ADDICTION

1. ADDICTION By Guadalupe Luna-Campos

2. WHAT IS TOLERANCE? • When a person’s body is altered to be able to consume a large amount of alcohol/drugs • Tolerance is one of the two prime symptoms of physical dependence on a drug, the other being withdrawal

3. WHAT IS DEPENDENCE? • Addiction to drink or drugs • For some alcohol abusers, psychological traits such as impulsiveness, low self-esteem and a need for approval lead to inappropriate drinking • Some people drink to cope with or "medicate" emotional problems • Social and environmental factors such as peer pressure and the easy availability of alcohol or drugs can play key roles • Being poor and physically/sexually abused also leads to the development of alcohol/drug dependence

4. WHAT IS ADDICTION? • Prolonged and excessive intake of alcoholic drinks or drugs leads to addiction and withdrawal symptoms occur when someone is deprived of a substance: • Sweating or rapid pulse • Increased hand tremor • Insomnia • Nausea or vomiting • Physical agitation • Anxiety • Hallucinations or illusions • Grand mal seizures • Alcoholism and drug abuse are due to many interconnected factors, including genetics, how you were raised, your social environment, and your emotional health

5. SYMPTOMS OF ADDICTION • The substance or alcohol is often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended • There is a persistent desire or unsuccessful effort to cut down or control use of alcohol or the substance • A great deal of time is spent in activities necessary to obtain alcohol or drugs • Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of the continued alcohol or substance use • The substance or alcohol use is continued despite knowledge of physical or internal irregularities

6. TEENS & SUBSTANCES • Almost 80% of high school students have tried alcohol/drugs • In terms of alcohol, it blocks some of the messages trying to get to the brain, which alters a person's perceptions, emotions, movement, vision, and hearing • In very small amounts, substances can help a person feel more relaxed or less anxious • People who have overused substances may stagger, lose their coordination, and slur their speech • They will probably be confused and disoriented • Why Do Teens Drink/Do Drugs? • curiosity • to feel good, reduce stress, and relax • to fit in • to feel older

7. WHY YOU SHOULDN’T ABUSE • More likely to get into fights/commit crimes • Can make people do stupid or embarrassing things, like throwing up or peeing on themselves • Gives you bad breath • More likely to be sexually active and to have unprotected sex • Half of all drowning deaths relate to alcohol use • Teen drinkers are more likely to gain weight or have health problems

8. COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS OF ADDICTION • You should wait. Many believe that an addict can’t bounce back into a sober life until they have hit this extremely low point. Instead of waiting for you to verify that they’ve reached this point, try to get help for your loved one before things get worse. • Sobriety is possible if an addict is strong enough.Addiction is a disease rooted in a number of causes. Chemical dependency takes over an addict’s brain and changes his or her entire neurological makeup. Addicts need more than just willpower to get sober. • Rehab won’t work if an addict has already failed it.Just because an addict has relapsed in the past does not mean treatment will not work. He or she simply has to try again. • Addicts lack strong morals. Anyone can become an addict. People who are genetically predisposed to addiction are even more likely to become addicts themselves, regardless of who they are. • Addicts will sever ties with those staging an intervention.It’s hard to predict an addict’s response to an intervention. Drug and alcohol abuse can make a person unstable, which is why you should always get help from a professional. Just because an addict gets upset, it doesn’t mean they will hate you forever. They will, at some point, realize that you are only trying to help. • Interventions should be staged when the addict is under the influence.This is never a good idea. When planning an intervention, make sure that an addict is sober when confronted. A person who is under the influence may be very hostile and not process what is being said to them because they’re drunk. • Interventions should be staged by friends and family only. A professional interventionist is a key part of making sure the intervention is safe and effective. It can be dangerous and very counterproductive to attempt to intervene with an addict without professional help. Always contact a professional interventionist, who will help you devise a plan to make the intervention as productive and healthy as possible for everyone in the room.

9. CITATIONS •  "Understanding Alcohol Use Disorders and Their Treatment." American Psychological Association. Web. 31 Jan. 2014. <http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/alcohol-disorders.aspx>. • Austin, Michael W. "True Tolerance." Psychology Today. 24 July 2011. Web. 31 Jan. 2014. <http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/ethics-everyone/201107/true-tolerance>. • Smith, Melinda, Lawrence Robinson, and Jeanne Segal. "Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse." Helpguide.org. Aug. 2013. Web. 28 Jan. 2014. <http://www.helpguide.org/mental/alcohol_abuse_alcoholism_signs_effects_treatment.htm>. • "Alcohol & Substance Dependence Symptoms | Psych Central." Psych Central. Web. 31 Jan. 2014. <http://psychcentral.com/disorders/alcohol-substance-dependence-symptoms/>. • Seely, Ken. "7 Common Misconceptions About Addiction Interventions | World of Psychology." Psych Central. Web. 31 Jan. 2014. <http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2013/08/26/7-common-misconceptions-about-addiction-interventions/>. • "Alcohol." KidsHealth. Ed. Steven Dowshen. The Nemours Foundation, 01 June 2013. Web. 02 Feb. 2014. <http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/alcohol/alcohol.html>.