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Addiction. What is Addiction?. Addiction: is an activity or substance people repeatedly crave to experience and for which they are willing, if necessary, to pay the price of negative consequences that affect other areas of their lives.
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What is Addiction? • Addiction: is an activity or substance people repeatedly crave to experience and for which they are willing, if necessary, to pay the price of negative consequences that affect other areas of their lives. • Individuals can be addicted to substances, such as alcohol, cigarettes, food or street drugs and activities, such as gambling, sex, shoplifting or overspending.
Signs of Addiction • - changes in school work • - changes in physical appearance • - changes in eating or sleeping habits • - changes in friends • - changes in behavior
Warning Signs for Drug and Alcohol Addiction • Warning signs for drug and alcohol addiction in youth: • bloodshot eyes, dilated pupils, wearing sunglasses • runny or irritated nose • frequent cough and respiratory infections • loss of appetite, weight loss or gain, frequent munchies • bloated appearance • frequent headaches, vomiting and tiredness • excessive sleep or difficulty in sleeping, decreased energy • slurred, slow speech or hyperactivity • difficulty concentrating or thinking critically • drop in school attendance, performance • wide mood swings, depression, anxiety, paranoia • belligerence, defensiveness, vulgarity • change in friends, old friends expressing concern • increase in secrecy, avoidance of communication with parents • constant need for money • loss of interest in family activities
When confronted about their addiction, people may • deny • minimize • blame • give excuses and rationalization • divert • become angry
Stages of drug abuse: • individual discovers mood swing • individual seeks mood change • individual is preoccupied with mood swing and obtaining and using often • individual uses to feel normal
Long term consequences of abuse • missed learning opportunities • impact on major life choices due to potential criminal records
Overcoming addiction • change is a process not an event • it requires desire and motivation to change and the skills to handle change successfully • Intervention