| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
When
one talks about addictions, one usually thinks of drugs,
alcohol and cigarettes. There is much more to addictions
than one can imagine.
Let us consider the case of Sana, a 37-year-old mother
of two children. She is a graduate. She has been happily
married for 16 years. Her husband is a successful businessman
and her children go to good schools. Both Sana and her
husband lead an active social life. They are loved and
respected by family and friends. On the surface, Sana
seems to have a perfect, happy life. However, she has
several addictions.
Her addictions include:
* Watching TV for at least 4 to 5 hours a day.
* Eating lots of food and sweets.
* Eating at least eight packets of betel-nuts daily,
plus six pans.
* Talking on the mobile phone and sending SMS jokes
to her friends, for about two hours daily.
* She lies to herself, believing everything is perfect
in her life.
* She cannot sleep without sleeping pills.
NOTE: You probably never considered lying, cheating
and sinning a part of addictive behaviours. |
|
| |
Addiction is a dependence on a behaviour or substance
that a person is powerless to stop. There are two types
of addictions:
* Substance addiction (alcoholism, drug abuse, and smoking).
* Process addictions (gambling, spending, shopping,
eating, and sexual activity).
Many addicts are addicted to more than one substance
or process.
Addiction is one of the most costly public health problems.
It is a progressive syndrome, which means that it increases
in severity over time unless it is treated. Substance
abuse is characterized by frequent relapses, or return
to the abused substance. The abusers often make repeated
attempts to quit before they are successful.
|
|
| |
By eighth class, estimates show that 52% of adolescents
have smoked tobacco, and 20% have smoked charas. Compared
to females, males are more likely to be heavy drinkers
and smokers. They are twice as likely to smoke charas
weekly. However, among adolescents these gender differences
are decreasing.
Today many more girls are starting to smoke than ever
in the past. As compared to the boys, charas use has
also increased.
Other dangerous drugs on the rise include:
* Ecstasy
* Glue sniffing
* Sheesha
* Heroin
* Cocaine
* Hallucinogenic drugs, in pill form
* Prescription pain relievers, sedative tablets and
stimulant tablets (available without prescription
in Pakistan). They are used for non-medical reasons.
CAUSES
Addiction to substances results from the interaction
of several factors such as:
Genetic Factor
Some people appear to be more vulnerable to addiction
because their body chemistry increases their sensitivity
to drugs. Some forms of substance abuse and dependence
seem to run in families; and this may be the result
of a genetic predisposition, environmental influences,
or a combination of both.
Brain Structure
and Function
Using drugs repeatedly over time changes brain structure
and function in fundamental and long-lasting ways.
Addiction comes about through an array of changes
in the brain and the strengthening of new memory connections.
Evidence suggests that those long-lasting brain changes
are responsible for the distortions of cognitive and
emotional functioning that characterize addicts, particularly
the compulsion to use drugs. Although the causes of
addiction remain the subject of ongoing debate and
research, many experts now consider addiction to be
a brain disease – a condition caused by persistent
changes in brain structure and function. However,
having this brain disease does not absolve the addict
of responsibility for his or her behaviour, but it
does explain why many addicts cannot stop using drugs
by sheer force of will alone
.
Social Learning
Social learning is considered the most important single
factor. It includes patterns of use in the addict’s
family or subculture, peer pressure, and advertising
or media influence
.
Availability
Inexpensive or readily available tobacco, alcohol,
or drugs produce marked increase in rates of addiction.
DIAGNOSIS
In addition to a preoccupation with using and acquiring
the abused substance, the diagnosis of addiction is
based on five criteria:
* Loss of will-power
* Harmful consequences
* Unmanageable lifestyle
* Tolerance or escalation of use
* Withdrawal symptoms upon quitting
Treatment
Treatment requires both medical and social approaches.
Substance addicts may need hospital treatment to manage
withdrawal symptoms. Individual or group psychotherapy
is often helpful, but only after substance use has
stopped. Anti-addiction medications, such as methadone
and naltrexone, are also commonly used.
Prevention
The most effective form of prevention appears to be
a stable family that models responsible attitudes
toward mood-altering substances and behaviours. Prevention
education programmes are also widely used to inform
the public of the harmfulness of substance abuse.
Parents, friends and society, all must participate
to diminish the stresses of life, thereby reducing
addictions and its associated behaviour.
|
|
|
