DRUG DEPENDENCY (addiction)

“Addiction” tends to be quite typical of human behaviour. Biologists suggest that “pleasure pathways” in the brain developed to ensure that humans engage in seeking food, sexual reproduction and other activities that encourage our survival. We can all develop a level of compulsion that draws us to a particular substance or activity.

For some, it may be working seven day weeks even though it destroys a relationship and family life. For others, it may be constantly over eating and then deliberately vomiting. Others will use illicit drugs to a point where it is causing major disruptions to their lives.

Addiction has been defined as the “habitual psychological and physiological dependence on a substance or practice beyond one’s voluntary control”*

Nowadays, drug and alcohol counsellors often refer to “levels of dependency”, as “addiction” tends to suggest some cut off point at which you will suddenly be an ‘addict’.

Values and definitions

How we define addiction, or high levels of dependency, are based on many value judgements. In western culture, an obsessive commitment to work will still be viewed by many as a highly desirable attribute, even if it has devastated a family. Different drugs will elicit different attitudes from the general community. The young fitter and turner who drinks himself to a stupor most weekends, and occasionally winds up in the watchhouse on drunk and disorderly charges, may be still be seen as a likeable larrakin by many in the community. A young professional charged with possession of heroin, which he smokes only on weekends, is likely to be viewed in a much more negative way by society.

Some theorists suggest many ‘addictions’ are not necessarily a problem. A buddhist concept may see trivial attachments are at the root of much human suffering.

When is drug use 'out of control'?

Society tends to demonise certain addictions, particularly those to do with illicit drugs. There is a tendency to assume the addict is out of control due to the high price being paid. The teenage gamer gets a real buzz from computer games, and may be willing to forego friends, fitness, sleep and family connections for this buzz. The heroin user may be willing to pay a very high price as well, to keep that pleasurable rush coming every day. Illicit drugs are not evil chemicals in themselves, that automatically cause users to lose control. There is usually a choice involved, but non-users will often be unable to grasp that someone would take the risks involved.

For example, if a heavy user of speed or heroin was locked away in a detox program against their will, chances are they will be heading out to score again on discharge. The physical addiction was powerful, but the psychological dependence is a very strong factor as well.

The two faces of addiction

Drug dependency is commonly seen as having two factors involved: a physical dependence (characterised by symptoms of withdrawal) and a psychological dependence . Many drugs can precipitate a pattern of conditions recognised as addiction, which include a craving for more of the drug, increased physiological tolerance to the drug, and withdrawal symptoms in its absence.

Most drugs that directly provide either pleasure or relief from pain pose a risk of dependency.
Physical dependency on a substance is defined by the appearance of characteristic withdrawal symptoms when the drug is suddenly discontinued. Some well known examples here are opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, alcohol, caffeine and nicotine. Some highly addictive drugs, such as cocaine, induce relatively less physical dependence. So while physical dependency can be a major factor in the psychology of addiction, the primary attribute of an addictive drug is its ability to induce euphoria while causing harm.

Physical dependence

Some drugs induce physical dependence or physiological tolerance but not addiction. Examples include many laxatives, which are not psychoactive; nasal decongestants, which can cause rebound congestion if used for more than a few days in a row; and some antidepressants, most notably Effexor and Paxil, as they have quite short half-lives, so stopping them abruptly causes a more rapid change in the neurotransmitter balance in the brain than many other antidepressants. Many non-addictive prescription drugs should not be suddenly stopped, so a doctor should be consulted before abruptly discontinuing them.

Psychological dependency

Psychological dependency is a dependency of the mind, and lead to psychological withdrawal symptoms. Addictions can theoretically form for any rewarding behaviour, but typically only do so in individuals with emotional, social, or psychological dysfunctions, taking the place of normal positive stimuli not otherwise attained. The distinction between the two kinds of addictions, however, is not always easy to make. Addictions often have both physical and psychological components.

The speed with which a given individual becomes addicted to various substances varies with the substance, the frequency of use, the means of ingestion, and the individual. For example, some alcoholics report they exhibited alcoholic tendencies from their first drink, whereas many can drink socially without ever becoming addicted.

Getting back in control

If the costs of your habit are outweighing the positive side, it can help to talk with a counsellor. Many support organisations take a harm reduction approach, meaning they won’t simply try to get you off drugs. For example, QuIHN’s approach is simply to provide a range of options to help you make informed decisions. You may want to continue as you are but just get some tips on reducing the problems and harm from your habit. Alternatively, you may want to reduce your use to a more manageable level, or get off completely. In either case, QuIHN can help show all the different options you have when you make your decision.

*Stedman’s Medical Dictionary

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Writing as therapy during detox

Writing about emotional upheavals in our lives can improve physical and mental health... whether it is with a pencil, on the computer or using a tape recorder, getting your thoughts out of your head is good medicine!

Some topics might be things that :
• You think or worry about too much
• You are dreaming about
• Are affecting you in a unhealthy way
• You’ve been avoiding for weeks or years.

Write about your deepest emotions and thoughts about the most upsetting experience in your life. Let go and explore your feelings and thoughts about it. In your writing, you might tie this experience to your childhood, your parents, people you have loved or love now, or even your career. How is this experience related to who you would like to become, who have you been in the past or who you are now?

Many people have not had a single traumatic experience, but all of us have had major conflict or stresses in our lives, and you can write about them as well. You can write about the same issue every day or a series of different issues. Whatever you choose to write about, however, it is critical that you really let go and explore your deepest emotions and thoughts.

A warning though — manypeople report that after writing, they sometimes feel somewhat sad or depressed. Like seeing a sad movie, this typically goes away in a couple of hours. If you find that you are getting extremely upset about a writing topic, simply stop writing.

What to do with your writing
The writing is for you and you only. The purpose for writing is to be completely honest with your self. When writing, secretly plan to throw away your writing when you are finished. Whether you keep it or toss it, is up to you.

Some people keep their samples and edit them. That is, they gradually change their writing from day to day. Others simply keep them and return to them over and over again to see how they’ve changed.
Some people may want to use their writing as the basis for an article for this magazine, in which case I suggest that you edit out the identifying material and make it anonymous.

Some other options...
Burn them. Erase them. Shred them. Flush them. Tear them into little pieces and toss them in the ocean, or just let the wind carry them away. Eat them (not recommended unless you work for an intelligence mob).

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