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What is Addiction? |
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Any desire for a mind altering substance (legal or illegal) that we have no control over .
Besides substance misuse, compulsive behaviour can be found in many other instances that affect quality of life, identity and relationships. Addiction however is an outdated term which normally included certain behaviours as addictions. Modern thinking excludes these compulsive behaviours as addictions an sees them only as compulsive behaviours. It also excludes use of the word or term “addict” as it is seen by many as a derogatory term, stigmatizing people who are already struggling with negative public perception.
In terms of substances such as drugs, nicotine, caffeine, alcohol and sugar, substance abuse can be defined as being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on that substance that is psychologically or physically habit-forming. The result would be an abnormally strong craving. It progresses to a compulsive physiological and psychological need for a habit-forming substance and the condition of being habitually or compulsively occupied with or involved in using that substance.
Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous defines in its first step of the 12 Step recovery program, “We admitted that we were powerless over alcohol / drugs and that our lives had become unmanageable.” Substance abuse can therefore be described as powerlessness over anything with a person's life being described as unmanageable because of it.
The South African Department of Social Development defines substance abuse as:
A strong desire or sense of compulsion to engage in a particular behaviour (especially when the opportunity to engage in such behaviour is not available).
Impaired capacity to control the behaviour (notably in terms of controlling its onset, staying off, or controlling the level at which the behaviour occurs).
Discomfort or distress when the behaviour stops.
Persisting with the behaviour despite clear evidence that it is leading to problems.
Their reference - Ref: Pols, Dr R, Farrin, Ms J A Sirenko, (1994) Handbook for Medical Practitioners & other Health Care Workers Australian Government Printing.
In terms of life, identity and relationships, human beings also display compulsive behaviour to emotions, love, masturbation, sex and pornography etc. which results in a cycle of destructive relationships. It finishes with the loss of free will, identity and an inability to manage one's life and relationships successfully on life's terms and possibly death.
Ultimately, all addictions or compulsive behaviours begin with an identity crisis. AA says that it is a disease and one that cannot be cured. The AAC tends to disagree based on lack of scientific evidence for this claim as well as the origin of the word and its original meaning within the context of AA.
In wanting to explain where alcoholism begins, it was explained in the early days as a dis-ease. In other words, it begins with uneasiness in an individual and the need to consume alcohol, drugs or engage in a behaviour is born. Either peer pressure or environmental conditioning creates this uneasiness or dis-ease. The identity of a person is affected by the creation of a belief in that person's heart or subconscious that they are not complete without it. From this internal belief flows a desire that needs fulfilment as the individual believes that they are in lack. The core of this belief is that their life will be better with it and they will suffer or be incomplete without it. For example, friends could be lost if they do not partake. No one wants to be lonely or not popular as they believe that being popular is desirable. However, once the substance or behaviour has been used, the body forms a tolerance after which a physical dependency and mental obsession is formed.
Many people including doctors, scientists and AA themselves have believed and stated categorically that substance abuse is a genetic flaw or memory which is passed down from generation to generation. Whilst this may be partly true, it is also partly incorrect. Dr. James B. Richards of the Impact of Huntsville Auricular Detoxification Clinic in Huntsville Alabama believes that this is not true. “Although the alcoholic or addictive behavioural gene is inherited, it is only carried by its host until the age of about 5 years old. After this point it becomes a LEARNED BEHAVIOUR.” In other words, humans are only predisposed to substance abuse until the age of 5. After this age it is modelled by that person's social or parental environment. Their identity is affected by beliefs, morals, and the values that are learned within their social environment. It is therefore INCORRECT to say that if your father or mother is an alcoholic, you will also be one. But the chances are you will. Its a learned behaviour that results in a physical compulsion and mental obsession. |
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