The Lord hath created medicines out of the earth: and he that is wise will not abhor them. Was not the water made sweet with wood, that the virtue thereof might be known?
Substance dependence (drug addiction) and Behavioral addiction.
Addiction is the continued use of a mood altering substance or behaviour despite adverse consequences, or a neurological impairment leading to such behaviours.
Medicine is a collection of uncertain prescriptions, the results of which, taken collectively, are more fatal than useful to mankind.
Addictions can include, but are not limited to, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, exercise abuse, and gambling. Classic hallmarks of addiction include: impaired control over substances/behavior, preoccupation with substance/behavior, continued use despite consequences, and denial.
Habits and patterns associated with addiction are typically characterized by immediate gratification (short-term reward), coupled with delayed deleterious effects (long-term costs).
Sleep is better than drugsssss.
Physiological dependence occurs when the body has to adjust to the substance by incorporating the substance into its 'normal' functioning. This state creates the conditions of tolerance and withdrawal.
Tolerance is the process by which the body continually adapts to the substance and requires increasingly larger amounts to achieve the original effects.
Withdrawal refers to physical and psychological symptoms people experience when reducing or discontinuing a substance the body had become dependent on. Symptoms of withdrawal generally include but are not limited to anxiety, irritability, intense cravings for the substance, nausea, hallucinations, headaches, cold sweats, and tremors.
Addiction is a complex condition (more recently called Dependency) that has been defined as a disorder that manifests in the obsessive thinking about and use of substances/behaviour. It is a condition that may be progressive and fatal if left untreated.
Substances/behaviour work by affecting the chemicals in the brain and inducing an artificial state of euphoria or a ‘high’. But as the body gets used to the effects of the Substances/behaviour, it takes more and more to achieve the same affect, thus starting a never ending quest to attain this false happiness with frightening consequences.
As the disease/behaviour progresses, Substances/behaviour users will allow relationships, jobs, studies, careers and children to fall by the wayside as Substances/behaviour become a central need in their life. People addicted to Substances/behaviour may also find themselves in denial.
For addicts to continue such a destructive, self harming and damaging way of life there has to be a very strong level of denial existing to keep them from fully seeing the truth and reality of the situation. Therefore, denial exists as a survival mechanism to protect the situation. With Substances/behaviour abuse treatment, addiction can be treated and a better, healthier lifestyle adopted.
Who is Most at Risk for Substances/behaviour Abuse and Dependency?
Is There a Cure?
Substances/behaviour abuse and the development of dependency are problems that can affect anyone, from suburban mothers addicted to sleeping pills to children persuaded by peers to smoke marijuana. Teenagers and young adults are considered to be a particularly high risk group for developing Substances/behaviour abuse problems. This may be because these are important periods of transition and change and it is often during transitional times when people start to experiment with new things and begin to face new life stressors.
People are also at higher risk if they are depressed, have self-esteem issues, have a family history of substance abuse or feel like they don’t fit in with society. Substances/behaviour addiction is often justified and viewed as harmless fun or necessary escapism by users.
However, the consequences can be devastating, long term and even fatal.
There are a number of substance abuse treatment options if you feel that Substances/behaviour abuse is a problem in your life, or if you are concerned about a family member or friend.
Substances/behaviour addiction is often a downward spiral to destruction but there are always outstretched hands ready and waiting should you or anyone you know decide to reach for help.
Desperate maladies require desperate remedies.
By medicine life may be prolonged, yet death will seize the doctor too.
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