Understanding Addiction: How Does it Happen?

Millions of folks around the world deal with addiction to drugs or alcohol, and for someone who has never been through this struggle for themselves, it can be hard to come to terms with. How do you understand something you have never gone through before yourself? 

You don’t necessarily have to understand addiction in order to help. However, it is sometimes useful to know the mindset of someone who is struggling with addiction, and these bits of information might help you arrive at a better understanding. 

The Person Feels Like They Have No Control

People who become addicted to drugs or alcohol sometimes use them because it gives the person a feeling of control in their life. If the one thing they can seem to control is their intake of drugs and alcohol, it might give them a semblance of power in their life that they might be lacking. If this sounds like someone you know, talk to them about issues in their life and see what you can do to help restore the balance. 

The Person Needs an Escape

Some folks feel as if they need to get high or drunk in order to find some sense of an escape in life. While having a drink with friends is a fine and accepted social event that is able to take most folks’ minds off their troubles for a while, others take it a step further and turn to drugs or alcohol every time they feel like they need to forget their troubles for a while. 

The longer this goes on, the more likely it will be for the person to end up addicted to the substance. 

The Person is Self-Medicating

Sometimes, when someone falls victim to addiction, it is because they are battling something inside of themselves. They could be dealing with depression, and using drugs or drinking is often a way for folks with this condition to self-medicate and feel a little better for a time. 

Unfortunately, this is a slippery slope which leads nowhere good. The more someone uses, the less it will have an effect on them, and they will have to use even more to get that same effect. This can lead to deeper addiction issues and even health problems. 

You Can Help

If you think someone close to you might be going through their own personal battle with addiction, you don’t have to simply sit idly by. You can do something about it. Take some time to talk to your addicted loved one about visiting a drug or alcohol rehab facility where they can be surrounded by professional and licensed staff, experienced in helping those with addiction. 

Hopefully, your friend or family member will take your advice, go into rehab, and come back out a changed person, turning over a new leaf and doing what they can to lead a newly sober lifestyle.