About Addiction
There are varying stages of alcohol and other drug use, abuse and addiction. Typically, the first stage is experimenting, or using the alcohol and/or other drug for the first time. This is followed by recreational or social use. There is no regular pattern of use at this time, but the alcohol and/or other drug is used 'to have fun'. If the use progresses, we get to what is known as the habitual stage. The user now has some regular pattern of use. It is usually in the habitual stage that friends and family may first recognize the use. Abuse occurs when the person continues to use the alcohol and/or other drug despite negative consequences. And finally, addiction occurs when that person is completely involved with the alcohol and/or other drug. This is sometimes described as 'living to use and using to live'.
Addiction is a disease . It is chronic, progressive, sometimes fatal and has both genetic and environmental roots. Addiction transcends economic, social, racial, religious, occupational, or age groups. It manifests as a compulsion that drives an individual to continue to behave in a way that is harmful to him or herself and loved ones, despite negative consequences.
It is BIOGENETIC
- You don't choose to acquire it.
- A family history of drug/alcohol problems puts you at greater risk.
It is a PRIMARY Illness
- If you have chemical dependency, it's not a symptom of some other problem.
- If you have chemical dependency and other problems, your chemical dependency will interfere with treatment for other problems unless the chemical dependency is also treated.
It is a CHRONIC Illness
- It won't go away because you ignore it, don't like it or don't want to believe you have it.
- It's not "just a phase".
It is a PROGRESSIVE Illness
- Without treatment it will eventually get worse.
- It usually gets worse more quickly for women and young people.
If left Untreated, Addiction can be FATAL
- Drinking and driving
- Overdose/alcohol poisoning
- Disease
- Organ Failure
- Violence
- Suicide
Addiction is not a lack of willpower or a sign of weakness. It is not a character flaw or a moral deficiency. It is a disease. Treatment for addiction is as effective as treatments for other chronic medical conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. (Please see Treatment Works for more information)
We recognize that not everyone is an addict, and we offer programs and services geared to any stage of use or abuse and dependent upon each individual's circumstances.
If you or someone you love has an alcohol or other drug problem, the Drug Abuse Alternatives Center (DAAC) can help. Call toll-free (877) 888-DAAC (3222) or (707) 544-3295 for more information.
FACTS
There are more deaths and disabilities each year in the U.S. from substance abuse than from any other cause. 1
About 18 million Americans have alcohol problems; about 5 to 6 million Americans have drug problems. 2
More than half of all adults have a family history of alcoholism or problem drinking. 3
One-quarter of all emergency room admissions, one-third of all suicides, and more than half of all homicides and incidents of domestic violence are alcohol-related. 4
Heavy drinking contributes to illness in each of the top three causes of death: heart disease, cancer and stroke. 5
Almost half of all traffic fatalities are alcohol-related. 6
Alcohol and drug abuse costs the American economy an estimated $276 billion per year in lost productivity, health care expenditures, crime, motor vehicle crashes and other conditions. 7
Untreated addiction is more expensive than heart disease, diabetes and cancer combined. 8
1 "Substance Abuse: The Nation's Number One Health Problem," Institute for Health Policy, Brandeis University, 1993.
2 "Substance Abuse: The Nation's Number One Health Problem," Institute for Health Policy, Brandeis University, 2001.
3 Position Paper on Drug Policy, Physician Leadership on National Drug Policy (PLNDP), Brown University Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, 2000.
4 "Sobering Facts on the Dangers of Alcohol," NY Newsday, April 24, 2002.
5 Position Paper on Drug Policy, Physician Leadership on National Drug Policy (PLNDP), Brown University Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, 2000.
6 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Annual Report, 1992.
7 "Substance Abuse: The Nation's Number One Health Problem," Institute for Health Policy, Brandeis University, 2001.
8 "Alcoholism and Drug Dependence are America's Number One Health Problem" National Center for Alcohol and Drug Dependence, 2003. |
