An Addiction is An Addiction is intended to inform individuals and families how addictions are part of all families. If you are not sure if you have an addiction read this book. If you this some one in your family have an addiction read this book. If you just like reading read this book.

AN ADDICTION

Is An AddictionBy Lynetta

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2011 Lynetta
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4685-0114-8

Chapter One

WHAT IS AN ADDICTION?

There is controversy over what constitutes an addiction or an addictive behavior. Historically, addiction was defined on a model of compulsive, maladaptive drug/alcohol use. The repeated use of specific substance was thought to lead to patterns of maladaptive behavior and to physiological changes in the body. Excessive substance use that developed into a persistent pattern of destructive behavior that led to physiological dependence was called substance dependence or addiction, substance dependence involve the development of tolerance to the substance—meaning that the user requires increasing doses of a drug in order to attain the desired effect or high. It was also thought to involve withdrawal in which the substance—using individuals experience uncomfortable and at times harmful symptoms when they reduce or increase their intake of the drug.

More recently, the notions of addiction have been expanded to include a variety of compulsive behaviors, including gambling, eating disorders, sexual addictions, and shopping. While there has been some controversy over whether these behaviors can be considered to be addictions—since physical/ chemical addition is absent it has been found the behaviors themselves can lead to physiological changes.

This, addiction is defined as the compulsive need to engage in and the ability to control certain behaviors despite their destructive consequence.

Criteria for Substance Abuse and Substance Dependence

Not everyone who tried drugs or regularly use drugs are dependent, some abuse substance. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV the criteria are:

Criteria for Substance Abuse

A. A maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by one (or more) of the following, occurring within a twelve (12) month period:

1. recurrent substance use resulting in a failure to fulfill major role obligations at work, school or home (e.g. repeated absences or poor work performance related to substance use; substance-related absences, suspensions, or expulsions from school; neglect of children or household). 2. recurrent substance use in situations in which it is physically hazardous (e.g. driving an automobile or operating a machine when impaired by substance use). 3. recurrent substance related legal problems (e.g. arrests for substance—related disorderly conduct). 4. continued substance use despite having persistent or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by the effects of the substance (e.g. arguments with spouse about consequences of intoxication, physical fights.

B. The symptoms have never met the criteria for substance dependency for this class of substance.

Criteria for Substance Dependence

A maladaptive pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by three (3) or more of the following, occurring at any time in the same twelve (12) month period:

1. Tolerance—defined by either of the following: a) a need for markedly increased amounts of the substance to achieve intoxication or desired effects, b) markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of the substance.

2. Withdrawal—as manifested by either of the following: a) the characteristic withdrawal syndrome for the substance (refer to criteria A and B of the criteria sets for withdrawal from the specific substance, b) the same (or a closely related) substance is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms.

3. The substance is often taken in larger amounts or over longer period than was intended.

4. There is a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control substance use.

5. A great deal of time is spent in activities5. necessary to obtain the substance (e.g. chain smoking), or recover from its effects.

6. Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of substance use.

7. The substance use is continued despite knowledge of having persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by the substance. (e.g., current cocaine use despite recognition of cocaine—induced depression, or continued drinking despite recognition that an ulcer was made worse by alcohol consumption)

Criteria for Substance Withdrawal

A. The development of a substance—specific syndrome due to the cessation of (or reduction in substance use that has been heavy and prolonged)

B. The substance—specific syndrome causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning.

C. The symptoms are not due to a general medical condition and are not better accounted for by another mental disorder.

Work Performance may decline and you may be absent from work more often.

School Academic performance and motivation to do well in school may suffer

Legal Stealing to support your drug addiction or driving while impaired are just two (2) of the potential legal problems drug addiction can bring

Chapter Two

CHEMICAL/DRUG ADDICTION

Drug and alcohol is the oldest and most thoroughly researched area in the addictions. Drug use crosses the line to drug addiction when you feel you have to have the drug, and you increase the amount of dosage you take. Various factors such as your personality, your genetic makeup and peer pressure affect the likelihood of becoming addicted to a drug. In addition, some drugs such as cocaine and heroin produce a physical addiction more quickly than some other drugs.

The Risk Factors—

Personality If you show signs of passive-aggressiveness, dependence or in security, you are more likely to begin overusing drugs.

Social environment Particularly for young people, peer pressure is a strong factor in starting to use and abuse drugs

Stress, depression Using drugs can become a way of reacting to these and loneliness psychological feelings

Genetics D2 Gene has been identified as a specific gene involved in drug addiction

Physical addiction appears to occur when repeated use of—drug alters reward pathways in your brain. This involves the addicting drug causing physical changes to sore nerve cells (neurons) in your brain neurons use chemicals called neurotransmitters to communicate. Neurons release neurotransmitters into the gaps (synapses) between nerve cells and are received by receptors on other neurons and on their own cell bodies. The change to this communication process that occurs varies with the type of drug to which you are addicted.

Aside from the physical and psychological symptoms they cause, dependence on drugs can create a number of other disruptions in your life:

Family Behavioral changes may cause marital or family strife Social You may lose or alienate friends

Alcohol/Central Nerves System Depressant

Alcohol is the most commonly abused substance in the United States. Although physical addiction to alcohol is only the most extreme form of alcohol use disorders, it is still the most common psychiatric disorder encountered by mental health professionals. Alcohol abuse has been shown to affect the individuals' social life, interpersonal relationship and educational or vocational activities, as well as causing legal problems for the drinker.

Alcohol abusers and addicts are frequently "masters of denial"; able to offer a thousand and one reasons why they cannot possible have an alcohol use problem. They always go to work, they never go the bar just to drink; they know ten people who drink more than they do. The majority of those with alcohol use problems may be best described, as "high functioning."

Alcohol abuse has been viewed from several theoretical models.

MODELS

Moral Temperance Spiritual Dispositional Disease Educational Character Logical General Systems Medical

When a blood level reach 0.1 percent, a person is considered intoxicated. Judgment and other rational processes are impaired, as well as motor coordination, speech, and vision. Alcohol abuse typically professes through a series of stages from social drinking to chronic alcoholism as show by the continuum of chemical use.

The first point on the continuum is Level 0: Total abstinence—Individuals who substance use falls in this category abstain from all recreational use of alcoholandchemicalsandtheypresentnoimmediate risk for substance use problems.

Level 1: Rare/social use—individuals at this level of experimental use present a low risk for a substance use disorder. Individuals in this category only rarely use alcohol or chemicals for recreational purposes. This person does not experience any of the social, financial, interpersonal, medical or legal problems that are the hallmark of the pathological use of chemicals. Persons whose use falls at this level do not demonstrate a loss of control over their chemical use, and their chemical use does not result in any form of danger to their lives.

Level 2: Heavy social/early problem—a person whose chemical use falls at this point is (a) using alcohol/drugs in a manner that is clearly above the norm for society and/or (b) begins to experience various combinations of legal, social, financial, occupational, and personal problems associated with chemical use. Individuals who fall in this range can be classified as being "at risk" for a substance use disorder. At this level, the individual begins to manifest symptoms of a behavioral disorder by making poor choices about the recreational use of one or more chemicals, but she or he may still be able to control the use of the substance. At this level of chemical use, the individual is not addicted to chemicals.

Level 3: Heavy problem use/early addiction—This persons' alcohol or chemical use has reached the point where there clearly is a problem. The person whose chemical abuse falls at this level has started to experience medical complications associated with chemical use. Individuals at this level, is often preoccupied with substance use and have lost control over their chemical usage.

Level 4: Clearly addicted—At this point, the person demonstrates all the symptoms of the classic addiction syndrome, in combination with multiple social, medical, legal, financial, occupational and personal problems that are the hallmark of alcohol dependency.

What is Cocaine?

Cocaine is a powerful addictive stimulant that directly affects the brain. Cocaine has been labeled the drug of the 1980s and 90s because of its extensive popularity and use during this period. In the 1900s, it became the main stimulant drug used in most of the elixirs developed to treat a wide variety of illnesses. Today cocaine is a Schedule II drug, meaning it has high potential for abuse, but can be administered by a doctor for legitimate medical uses.

How is it Used?

There are basically two (2) chemical forms of cocaine, the hydrochloride salt "freebase". The hydrochloride salt or powdered form of cocaine dissolved in water and when abused can be first, inhaled through the nose (intranasal) use or snorting). Second it may be injected directly into the veins. Third, cocaine may be used to orally (sublingual use). Fourth, cocaine "base" may be smoked.

Cocaine, known as coke, "Big C", Snowflakes, snowbirds, white lady, blow, rock, nose candy or toot is generally sold on the street as a fine white cry saline powder. Before sold to an individual it is adulterated using such substances such as cornstarch, talcum powder and/or sugar. The crack produced is sold in small, ready-to-use pellets packaged in containers that allow the user one or two inhalations for a relatively low price.

Both intravenous injection and cocaine smoking can cause the user to experience a feeling of intense euphoria within seconds of using the drug. Cocaine-induced euphoria may last only a few minutes for the individual who smoke cocaine or an estimated 20 minutes to an hour for the individual who snorts cocaine powder the effects begin to wane and to regain the cocaine-induced pleasurable feelings, the user most use cocaine again. Possible effects of cocaine use may be

• increased alertness

• excitation

• dilated pupils

• rise in blood pressure, heart rate, breathing and body temperature

• stuffy or runny nose

• insomnia

• loss of appetite

• paranoia

• seizures

• possible death from cardiac arrest

Complication of Cocaine Abuse/Addiction

Cocaine has a very real potential to cause physical and psychological addiction physical dependence on cocaine does not develop instantly. Individuals who snort cocaine might take as long as 3-4 years to become fully addicted to the drug. Those who smoke crack might be fully addicted in only 6-10 weeks.

Respiratory System Dysfunction—The cocaine smoker may experience chest pain, cough, and damage to the bronchioles of the lungs. Other potential complications of cocaine smoking include the development of an asthma-like condition known as chronic bronchitis ("crack lung") hemorrhage pneumonia and chronic inflammation of the throat. The chronic intranasal use of cocaine can also cause sore throats, inflames sinuses, hoarseness and (on occasion) a breakdown of the cartilage of the nose (Connor, Chang & Shi, 1992)

Cardiovascular System damage—Cocaine abuse is associated with such cardiovascular problems as severe hypertension, sudden dissection of the coronary arteries, sudden death, tachycardia and myocarditis. In addition it can cause or speed up the development of atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary arteries of the user.

Central Nervous System Damage—Testing has suggested that chronic use of cocaine might cause "moderate to severe" brain damage in adults. Cocaine abuse is also a known cause of more traditional strokes.

Depressant

Marijuana is a green or gray mixture of dried, shredded flowers and leaves of the cannabis plant. There are over 200 slang terms for marijuana including "pot", "herb", "weed", "boom", "Mary Jane", "gangster" and "chronic". It is usually smoked as a cigarette (called a joint or a nail) or in a pipe or bong. In recent years, it has appeared in blunts. These are cigars that have been emptied of tobacco and refilled with marijuana.

The main active chemical in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydro cannabinol) that causes the effects in the system. The amount of THC and other chemicals varies in different marijuana plants. Because many people don't know the health risks of marijuana use, they think marijuana is harmless. Whether an individual has a positive or negative sensation after smoking marijuana can be influenced be heredity, environmental factors, the influence of friends and social contacts. Marijuana users usually experience the following:

• Blood shoot eyes

• Sudden hunger

• A dry mouth or throat

• Lower body temperature

• Loss of coordination

• Increased blood pressure

• Increased heart rate

(Continues...)

Excerpted from AN ADDICTIONby Lynetta Copyright © 2011 by Lynetta. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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