction is a disease with physical and mental symptoms.
- A Research Psychiatrist – Addiction is a neurotic self-destructive behavior resulting due to Low Frustration Tolerance (LFT) or themes such as – addiction equals worthlessness, addiction as a coping mechanism, addiction as a result of demand for excitement etc.
- Behavioural psychologist – Addiction results from learned behavior
- Cognitive psychologist – Addiction results from dysfunctional family
- Social psychologist – Addiction is a permanent, progressive, cunning, baffling and powerful disease, marked by mental obsession and physical craving
- As classified in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV – Addiction is a biological disease
- REBT Therapist – Addiction is generally applied co-habits that are not needed for life and also are hazardous to health. Addiction is best understood as an individual’s adjustment, albeit a self-defeating one, to his or her environment. It represents a habitual style of coping, albeit one that the individual is capable of modifying with changing emotional and life circumstances
- Stanton Peel- Addiction is a feeling of “I” shall continue it as long as “I can” despite having devastating effects on oneself or others
- The Biogenic Model – Drug dependence is a state, psychic and sometimes also physical, resulting from taking a drug, characterised by behavioural and other responses that always include a compulsion to take a drug on a continuous or periodic basis in order to experience its psychic effects, and sometimes to avoid the discomfort of its absence. Tolerance may or may not be present. A person may be dependent on more than one drug
- WHO ICD 1990- Addiction is maladaptive pattern of spirituality
Although there are many kinds of addictions, no matter what the addiction is, every addict engages in a relationship with an object or event in order to produce a desired mood change. Maladaptive genes that produce and maintain the craving for the addictive substance(s) and as a result, alter the metabolism in “reward” centers within the central nervous system.
During AA sharings, it is often heard that there are 16000 reasons for drinking. Similarly, there are different and divergent definitions of addiction. Many such views are given above. We at Renaissance are not interested in defining the term Addiction. However, for the purpose of treating addiction we follow a simple elaborate statement so that the goal of treatment can be achieved.
What is addictive thinking?
We at Santulan believe that it is largely the residents’ self-defeating thoughts, resulting feelings and actions that sabotage their lives. Many of our recovering patients share that it is their “thinking” rather than “using” that leads towards or away from the “first drink”. We have listed below some characteristic features of addictive thoughts and general beliefs leading to self-sabotaging behavior.
– Autonomous and non-conscious
– Rigid and inflexible
– Dichotomous, all or nothing quality
– Over-generalised and illogical
– Jumping to conclusions
– Negative opinion about oneself
-Self-criticism and self-blame
– Negative interpretations of the event
– Ignoring the positive
– Denial: Alcohol and/or drugs are not the problem
– Low frustration tolerance and/or self defined needs for high levels of stimulation, gratification and or excitement
– Substance is the only way to solve emotional problems
– Discomfort anxiety: all negative emotions are to be avoided at all costs
– Change is too difficult, therefore one is hopeless, helpless and worthless
– Self-blame, guilt and shame for being an addict
What is detoxification?
It is a process in which the patient is administered drugs, diet and a change of atmosphere to break the routine of addiction. Required medical and counseling support is also provided as withdrawal symptoms (commonly called “turkey”) like disorientation, sleeplessness, and restlessness often occur during detoxification.
Is hospitalization always necessary?
Only if the person has a previous history of seizure, delirium or any such complications it is recommended to be hospitalized. Addicts require compulsory hospital admission for physical sickness such as blood pressure, liver or heart related complications, depending on their physical condition.
What is recovery?
A person is on the recovery path when he abstains from or stops the use of addictive substances completely, examines and improves self-thinking, feeling and behavioral patterns; that is he tries to make reasonable changes in his lifestyle. The recovered addict also starts rehabilitating himself in his family, job, education and career. He also takes efforts in learning ways to cope with free time, money and relationships, that is channeling energies into positive ways.
What does a rehabilitation center do?
A rehabilitation center helps addicts in the recovery process. Our centers have an outlined residential program. Use of discipline, creative & constructive routines and psychological treatment methods are the salient features of the centers. The addicts are encouraged to analyze themselves, confront defensive behavior and learn coping patterns. The duration of the patient’s stay may vary from 30 days to 3 months.
What happens after treatment?
Person comes back educated about his illness, believes that he can remain without addictive substances, and continues with his work. He sees other addicts in worse conditions and remains watchful of his own deterioration if he goes in to relapse. He is also aware of the disadvantages of substance abuse, and that if he does not take proper precautions there are chances of relapse.
What is AA, NA?
AA is Alcoholics Anonymous, a self-help group started by and for the alcoholics. NA is Narcotics Anonymous, a self-help group for users of narcotic drugs like brown sugar, charas, ganja, cocaine etc. These groups have free membership, they provide anonymity and a sense of belonging to their members.
What is the role of family members?
Role of family members/caregivers in helping the addict is very crucial. They need to accept that the addict is ill, and should accompany him for treatment like any other patient. They need to play a remedial role as prescribed by the counselor. Changing their thinking, feeling and behavior patterns is necessary too. It is important to play a vigilant role in case the patient slips back to addiction. The family should try and lead a normal life within the circumstances
Can an addict lead a normal life?
Yes, and he can even progress and help other addicts during their treatment and recovery. He can restart his education, career plans, family reunification etc. He should however always completely abstain from all addictive dependency-producing substances as there is a danger of relapse or shift to a new abuse.
What is denial?
When a person takes alcohol or drugs excessively, several problems arise which are clearly visible to others. Yet the person continues to say that he has no problems at all. This is called ‘denial’. Addicts deny their problem in order to protect themselves from feeling hurt, sad or guilty and also to continue with their drinking or drug-taking.
Denial can be observed in various forms:
Simple denial: The addict says he has no problem with drinking or drug-taking
Blaming: Claiming that others are the cause of his addiction
Minimising: Accepting the problem of addiction but claiming it’s only a small problem
Rationalising: Producing ‘intelligent’ excuses for addiction
Diverting: Avoiding any talk about his addiction
Aggression: Initiating fights and quarrels, which provides an excuse to drink or take drugs
What are the physiological facets of addiction?
Physical dependence as characterized by tolerance is defined by either of the following:
Need for increased amounts of the substance to achieve intoxication or desired effect
Markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of substance
Withdrawal is manifested as either of the following:
Development of a substance-specific syndrome due to the cessation of, or reduction in the intake of a substance that the person previously used regularly. In case of alcohol: increased hand tremors, insomnia, nausea or vomiting, anxiety, rum-fits, irritability. In case of drugs: dysphoric mood (excessive restlessness and impatience), muscle aches, pupilary dilation, piloerection (goose bumps) or sweating, diarrhoea, yawning, fever, delirium tremens, hallucinations etc.
Clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational and other important areas of functioning.
Medical complications caused by substance abuse are as follows:
Liver Diseases: Fatty liver, Alcoholic hepatitis, Liver Cirrhosis
Gastrointestinal Disorders: Ulcers, Pancreatitis
Nutritional Disorders: Malnutrition, Anemia, Peripheral neuropathy
Heart Disease: Cardiomyopathy, Hypertension, Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD)
What are the emotional aspects of addiction?
It is argued that addiction is essentially an emotional problem. We are not interested in analyzing whether the emotional problems are the root causes of addiction or not. But here we would like to present some of our observations.
Depression — in some cases leads to addiction. Some depressed persons use the substance to cope with depressive thoughts.
Anxiety Disorder – It is very difficult to identify whether it is the cause or the effect of addiction. However, a negligible percent of patients were earlier found to be treated for Anxiety.
Personality Disorders – Diagnosing PD is quite a difficult task. However, in a few cases if history is properly provided & clinical tests are carried out, personality factors can be identified.
What are the emotional problems caused by addiction?
As stated earlier, addiction has definite emotional consequences. We have observed the following emotional consequences:
Emotions of an addict are usually “inappropriate”. Consequently his behavior is irrational. He ignores his material & emotional goals, he cannot think of alternatives, invites unnecessary conflicts with others and at the extreme state harms himself.
‘Hate’ is at the top of the list of most commonly experienced negative feelings at the onset.
After cessation of addiction following feelings are most often experienced – disgusted, resentful, bitter, detested, fed-up, frustrated, sad, depressed, sick, dissatisfied, fatigued, worn-out, useless, weak, hopeless, rejected, guilty, embarrassed, inhibited, bewildered, frightened, anxious, dismayed, apprehensive, disturbed, antagonistic, vengeful, indignant, mad, torn.
Now here is the list of extreme emotions experienced by the addicts. All the following feelings are intense and “inappropriate”: Hate, unloved, abhorrence, despised, angry, hurt, miserable, pain, lonely, cynical, worthless, impotent, futile, accursed, abandoned, degraded, humiliated, shocked, panicky, trapped, horrified, afraid, scared, terrified, threatened, infuriated, furious, exhausted.
What are the interpersonal problems caused by addiction?
Addiction directly affects the interpersonal relationships of the person. The wife and/or mother of the person are the first victims of addiction followed by other family members. We have observed that in almost all cases, the interpersonal relationships are shattered in one way or other.
The most common problems faced by an addict are related to love:
Rarely receives loving and confiding behavior from the parents & siblings
Diminishing love, respect and trust of the spouse
Hatred, fear, anxiety and distress expressed by the children
How is the behavior during active addiction?
Behavior is marked by the following:
Arrogant or conceited: for example, boastful, self-important, self-centered, jealous or envious
Attention-seeking or theatrical: for example, always tries to be the center of attention, dramatises, displays theatrical and exaggerated expressions of emotion
Intolerant or cruel: for example, unkind, mean, merciless, brutal etc.
Lying or cheating: for example, malicious gossip, secret extramarital affairs
Domineering or dictatorial: for example, bossy, over aggressive, disrespectful, over-controlling, authoritarian behaviour
Criminal and/or violent: for example, destroys property, physically assaults others etc.
Can an addict have a productive life?
Addiction results in diminishing capacity to work and/or have a productive life. Based on our experience following responses are observed towards productive work during addiction:
Poor concentration or attention
Fidgeting, pacing or hyperactivity
Loss of initiative, interest and motivation
Lack of spontaneity and slowed reactions
Procrastination and avoiding responsibilities
Rationalisations, justifications and blaming others at the work place
Poor memory and learning ability
Frequent errors in decisions and work
Overly dependent behavior
Disorientation
What about disorganised social life and financial problems?
During active substance abuse, the person faces several social and financial problems. The indicative symptoms are given below.
Social problems:
Unstable and intense social relationships: for example, goes from crisis to crisis, loves someone one day and hates them the next
Lack of loving and confiding with friends
Avoidance of social gatherings, functions etc.
Detached from organised social group(s)
Phobia: for example, fear of public speaking, staying in a group, travelling etc.
Prefers to be with other addict friends
Avoids religious activities
Mistrust or suspicion: for example, belief that others are always exploiting, harming or deceiving
Prolonged anxiety
Financial problems:
Loss of work or job typically leads to scarcity of money
Spends whatever money is available on substance
Spends money extravagantly on material goods, gambling etc.
Owes money to people
Lives without income which causes further depression
What is REBT?
Created in 1955 by Dr. Albert Ellis, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is an action-oriented therapeutic approach that stimulates emotional growth by teaching people to replace their self-defeating thoughts, feelings and actions with new and more effective ones. REBT teaches individuals to be responsible for their own emotions and gives them the power to change and overcome their unhealthy behaviors that interfere with their ability to function and enjoy life.