Pubdate: Wed, 18 Mar 2015
Source: News, The (New Glasgow, CN NS)
Copyright: 2015 Transcontinental Inc.
Contact:  http://www.ngnews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3343
Author: Brenna Gavel
Page: 6

THE TRUE FACE OF ADDICTION

The face of addiction looks significantly different from that
portrayed in popular media.

Depictions of 'out of control' alcohol and drug users, persuaded into
engaging in these risky behaviours for selfish purposes, taints our
understanding of what addiction really is. The reality is that one in
five Canadians experience addiction problems, yet very few actively
seek assistance in coping with their addiction.

As a fourth year Psychology student at St. Francis Xavier University,
I was fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in a community
placement with individuals living with addictions. The placement
changed the view I had previously held regarding the disorder, and I
became interested in the real life experiences of those struggling
with addiction.

People experiencing addictions encompass a diverse sample of the
population; they can be students, military personnel, and CEOs of some
of Canada's largest companies. Why is it, then, that when asked what
the typical addict looks like, most people tend to focus on
individuals with low socio-economic status, lack of education, and
minimal self-control?

Through the information provided by numerous health care professionals
in Antigonish and the surrounding community, it is evident that
addiction is a scary, yet easy, pathway to fall into. Regardless of
whether people engage in the risk behaviours associated with addiction
or not, everyone has a threshold level that can tolerate alcohol
and/or drug consumption.

However, every individual's threshold level is different, and, to make
matters worse, an individual does not know their own capacity to
tolerate drugs and/or alcohol. An individual threshold level can go
uncrossed for some people, but be reached very easily for others. Once
the switch is flicked, addictive behaviours start to become more
consistent, as the individual is constantly seeking to feel that
thrill. This threshold explains why some individuals, who can drink
their faces off in university, become fully functioning, professional
adults upon graduation.

The pleasure centre of the brain (i.e., sex, drugs, and rock and roll)
is constantly in survival mode, seeking pleasurable events in order to
thrive. The reasoning section of the brain, however, sits on top of
the pleasure centre. Although the reasoning section effectively
controls pleasure-seeking urges for most people, it can be completely
disregarded by an addict because the pleasure centre is always the
dominant force.

Addiction is highly stigmatized by society, which elicits feelings of
shame in the individual. There is a common notion that engaging in
these behaviours, which society views as irrational, is an indicator
that the addicted person's emotional control is not strong, or there
is something wrong with them. These naive notions often characterize
individuals struggling with addiction as worthless, weak, and/or incapable.

Why is it then that our society feels the need to judge these
individuals? Is it because we engage in these behaviours ourselves,
yet our tolerance threshold keeps us from spiralling out of control?
Is it because we see ourselves as better than them or as helpers
devoted to the cause of getting these strangers clean?

Addiction can leave individuals feeling helpless within their own
bodies. They need that extra rush. They physically and mentally crave
it. A few drinks leads to a few pills, which in turn leads to a
needle. Eventually, however, it becomes necessary for them to get high
or drunk in order to function appropriately in society.

The physical and mental turmoil experienced by individuals going
through withdrawal has often been described as 'agonizing',
characterized by cold sweats, diarrhea, vomiting, body aches, and so
on. One woman described it to me as "take the worst illness you have
ever experienced, and multiply that experience by ten."

It is apparent that there has to be more education available regarding
addiction. Some organizations (for example, the Lions Club) fund
programs/contests that aim to teach the effects of drug and alcohol
use to children. The idea behind these programs, which are introduced
at such an early age, is that we need to ensure that children are not
put onto pathways that will create health disparities for their
future. Increasing awareness around addiction is one way in which this
can be achieved.

As noted by Health Canada, approximately 10 per cent of Canadians,
aged 15 and older, have used cannabis at least once in the past year.
Education regarding addiction should not be solely focused towards
children, however, as the majority of individuals coping with
addiction are adults. The disturbing reality is that statistics around
addiction are rising, which highlights the level of severity and
urgency in the matter.

Brenna Gavel is a fourth year psychology student at St. Francis Xavier 
University.
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MAP posted-by: Matt