Included on this page are short articles concerning Addiction from the Staff of Associated Counseling and Recovery Center LLCAbout 14 million Americans suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence and half of us have a close relative with a drinking problem. The first step in dealing with this problem is to acknowledge that it exists. After that, treatments that use behavioral and cognitive-behavioral techniques are becoming increasingly popular. They are based on the assumptions that addictions are learned behavior, which are produced by unfortunate patterns of association and reward. The goal of the treatment is to relieve the patient of the habit by changing the incentives and associations that lead a person to drink, as well as the circumstances and conditions that maintain alcohol abuse. Lapses are treated as opportunities to learn from mistakes. If you are alcohol or chemically dependent, or feel that your life has been affected by someone close to you, counseling is strongly recommended to ensure sobriety, and to help heal the trauma of experiencing the devastation that invariably accompanies substance abuse. Back to Top
Cannabis abuse can lead to a number of significant social, occupational or medical impairments, any of which should lead a person to seek treatment. If the user is to remain drug-free,the first step involves avoiding people, places and things related to cannabis use. Beyond that, initial psychotherapy treatments should focus on confronting denial, fostering identification as a recovering individual, recognition of the negative consequences of cannabis use, and formulating support plans. Some heavy users may suffer from chronic anxiety, depression or feelings of inadequacy, in which case the drug is the symptom and not the central problem. In the adolescent, cannabis dependence may hide poor self-esteem, depression, family problems, and learning disorders. These issues must be addressed in therapy. While mind-altering drugs or alcohol can seem like an easy answer to life's problems or disappointments, anyone who has become dependent on them eventually finds that they can mask problems, creating a whole new set of difficulties. Back to Top
In some circles, marijuana may be thought to be a rather benign drug; however, a recent study seems to undercut this notion. Researchers recruited 30 men and women between the ages of 30 and 55 who were heavy marijuana users, and had them stop smoking the drug for 28 days, during which time the subjects were asked to record their feelings in a diary. The subjects were examined and tested daily for drug use. Within 24 hours of quitting, the subjects reported such symptoms as irritability, anxiety,and physical tension, as well as changes in mood and appetite. In addition, withdrawal symptoms, which were significant in 60% of those studied, were strongest in the first ten days after quitting. In addition, it must be noted that high levels of achievement rarely occur during periods of heavy drug or alcohol use. When looking at drug use from this perspective, it seems strange that major resources of time and money would be funneled into such an unrewarding activity. If you feel that you now possess the motivation to explore living out from under the influence of a controlled substance, call the Associated Counseling and Recovery Center, LLC at 920-907-0097. Back to Top
Ecstasy (or methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is a mind altering drug that acts like an amphetamine and a hallucinogen. This popular club drug derives its common name from the warm, energetic high it produces. Research shows that it can alter normal brain chemistry long after it is used. Side effects include nausea, hallucinations, chills, sweating, tremors, and blurred vision. If too much is taken, ecstasy can also cause a rapid heartbeat, or high blood pressure, faintness, muscle cramping, panic attacks, and even loss of consciousness or seizures. Depleted levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin can leave users with feelings of depression, paranoia, moodiness, and aggression long after taking the drug. Clearly, ecstasy is not nearly benign as its name or reputation might indicate. Amplifying one's moods through the use of drugs can create pleasurably intense levels of feeling, yet, as in physics, so in physiology; for every action, there is an equal or opposite reaction. Intense highs are generally followed by profound lows, and during either extreme, one's judgment is significantly impaired. Thus, the price of a few hours can add up to years of regret! Back to Top
While it would seem that no one would choose to become a drug addict, some people may lack ability to realize that if they keep taking drugs, they will become addicted. That is to say that addiction may be a decision-making disorder. Addicts may not be able to make the right choice because the part of the brain known as the ventromedial prefrontal cortex does not work properly.This may help to explain why drug addicts continue to use drugs in the face of rising consequences. If the prefrontal cortex does not work properly, the "brakes" necessary to prevent dangerous behavior may be lacking. There is hope in the fact that cognitive psychotherapy can help patients with decision-making problems. If you are having difficulty in managing your life due to poor decision-making, cognitive or perception issues, or drugs or alcohol dependency, or are experiencing depression, anxiety, or high levels of stress, please call the Associated Counseling and Recovery Center, LLC to schedule a confidential consultation. Back to Top
Compulsive gambling is an addictive illness with many similarities to drug and alcohol addiction. It also leads to other health problems. Up to half of all problems gamblers experience substance abuse, and many become depressed. Social upheavals, including job loss and divorce are also common. Criteria for the diagnosis of compulsive gambling include:
If you, or someone you know, experience these behaviors, help should be sought. A private consultation may be scheduled at Associated Counseling and Recovery Center, LLC. Back to TopExternal cues affect addiction by building up drug tolerance, which make the addict need increasingly higher doses of the drug to obtain the same effect. Now, new research indicates that there are also internal cues at work that prime the body to react as if the drug effect were imminent. Thus, people who want to break a bad drug habit may have to do more that avoid the sights and sounds that remind them of their addiction.This finding points out that addiction may be a psychological phenomenon and not just a physiological one. This knowledge may help therapists focus on the internal cues associated with addiction to a drug as they perform cue exposure therapy (a form of desensitization). While the general public views non-medicinal drug use as primarily hedonistic, a large percentage of drug users use illegal substances as a means of alleviating their emotional or physical pain. Obviously, the medical does not condone "recreational drug use" for any reason, but it is important to understand the motivations that lay behind this highly self-destructive activity. To schedule a private consultation at the Associated Counseling and Recovery Center, LLC, please call 920-907-0097. Back to Top
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