Whenever we encounter the word ‘addiction’, the thing that immediately comes to mind is drugs and alcohol abuse. Addiction, however, reaches far beyond just drugs and booze. Strictly defined, an addiction is the habitual compulsion to use a substance, or to engage in an activity without much regard for its detrimental effects on a person’s physical, mental, financial social and spiritual well being. Considering the damaging effects of substance abuse, it has become quite important for people to stay informed about the different types of addiction. For most addicts, it can be extremely difficult to recognise that what they have associated with as simply a habit is actually an addiction. While every individual is different, there are some symptoms that are prevalent among most addicts and addictions, such as — • Unable to meet responsibilities at home, school or office • Continues to use substances or engage in behaviour even when it is dangerous • The need increases to engage in behaviour or use more of a substance to achieve the same effect or feeling • Has tried but failed to stop using the substance or end the behaviour Answering yes to three or more of the above symptoms during a 12-month period may show that you or a loved one has an addiction. Types of addictions Many people suffer from different addiction types other than drugs and alcohol. The most common types of addictions are Alcohol addiction: Brain damage, cancer, heart disease, liver disease, impotence.
Nicotine addiction: Many smokers probably wish they could stop smoking. Nicotine, however, seems to make it more difficult for them to do so.Cocaine addiction: Cocaine is one of the priciest drugs in the market. That fact, however, doesn’t deter millions of users from making it the most abused major stimulant.
Opiate addiction: Opiates are often used to relieve pain.
Addicts use it for so much more than just that.
Heroin addiction: There was a time when heroin was considered ‘harmless’. Whoever said that must have been an addict himself.
Meth addiction: Some peo
ple turn to meth, a type of amphetamine, as their drug of choice because it is an appetite suppressant.
Methadone addiction: Oddly enough, this opiate analgesic used to treat people for heroin addictions has become quite an addiction itself.
Marijuana addiction: Call it pot, herb, weed, boom, Mary Jane, bud, gangster and chronic. No matter what the name, this is still the most frequently used illegal drug in the world.
Caffeine addiction: Can’t make it through the day without your macchiato? Then you’re addicted to caffeine.
Steroid addiction: Steroids are famous for their performance enhancing and muscle building properties.
Prescription drug addiction: No one who starts out
taking prescription drugs set out to be come addicts. But unfortunately, most prescription drugs, like Vicodin, Codeine and Demerol, are physically addictive.
Behavioural addiction: It is different from drug addiction in the sense that no mind-altering substance is being ingested. It occurs when someone participates in an activity to the point where it negatively affects their lives, and they are unable to stop doing so.
Gambling addiction: When gambling stops being a recreational activity and becomes a way to seek thrills or as a means of escape on a regular basis, then it becomes an addiction.
Food addiction: We all eat to live. Some people, however, live to eat, as they compulsively and obsessively crave for and eat food even when they’re not hungry or when they’re depressed.
Sex addiction: When the compulsive use of pornography and masturbation to repeated sexual affairs, regular use of prostitutes, voyeurism or just obsessively thinking about sex becomes the norm, they are already sex addicts.
Love addiction: Love addiction is not really about love.
Truth be told, love addiction is closer to co-dependency, an unhealthy one at that, than love.
Work addiction: Otherwise known as ‘workaholism’, is the most respectable, encouraged and praised of all addictions.
It’s also pretty deadly, claiming hundreds of lives a year mainly through stress related heart attack and stroke.
Exercise addiction: Exercising is healthy. Exercising to the point of dependency and compulsion is not.
Video game addiction: This is one addiction parents should really worry about. After all, children and teenagers make up the bulk of video game addicts.
Shopping addiction: Going into a store planning to buy one pair of shoes and coming out with seven, or spending $500 instead of the budgeted $100 are some symptoms of a shopping addict.
treatment support from friends, families and support groups.
For all addicts, there is a moment of clarity. Many experience this moment of clarity when they hit rock bottom. The challenge for these courageous addicts is that they must find the path to get clean. You have made an important first step by researching your condition. — Agencies
The first step to treating an addiction is recognising that it exists. There is no cure for an addiction. Treatment and counselling can help an addict to learn how to control their behaviour, withstand impulses and recognise the presence of a problem, but an addict is never cured. Treating an addiction can take years and requires ongoing
