Substance and Abuse

Drug addiction and alcoholism affect the lives of millions of people. Not only is the addict or alcoholic himself adversely impacted but his family and friends are as well. When ruled by the power of a substance one's life can veer completely out of control. Health relationships career and finances can be ruined over time.

For those looking on it can be extremely difficult to make sense of addiction or even begin to understand just how powerful it can be. Whether a person's addiction is to street drugs prescription drugs or to alcohol you might have a very hard time understanding just what goes on in the mind of an addict. You might also wonder how it is that a person can choose drugs or drinking over spending time with his or her family.

If you are the person with the addiction you may have questions yourself about why you promise time after time that you are going to cut down or stop altogether only to end up giving in to your craving within hours of your pledge. You are often left with feelings of self-contempt or disgust shame and incredible disappointment. You want to regain control over your life yet it seems to be elusive. You feel enslaved to your addiction.

There are many who believe that an addiction is due to personal weakness or lack of will power. Others however disagree strongly with this perception. Rather they regard it as a disease over which the person simply does not have any power. Substance abuse can lead to an addiction because of the effects it has on the brain.

A person may initially start to take drugs or drink due to peer pressure or curiosity. Others may begin to use excessively in an attempt to alleviate painful feelings they are experiencing. These negative feelings may be due to a mental health issue a challenging situation in their life or due to a traumatic event. Once they experience the alcohol or drug's ability to numb or reduce those feelings they will often drink or use again in order to continue keeping those adverse feelings at bay even if only temporarily.

Most drugs work by over-stimulating the pleasure center of the brain. This can be a very intense feeling unlike anything the person has experienced before. It can be exciting and even exhilarating. However over time repeated use of the substance may begin to alter the chemistry of the brain. As a result tolerance begins to develop and it takes more and more of the substance to get the desired effect. In some cases the person's brain has been altered to the point that he or she needs the drug to function. The person is now seriously addicted. He or she will crave the substance and be driven to use it over and over.

With some substances such as alcohol and heroin the person must continue to use in order to prevent going into withdrawals. Withdrawal symptoms can be very uncomfortable and unpleasant. For example when a person is withdrawing from heroin it can feel like the flu. But with alcohol for example withdrawal is not only very unpleasant it can be dangerous. Without close medical supervision alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening. As long as the person keeps using though withdrawal symptoms are kept at bay.

If you or a loved one is addicted to a drug or alcohol willpower alone will not be enough to control your addiction. Your brain is sending you signals which you can't ignore. In most cases you will need the help of highly trained professionals to deal with the cravings and begin the process if overcoming your addiction.

Not everyone starts using drugs and alcohol for the same reasons and it doesn't progress into addiction in the same ways. For those with a family history of addiction there may a genetic predisposition towards abuse and addiction. More and more research is pointing to the presence of one if not many addictive genes. This doesn't mean however that it is inevitable that a person will become addicted if he or she uses alcohol or drugs. But the risk may be much higher.

Others however can indulge frequently without ever becoming addicted. The best way to avoid an addiction though is to avoid alcohol and drugs altogether. In the case of prescription medications caution should always be used if an alternative is not available.

At this point in time there is no way to predict with any accuracy who will become addicted and who won't. However if you or a loved one has a problem with alcohol or drugs hope is not lost. Every day thousands of people become clean and sober. With appropriate substance abuse treatment or Christian drug rehabilitation even the most severe alcohol or drug problem can be overcome