What Makes an Addiction
Physically addictive substances used daily can bring these uncomfortable physical symptoms
What is withdrawal?
The oldest known intoxicating substance used specifically for recreational purposes (even dating back to biblical times)
What is alcohol?
We experience these in our mind, heart and gut and it is important to learn how to manage our reaction to them
What are feelings?
A strong addictive urge that can pull you in a way you may not want to go if you are not careful
What is a craving?
(1970’s)This iconic musician is one of the top earning dead celebrities today, still earning over 50 million/year for his music despite dying from complications of prescription drug addiction back in 1977
Who is Elvis Presley?
It takes more and more of a substance to get the same effect which often fuels the desire and need for using larger amounts
What is tolerance?
Class of drugs used medicinally for thousands of years to relieve physical pain but nowadays often abused to relieve emotional pain
What are opiates or opium?
It is important to learn to manage this uncomfortable mental experience that can occur when we worry or stress over things
What is anxiety?
You may have went backwards a little bit but still you didn’t completely relapse
What is a setback?
(1960’s) This world famous movie star shocked the world in 1962 from a barbiturate overdose which some say was accidental, some say was suicide and others say was murder
Who was Marilyn Monroe?
Failure to recognize the truth about a problem, particularly an addiction, is often referred to as this
What is Denial?
Even though life may be spiraling out of control with dependency clearly increasing, some people may believe that they are not addicted just because they may be obtaining drugs this legal medical way
What are prescription medications?
These changing temporary states of mind can be make us feel high, low and everything in between so it is important to be able to regulate these
What are moods?
Some people may try to deal with substance use issue by attempting use less, or change to a less harmful substance. If that isn’t working you may need to consider this more basic old option
What is the total abstinence model?
(2000’s) This artist was referred to as the King of Pop, died due to complications from prescription drugs in 2009
Who was Michael Jackson?
Every bad choice we make can mean we have to face these later. Addiction can cause people to foolishly ignore these repeatedly
What are consequences?
The vast majority of people who use this legal plant use it as often as 10 or 20 times a day despite knowing it is the number one killer of all addictive substances in the world
What is tobacco?
It is essential to learn to eliminate this negative emotion which stems from holding on to anger and grudges
What is resentment?
With more severe addiction, particularly opioid, if the withdrawal or cravings are overwhelming it may be wise to consider seeing a doctor for this
What is medication assisted therapy or MAT?
(1990’s) Singer of one of the most popular grunge bands in the 1990’s shot himself in the head in 1994 at the age of 27, addicted to heroin
Who was Kurt Cobain?
When you spend too much, use too much or too often and life problems are steadily piling up, it is a good sign you have lost this
What is control?
These substances taken for long periods can induce a mental state of hallucinations and extreme paranoid delusions called: Psychosis
What are stimulants such as cocaine or methamphetamine?
Sometimes addiction can be directly linked to deeply disturbing or distressing experiences that occurred earlier in life
What is trauma or PTSD?
They say relapse doesn’t suddenly happen out of nowhere – It’s not an event, it is often much more of a gradual _____
What is a process?
(1980’s) He was a legendary actor and comedian who shocked the world when he overdosed and died from mixing cocaine and heroin in 1982 at the height of his fame. He was on the original lineup of Saturday Night Live.
Who was John Belushi?