Does Drug Addiction Appear In Specific Substances?

This question?is often asked by #addicts and their loved ones. People are constantly?trying to understand?what #addiction is and why it is?so brutal. Is it truly a lack of control, or is it just?laziness?and a symptom of someone who has?no interest?in doing well?

Although we would love to find the answer, all we have is our?experience?and what?we have seen?in those important to us.

Through our experience we have come to understand addiction as a?complete lack of power?as well as a?disease. That being said, it is not our intention to condone?negative behaviors?due to a lack of choice. The?first step?towards #recovery is almost always admitting that one is?powerless?over the actions and choices which led to their?#unmanageable life.

The next question?people usually ask is the one raised at the beginning of this article: If someone?smokes #pot?or uses a "safe" and?legal?medication, can they be an addict? Or do they need to have really hit "rock bottom" and be living in an undesirable area or?homeless?while simultaneously using?dangerous?or?illicit?#substances?

Through our?collective?experiences?we have learned that the substance is not what in fact defines an addict. Furthermore, if a substance is not lethal, it can still lead towards an?unsustainable?life?once someone loses their power to make a healthy decision vis a vis their relationship with?drugs3?and substances. Therefore, we believe that anyone who wants to stop using a certain substance, no matter the level of legality or safety, but cannot, deserves?#rehabilitation.

Moreover, it is worth acknowledging the case of a person who?refuses?to be?identified?as an addict because they only use?mild?substances and live a seemingly stable life with a job, a car, and a nice home. This example of what begins as an initially?manageable?life can easily spiral into a more?serious?case. In line with the view of addiction as a?progressive?illness, substance use, which starts off as mild, often?intensifies?in severity over time. We have seen many instances in which serious addiction develops after a "milder" substance no longer creates the?desired?effect?, and the user will commence with harder, more?serious?drugs.

More often than not, manageability is a?smokescreen. If the situation is examined, one can see where the car, the house and the job came from. It is then?evident?that if the parents, family or connections would stop?supporting?the person, all of the nice things would?disappear.

It is important to highlight the common misunderstandings regarding different?legal?drugs. Many?prescription?drugs are just a?cleaner?form of an awful street drug and can cause the same dangerous outcomes. Furthermore, having a prescription does not mean that the user is taking the?correct?amount. Often the user has convinced the doctor to give them the drugs they desire via?phony?excuses?and stories as well as?manipulation.

Think of all the "real?addicts," did they start with heroin or crack? In some cases yes, but very often they started by using mild substances. Why wait until they are in a?life?threatening?situation before helping them? If they are willing to?get?help?and have no power of?choice?when they try to stop, why differentiate based on the substances in question?

Addiction is usually defined by addicts as a?lack of power to choose, no matter how?strong?the logic against it is. If you or your loved one is unable to stay away from a substance even though they have been trying to, they may very well be an?addict.?Reach out to us for help.