 |
|
Drug Addiction
An addiction to drugs can happen to anyone. It doesn't
matter what your background is, who your family is or how much money
you have. The life of a drug addict can begin like anyone's life, as
a person going through life, good-intentioned, with dreams, aspirations
and a vision for the future. There is a point when a problem or series
of problems are encountered where the solution may seem difficult,
or maybe impossible. It could be a major or catastrophic problem like
a serious accident resulting in extreme physical discomfort or chronic
pain. It could be an emotional problem caused by divorce, loss of employment
or loss of a loved one. For young people it may be an emotional problem
caused by social pressure, the need to belong, and/or a search for
identity; whatever the problem, it can seem overwhelming with no solution
for the pain, whether physical or emotional, cannot be endured. In
many cases the cycle of addiction starts when a person turns to drugs
or alcohol for relief from this pain and as a solution to the problems
that are causing it. When this happens, the individual is usually unaware
that a pattern has begun that will take him away from his dreams and
goals in life.
At first, the drugs take the pain away. Whether its
chronic physical pain or for emotional pain drugs will bring relief
at least temporarily. At first drugs use seems to benefit the person
by helping to deal with life problems. The drugs don't solve these
problems though they only mount. When the effects of the drugs wear
off the user is once again faced with reality but even less able to
cope than before so drugs seem to be the best solution for the moment.
As this habit or cycle of drug addiction begins to grasp the individual,
they continue to use not realizing the dangers. Now a seemingly overwhelming
problem begins to get worse and the drug user begins to go back to
the drug repeatedly. Gradually it takes more of the drugs to achieve
to desired effects and escape reality. The pattern is set. More time
is spent under the influence of the drugs. Virtually no time is spent
actually dealing with life, trying to find real solutions to problems.
The drug user begins to see drugs as the thing that takes away from
the discomfort, pain and unwanted feelings, and turns to drugs to escape
from normal day to day situations that are not real problems. The drug
user's ability to deal with everyday life is now diminished and the
drug experience is becoming central to his life. This is where drug
use changes to drug
addiction. The desire for the drug becomes a need
for the drug, an obsession that completely takes over all aspects of
life. The drug abuser becomes fully addicted. By now the problems that
the drugs were supposed to resolve are minor compared to the problems
that the drug addiction has caused and these problems are totally out
of the addicts ability to control. The dreams and aspirations of the
addict are to get more drugs. The addict will do crazy things to get
more drugs. The addicted person behaves strangely, withdrawn, erratic
and destroys relationships with family and friends. He puts his job
at risk and usually loses it. He cannot be trusted and will say and
do anything that is necessary to get more drugs. The drug addict will
say he is going to quit and get cleaned up - and he probably means
it when he says it - but as soon as the effects begin to wear off,
the only thought is to get more drugs. There is only one important
thing in a drug addict's life and that is to get more drugs. The only
way now, to stop this cycle of destruction is for the addict to get
help, professional help enrolling into some type of drug treatment
program. Get help now.
Top of page
Drug Treatment | Drug
rehab by state | Drug detox | sitemap
|
|
|
