The truth about addiction

The truth about addiction

(Shutterstock)


Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 6-7 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

One Saturday morning I received the call; the call nobody ever hopes to experience in their lifetime. The tone and cadence of my father-in-law's voice clearly indicated that something was seriously wrong. He then told me that my brother-in-law, age 32 and a father of two little boys, had passed away. The reason: Chemical dependence.

The subsequent days were defined by the tender feelings of grief and loss of a cherished son, brother, dad and friend. After spending 30 years in the mental health industry, I have met many people who pray daily that this type of call never comes.

Sadly, these calls continue to occur in the world of chemical dependence. Although, well known in the treatment industry, many in our society are becoming deeply aware that chemical dependency is a primary, progressive, and fatal disease if left untreated.

"Primary" indicates that addiction is not symptomatic of another disease; it targets a specific organ (e.g. the brain), and is characterized by specific physical and behavioral features and symptoms.

"Progressive" describes the degenerating nature of chemical dependence in the brain and associated behaviors that decline and worsen in time if left untreated. The disease progresses to the point of being "fatal" if untreated and unmanaged.

"Disease" identifies that chemical dependence is not the effect of a certain type of personality or character defect but is recognized by the medical field and insurance companies as a legitimate physical disease. Like diabetes and hypertension, if treated and managed, people can live vibrant and beautiful lives. However, if left untreated, the individual will often experience an untimely and premature death.

Who gets addicted

The old stigma and belief that drug addicts are all tattooed, body pierced, homeless or otherwise of a non-traditional element no longer persists. The shock and awe of sons and daughters, spouses and soccer moms; white-collar professionals and church-goers suffering from chemical dependency are increasingly real.

Photo credit: Shutterstock
Photo credit: Shutterstock

Anyone can become chemically dependent. I have never worked with anyone who started using a mood altering substance that wanted to become chemically dependent. Whether the impact of an accident or surgery and prescribed pain pills led to chemical dependence, drinking socially and now you cannot manage the amounts you consume, or many other possible paths, chemical dependency can happen to anyone.

Just years ago, USA Today reported that 1 in 4 people have been directly impacted by someone who is chemically dependent or abusing illicit drugs in their circles of family, friends, or work associates.

What is chemical dependence?

Mood altering substances first impact the Reward Center of the brain that is responsible for survival. This part of the brain operates on a preconscious level. In other words, we are not aware or conscious it is happening.

The primary function of this area of the brain is to reduce stress, tag those substances and behaviors that ensure survival so we do it again. The primary way the brain reinforces that we learn — remember and repeat the behavior — is to tag the substance or behavior with a neurochemical, which creates pleasure (e.g. joy).

From a neurochemical stand point, drugs and some behaviors (e.g. sex, pornography, gambling) trigger neurochemicals in such large amounts it tricks the brain to think that these drugs or behaviors are the best solution to reduce stress, create pleasure (e.g. joy) and ensure survival. This part of the brain communicates with the conscious parts of the brain that deeply impact learning, memory, motivation and attachment.

The problem is that drugs cause such a surge of neurochemicals in the brain, the brain has to adjust and adapt. The adjustments in the brain have a devastating impact upon the chemically dependent person. Now all the normal activities that formerly reduces stress, ensures survival, and creates pleasure (e.g. joy), do not register because the brain calibrates to the amount of neurochemicals released by using the drugs.

Photo credit: Shutterstock
Photo credit: Shutterstock

The chemically dependent individual now experiences a world that has become stress altered and joyless to former experiences and behaviors. This means that the person becomes pleasure deaf, known in the medical world as annhedonia.

Now the brain drives the individual to the drug to reduce stress, ensure survival, and thereby creating pleasure (e.g. joy)—we refer to this neurochemical drive as dependence and cravings.

Due to the hyper learning, memory, motivation, and attachment the drug has created in the brain, it becomes the new number one survival imperative. All the other activities that formerly provided stress relief and joy (being with a spouse, connecting with your children, walk in the park; meditation, prayer and spirituality, etc.) lose their value for the chemically dependent. The brain has been hijacked!

Alarmingly, the part of the brain that we form and experience attachments, spirituality, morality, even our choice system is deeply impaired when chemically dependent. The dependent brain craves for the drug when it perceives stress.

The disease progresses due to the changes in the brain, where eventually the brain craves the drug in order to function. The preconscious part of the brain that has the responsibility to ensure survival takes executive control and our ability to access and draw upon our morality, spirituality, and our choice system is impaired and not accessible as it was in the non-addictive state.

This is why we see the chemically dependent continue using despite the negative consequences of drug use. So what starts as a defect in the Reward Centers of the brain, ends in the Choice System being impaired.

Due to these changes in the brain, it becomes increasingly difficult for the chemically dependent to impose their own "will" to quit or manage life. The choice system is literally impaired and broken!

When stress comes (and it always does) the ability to draw upon the choice system and regulate behaviors is severely impaired. As a result, professional support is most often required to help the chemically dependent heal and recover. The good news is that brain healing can occur, the disease of chemical dependency can be managed and life can be reclaimed and restored.

Access to care

Professional support is essential in helping the chemically dependent recover. However, while the need is great, many are not accessing and receiving treatment.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 23.5 million persons aged 12 or older needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol abuse problem in 2009 (9.3 percent of persons aged 12 or older).

Of these, only 2.6 million—11.2 percent of those who needed treatment—received it at a specialty facility. When only one person in 10 is able or chooses to access treatment we have severe public health crisis on our hands. It is critical if you or a loved one is suffering from this disease, to reach out and obtain the support and treatment that is needed.

Help is Available

The Phoenix Recovery & Counseling Centers doctors and staff understand this disease and know how to provide the recovery support to help those suffering in this disease.

From residential care and day treatments, to intensive outpatient and weekly alumni support Groups, The Phoenix Recovery & Counseling Centers provide a carefully tailored recovery experience.

If you or a loved one is suffering from chemical dependency, seek help and get more information by calling 801.571.6798 or visiting thephoenixrc.com.

Most recent Utah stories

Related topics

BrandviewUtah
Cory A. Reich, Ph.D. Executive Clinical Director The Phoenix Recovery & Counseling Centers

    STAY IN THE KNOW

    Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Subscribe to the KSL.com Trending 5.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast