Drugs & Alcohol > Addiction and Recovery
Addiction is complex matter. It depends on the life-style decisions people make
about the use of nicotine, alcohol and rugs. A majority of teens end up using one
or more of these substances at some time in their lives. Using chemicals before
your body is fully developed interferes with your body’s normal growth and
development. Nicotine, alcohol and drugs interfere with normal mental and
emotional growth.
An addiction is a physiological and psychological dependence on a substance or
activity. Teens are often addicted to alcohol, nicotine, drugs, sports or food.
Physiological dependence means that the body has become accustomed to a drug
or drugs and needs such chemicals to function. Physiological is determined when
a teen experiences tolerance and withdrawal.
Tolerance occurs when a teen’s body adjusts to the effects of the drug. Larger
doses are required to achieve the same effect.
Withdrawal is characterized by symptoms that occur when the teen tries to stop
using a substance that he or she is addicted to.
Drug use is a learned behavior that is very dangerous and very difficult to stop.
Drugs can and will ruin some of the best years of your life. Don’t start.
Signs of Addiction
- Giving up hobbies and sports
- Spending less and less time on your homework
- Loosing interest in friends, school and work
- Avoiding important social events
- Getting ““wasted”” regularly
- Getting into fights
- Stealing or working overtime to buy more drugs
- Keeping your habit going
- Needing more and more of the substance.
If you see any of those signs in yourself or a friend, it is almost a sure sign that
they’re addicted and need help. Find a counselor and get help. Get help fast.
Recovery
Recovery is the reverse process of addiction. It takes times and devotion. For
different people it takes different amounts of time and different approaches.
However, there are some common features of recovery processes:
First, you have to admit that you have a problem with a substance and you have
to make a decision to give it up. Without this step, no recovery can continue.
Next, you have to remove the toxin from your body. This is called detoxification.
This part must be done with medical supervision. Addiction cannot be ““cured.”” It
can only be kept from progressing further with involvement from you.
Experts recommend total abstinence during the recovery process. Total
abstinence means not using any of the addictive substances.
Many people who go through recovery manage to stay drug free for the rest of
their lives. Teens have to take responsibility for their lives. We have to want to be
addiction free.
Even if relapse occurs, the change for recovery is always there.
Ask for help.
Your parents, teachers, school counselor are a good place to start. Get a
counselor who specializes in substance abuse. Later get a support group. You will
notice that there are others who are fighting to free themselves from the grips of
addiction.
Above all: stick with it! You can do it!
Source: Teenage Health and Interactive Network - About.com
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