Addiction the Digest Version

21 Million American adults age 12 & older battle a substance use disorder. 1 out of 7 people will experience addiction at some time in their life 74 % of adults suffer from substance use disorder with an alcohol use disorder. According to the American Addiction Center, over 8.5 million Americans suffer from both mental health disorder and a substance use disorder. 

It is very safe to say 1 out of 4 people has a family member, close friend of the family, or they themselves are or has been addicted to substance.  

Addiction is a neuropsychological disorder characterized by a persistent and intense urge to engage in certain behaviors, often usage of a drug, despite substantial harm and other negative consequences. 

The act or condition of over doing a substance, thing, or activity at a time or place. Not necessarily daily but at special events, holidays, weekends etc. 

Addiction happens in your brain, when addiction takes hold of your brain, it focuses everything on the pleasure cycle. The body then begins to follow the directions of the brain. 

Our brain has different chemicals it releases, the chemical Dopamine is what motivates us, it arouses the pleasure and reward system of the brain. Your body uses from 40 nanogram to 100 nanograms per deciliter of dopamine, your brain is not supposed to go over 100 nanograms of dopamine. When the substances: marijuana, alcohol, cocaine, or heroin is used, it pushes our dopamine levels into the very high 800 to 950 nanograms per deciliter, and methamphetamines takes it to 1100 nanograms per deciliter of dopamine.   When the high-level dopamine begins to decrease, the brain takes the person into extreme survival mode. When the survival mode kicks in there is nothing that person can do, their brain has been hijacked, technically it is not the addict’s fault, it is nothing they can do but seek that thing that makes them feel normal, until they snap out of it per se, along with treatment.    

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The person has to want help. If they do not want help there is absolutely nothing you can do to force them to receive help. Because their brain is hijacked, they are not listening to you at all. An addicted person must have their own self-awakening. Sometimes it’s a life altering situation that snaps them out of it such as a separation or divorce, kids taken by Child Protective Services etc.  

WHAT DO YOU DO?  

Love them from a distance, if you stay to close they may eventually or continually disappoint you. However, when they have an awakening, they will need help finding recovery.   

CAN AN ADDICT RECOVER AND BECOME SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE?  

Absolutely yes, remember addiction is a disease, a substance altering the brain; anything that alters an organ is a disease. Lots of diseases are curable especially substance addiction and abuse.  The addict’s life is not over because of their addiction. After recovery they will be back to who they were before the disease of addiction. And their life will just be beginning. 

HELP IS HERE