"WHAT IS "SUBSTANCE.  ABUSE" ANYWAY??"

 

Most people have the wrong idea about what an alcoholic or an addict is. Alcoholism and addiction is the same thing. People drink and use for the same reason; for the effect. It makes us feel different. Drinking and using also harms people mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically. Here are some of the common myths about alcoholism and addition:

 

§       Addicts are weak willed.

§       It's a moral problem.

§       They wear trench coats and push shopping carts, while drinking paint thinner.

§       They-live on skid row.

§       You're only an addict if you cannot control your use.

§       Only people, who have to have it, need it) or crave it, are addicts.

§       Only men are addicts.

§       Only adults are addicts.

§       You cannot get addicted to Marijuana.

§       If I only drink on the weekends or only drink beer, I’m not an addict. .

 

-- AND THE LIST GOES ON -- .

 

Alcoholism/addiction is a DISEASE. It has symptoms that we can observe and predict, that get worse, if left untreated. It effects. Every aspect a person’s life: mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. There is no cure for it, but it can fought or put it into "REMISSION', if certain things are done.

 

For simplicity, we call it "ADDICTION' or "SUBSTANCE ABUSE'. The American Medical Association has a definition too complicated to explain here, so we will give you the shortened version.

 

If you drink or use, and it causes problems in your life (if it harms you mentally physically, emotionally, and/or spiritually) and you keep doing it, THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG!!!!!

 

 

We can describe addiction or alcoholism as displaying "Insanity" in our using. It is not sane to get arrested, grounded, overdose, have someone break-up with us, or get in a fight, because of drinking and/or using, THEN TO CONTINUE DOING IT. This is "doing the same thing twice and expecting different results".

 

Some people say that an addict is a person who uses drugs/alcohol to solve the problems that were caused by drugs/alcohol.

§       "I was drunk and cheated on my boyfriend, so he dumped me.

§       “That hurts. I think 'I'll get drunk!"

 

Of course most people don't say this kind of stuff out loud, but you get the picture. If it causes you DIS-EASE, you probably have a disease.

 

As you can see, these definitions and examples have very little to do with how much you use, what you use, when you use, who with, etc. The definition is based solely on the effects of drugs and alcohol on your being.