Addiction

I have always felt sorry for people with an addiction.  Whether it be smoking, drinking or drugs, there is something compulsive that makes them continue what they do. 

Some people say they don’t have strong will power, but I am not sure it is only that.  I wonder if it is a way of life and it becomes a habit which is hard to break.

For instance.  I have never smoked.  I tried it, thought it was a waste of time, and never bothered.  My Mum and Dad smoked, and when I became a teenage, many of my friends started.  But it didn’t interest me even then.

I used to watch people who smoked.  There were enough smokers around me to find them constantly in my vision.  What I did notice, was that people smoked when they were on their own.  It gave them something to do.  Also, those people who lacked confidence found smoking as a way of showing they were with the IN crowd.  I noticed one day, a boyfriend lit up a cigarette and I realised he didn’t know what to do with his hands.

Now, if people who lack confidence, are lonely or fidgety smoke to cover that embarrassment, then maybe people who drink or take drugs do it for the same reason. 

Of course this is how people get started.  The addiction comes when the body gets adjusted to having the substance rejuvenating the body, so when the substance gets diluted and fades away the body looks for more to keep the balance.  That’s when the craving and desire drags the addict to searching for more.

Once someone has reached the craving and desire stage, they find it very hard to stop the action.  Unfortunately, that craving and desire not only takes over one’s life it costs a lot of money – especially in this twenty-first century.  Many people end up with no money, and in some cases without a place to live. 

Those of us that have never experienced this craving or desire, can never fully understand the draw it has on people.  Many people put it down to a disease, but if that is the case, then I would be inclined to think that the use of the substance in the beginning adjusted something in the brain.  But is it really a disease?  Could it be a case of becoming a member of a family that understands your problem?  Smokers seems to stick together.  They rarely go outside to smoke on their own.  The other smokers join them.  Alcoholics drink with others.  Strangely enough sometimes they consume more than the others, and that puts them over the edge.  And, drug addicts, need to stay together, because it helps them find the substance.

So, from that statement one could assume that through their embarrassment, they can find solace with people of similar characters.  Feeling comfortable with those around you, is much more desirable than trying to make conversation with those you don’t want to be with.  And if those people have a habit, it would be logical to join in. 

If all this were true, surely it would be logical to say that one could assist an addict to break the habit by helping them to mix in with society, and find happiness talking with others from all walks of life.

That would be easy if some of those addicts hadn’t experienced some trauma in their life.  Whether it had been as a young child, or as an adult, the experience could have been strong and hurtful, they would do anything to forget that feeling.  The experience is forever on their mind.  They can’t talk about it, and so it keeps niggling at them.  So much so they drink or take drugs to forget, or even find having a smoke relaxes them. 

So, what can we do for these people?  Firstly, the habit needs to be broken.  The best way to break one habit is to start another.  But it takes three months to establish a new habit, and old habits are hard to break.  This is why, people who are addicts of drink and drugs, are placed in retreats to dry out.  These places do have special ways of helping the addict so their cravings get less and less, until they can go weeks, months and even years, without a drop of alcohol or a drug.  But does it last?

Groups like Alcoholics Anonymous work on that, helping people realise they are not alone with their desires.  There is always someone they can call on when they lose it, and end up on a bender as it is called.  All of them have been there, and all have got themselves out of it. 

Is there something similar for drug addicts?  Not quite, but people are working behind the scenes to teach society how to treat someone who is affected by drugs.  Several areas help those who need to dry out, but there are new organisations starting up which works with families of drug addicts and the addicted, training them to understand the reasons for this behaviour and helping everyone to realise that it is an addiction and there should be no stigma attached.

So, what can we do for these people?  It would seem quite a lot now.  It is just getting through to the addicted person to make them see what they are doing is having a bad effect on their lives, which can also harm others.  From there we have to make them want to improve themselves, and not be an addict, especially for those living on the streets.

Once we have the addict wanting to improve themselves, we are on the way.  With everyone’s help we can turn the lives of an addict around, and help them to become a pillar of society.  Generally, the first thing these people want to do is help others to discover the better way.

But. Remember what I said at the beginning of this article about the type of person that generally becomes addicted?  The lonely, lacking confidence and fidgety.  These are the people we should notice when they are younger and get them involved with sport, or art or something where they will fit in.  This way they wouldn’t end up with the smokers, drinkers or drug addicts. 

Is it worth a try?  You bet it is.  If you are working with a younger person who seems lost, looks lonely and lacks confidence, talk to them and encourage them to join a group that practices something they find interesting.  That way you might direct a person along a path that will give them joy and great experiences. 

Julie Finch-Scally ©