addiction

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Welcome ladies & gentleman This site is focused on addiction & what it means to be an addict, what people are addicts & how we can find a way to live with this.

I have had many people talk about addict & what they are like & why they turn out like this I always heard the negative side of being an addict you know "oh addiction can kill you & you need to watch them they are addicts blah blah blah

Now ladies & gentleman addiction is only good for you if you are happy doing what you are doing that is soooo bad for you. Now I known people who are addicted to food, people, feeling good about their selves there is this stereo type of addicts who are tend to be known as weak people, depressed people cry baby, blah blah blah However they do not have to live inside the head of that person who is addicted to something I mean if we look everywhere there is bad news, homelessness, unemployment, depression, Now I am researching just why people become addicted to a substance or even a behaviour

Please What do you think of addiction Have you a family member or even a friend who you think is an addict?? Please DONT BE AFRAID, ITS NOT CATCHABLE YOU CANT CATCH IT FROM ONE PERSON TO ANOTHER, THERE IS STILL A LITTLE ARGUAMENT ABOUT ADDICTION BEING A INHERITED DISEASE???

We here at new academy want to research into why people become addicted & does society create addicts or just bring them out.

Please check out our blogs & forums to discuss this with other members. there are so many forms of addiction The main ones that are known are drugs alcohol, cannabis however lets take a look at a few other forms of addiction

study case 1: What is alcoholism?

Drinking becomes problem drinking when the cost of drinking outweighs the benefits. Problem drinking can quickly progress into alcoholism, also known as alcohol dependency syndrome. Problem drinking often starts with binge drinking - drinking large amounts of alcohol with the intention to get drunk. Binge drinking becomes alcohol abuse when the drinking starts causing problems. And alcohol abuse becomes alcoholism when the user starts to experience obsessive cravings for alcohol, a loss of control of drinking and withdrawal symptoms when not drinking. It’s important to realise that not all alcoholics drink all day, every day.
Signs, symptoms and risks of alcoholism
Alcohol can produce a whole host of physical problems and can damage almost every part of the body, some irreversibly. On a minor level, it can cause broken capillaries and puffiness in the facial area. More seriously though, alcoholism can cause blood conditions which can lead to infections and anaemia. Many cancers are linked to alcohol, including throat and mouth cancer. Alcoholism can also result in liver disease and cirrhosis which can ultimately be fatal. Alcohol can lead to many emotional problems, including depression and confusion after a drinking session, blackouts which can be incredibly frightening and a loss of interest in friends and hobbies.
Treating alcoholism
Detox and withdrawal from alcoholism needs to be undertaken in a medically-controlled environment as the body can go into shock. Alcohol abuse is usually a symptom of a problem and is most effectively treated in a residential alcohol rehab centre with a structured program that takes a holistic approach. As with most addictions, relapse is always a danger. Therefore, follow-up care, such as attendance of AA meetings, is essential. At Addiction Helper, we can help you look at all the options available and provide all the support that you and your family will need.

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Study case 2: What is prescription drug addiction?
Prescription drugs are legal drugs that people are prescribed by their GP or physicians. Just because they are prescribed legitimately, this does not mean that they are not addictive. It’s all too easy for individuals to develop a physical and psychological dependency on prescription drugs. People can become addicted to the effect produced by prescription drugs, particularly those that produce a feeling of sedation or a "high”. Others become tolerant to the effect of the drug and need an increasingly high dose to obtain the same feeling. The initial condition can also worsen as a result of prescription drug abuse and individuals may take larger doses to counteract this.
Addiction to prescription drugs is on the increase due to easy access to legal drugs via the Internet. The most commonly abused prescription drugs are painkillers, sleeping tablets, anti-anxiety pills, anti-depressants and medication for ADHD. These include analgesics with codeine, benzodiazepine such as velum and temazepam, and stimulants such as Ritalin.
Signs, symptoms and risk of prescription drug addiction
Abusers of prescription drugs can become as devious as those who use illegal drugs. It’s not unheard of for prescription drug users to register with more than one GP and to visit a number of pharmacists to cash in their prescription. The effects and risks of prescription drug addiction vary depending on the particular drug. For example, abuse of codeine can result in constipation, nausea, breathing problems and even seizures. Benzodiazepine addiction can lead to amnesia, irritability, confusion and aggression. Stimulant abuse can result in feelings of paranoia and hostility, convulsions and cardiovascular problems. In addition, mixing prescription medication with illegal drugs or alcohol can be lead to an overdose and, ultimately, death. Many people use prescriptions drugs to counteract the effect of illegal uppers such as cocaine and ecstasy and downers such as heroin and alcohol. This combination can be lethal.
Treatment for prescription drug addiction
Getting someone who’s addicted to prescription drugs to admit that they need help can be difficult. The image of a "drug addict” conjures up someone who is "shooting up” in a seedy environment, not someone who is simply "popping” a couple of legal pills a day. But addiction to prescription drugs is very real, and needs medical and psychological treatment. Withdrawing from prescription drugs can be just as traumatic and uncomfortable as withdrawing from illegal street drugs, with symptoms ranging from headaches to seizures. Withdrawing from benzodiazepine is particularly difficult. Detox from prescription drugs must be medically managed by a GP, in a residential detox centre or in a carefully supervised home detox programme. Many users require help beyond management of withdrawal symptoms and are treated with a range of therapies and counselling in a residential rehab centre or as an outpatient. At Addiction Helper, we’ll guide you through the treatments available for your circumstances, and provide you and your family with on-going support and advice.

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Study case 3: What is sex and love addiction?
Sex and love addiction is also known as SLA. It’s a progressive illness that will get worse if it isn’t checked. Some SLA sufferers have a sex addiction, some have a love addiction. Quite often, the two are intertwined. Sex and love addiction takes a variety of forms, including a compulsive need for sex, becoming sexually involved or emotionally attached to people without knowing them, extreme dependency on one or many people, and a preoccupation with romance and fantasy. Individuals may confuse love with sexual attraction, search continually for relationships and sexual contact. They may use sex and emotional involvement to manipulate others or as a substitute for nurture and support. Some return to destructive relationships for fear of being alone. Others attach themselves to people who are emotionally unavailable in order to avoid responsibility. Sex and love addicts will often starve themselves of sexual and emotional involvement, mistaking abstention as recovery.
Signs, symptoms and risks of sex and love addiction
The signs of an addiction to love are basically the same as its characteristics which are explained above. As many of its characteristics are emotional, this can make it a difficult addiction to identify in someone else. Sex addiction can be is a little easier to identify, depending on the nature of the addiction. Signs can include excessive self-stimulation, compulsive use of pornography, multiple extra-marital affairs or one-night stands, use of prostitutes or prostitution, cybersex or telephone sex, and high-risk sex. We must be aware, however, that sex addicts are usually skilled in hiding their secret lives from those around them. Sex addicts can progress to illegal sexual activities but it’s important to note, however, that most sex addicts do not become sex offenders. Sex and love addicts are a high risk group for sexually transmitted diseases. And it is common for personal and family relationships to deteriorate in the life of someone addicted to sex and love.
Treatment for sex and love addiction
The goal of sex and love addiction recovery is different to those of other addictions. The goal isn’t for the individual to abstain from sex or love for the rest of their life; it’s to be able to sustain healthy sexual and emotional relationships. The first step is to get the addict to stop his or her behaviour and that does normally involve a period of abstinence which helps the individual get to the root of the addiction. Sex and love addiction treatments can include residential or outpatient therapy at a rehab centre with a programme of individual and group sessions. It’s important that the addict’s partner, if he or she has one, is involved with the treatment, and family therapy might be necessary. Aftercare is essential for the sex and love addict, and we’d recommend attendance of Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous which provides a 12-step programme based on the model successfully pioneered by Alcoholics Anonymous. The team at Addictions Helper will explore the treatment options available to you, and provide you with the support that you and your family need.