For instance, the three most commonly used drugs are alcohol, tobacco and caffeine. They are legal and freely available, but they do not pose an addiction problem for all those who take them. There are those who have an occasional glass of wine and will not become alcoholic s, people who have a cigarette at parties or special occasions and people who drink coffee who don’t crave it all of the time. It is important to recognize that not all dependencies are menacing or life-threatening. For instance, having a glass of wine after a hard day’s work or the odd bar of chocolate is not recognized as a serious form of addiction. However, once you reach the point of experiencing panic, severe anxiety or fear of being unable to cope without your wine, chocolate or cigarettes; you may have a more serious addiction which would require treatment.

The reasons for addiction, according to most research, lie in the brain. A group of chemicals called neurotransmitters carry the signals between neurons in the brain. One of these neurotransmitters, dopamine, plays a pivotal role in transmitting feelings of satisfaction, arousal, and reward, so that every time we experience these feelings, we have the desire to replicate them by doing whatever it was that caused them before. This may account for the repetition inherent in addictive behavior. Alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, cocaine, and amphetamines are a few of the substances that increase dopamine levels in the brain, and the more they are used, the more deeply these substances are associated with pleasure and reward, and the more profound the dependency.

Signs of addiction can include:

• Decreased desire to work or go to school
• Decreased desire to socialize
• Extreme drowsiness
• Inattentiveness
• Frequent mood swings
• Restlessness
• Personality changes
• Loss of appetite
• Wanting to be alone
• Losing your temper easily

In addition, people who become chemically dependent do so at different rates, and some research is showing that susceptibility to addiction may be, in part, hereditary. The sad part of addiction, and complicating matters even more, is the fact that with prolonged use, the body often ends up needing more and more of the substance to produce the desired effect and to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

Some drug withdrawal symptoms may include: • Headaches • Insomnia • Sensitivity to light • Sensitivity to noise • Diarrhea • Hot and cold flashes • Sweating • Deep depression • Irritability • Irrational thinking • Disorientation The first step for many people is to re-learn the art of caring for and loving themselves and reinforce their desire to live. Much of drug use, at least the habitual kind, is part of a syndrome of self-destruction. Addiction is a tremendous personal, social and economic problem in our society. It both supports and drains our total economy. Our society and advertising world promotes addiction. It begins with sugar, caffeine, nicotine, alcohol and many foods, such as milk products. Our behavior regarding foods, particularly the ones with all the sugar, is conditioned at a very early age and is difficult to change.

Most people are aware that a drug overdose can kill, but many do not realize that these poisons kill in other ways as well. Angina, heart attack, coronary artery spasms, and life threatening damage to the heart muscle may occur with the use of cocaine and heroin. Chronic marijuana use can reduce the immune response by as much as 40 percent by damaging and destroying white blood cells. Marijuana can also be an adrenal drain, lessening our ability to handle stress, and many regular cannabis smokers have associated hypoglycemic problems. The initial effect of smoking marijuana is an increased blood sugar. The “munchies” that are associated with “getting stoned” may be related to low blood sugar and reduced liver glycogen storage, setting up a craving for food, especially sweets. All drugs weaken the immune system in one way or another and without a strong immune system, the body is vulnerable to all kinds of infectious and degenerative diseases.

If that is not enough, research has found that children of alcoholics are more inclined than others to use drugs, including cocaine. These individuals are 400 times more likely to use drugs than those who do not have a family history of alcohol addiction.

Lastly, a growing problem for substance abusers in these times, especially for those who use drugs intravenously and share needles, is the threat of AIDS. Sadly, for long-term drug users, even this is sometimes not enough to deter them from continuing the habitual use of drugs.

There is no single treatment that is right for everyone. It is not a single prescription that will help all addicted people. Treatment needs to be tailored to fit the individual. It is for this reason that we would like to provide the different modalities that are available and that have had great success with addiction.

Before going through any drug or chemical detoxification, it is prudent to prepare and plan for it. This is important both physically and psychologically. It is definitely wise to have the aid of a physician, therapist, family member or good friend for support. The withdrawal phase can be the most difficult time, and this can vary from a day or two to a week or more.

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