Addiction & Alcoholism

I. Addiction and its Two Key Forms A. Addiction: a condition in which an individual requires the use of a drug or the participation in an activity in order to function without physical or psychological reactions to its absence. Often the condition will interfere with normal everyday functioning as it worsens. B. Process Addiction: an addiction to an activity or process, such as eating, spending money, gambling, working, playing video games, sexual activities, etc. C. Substance Addiction: an addiction to a drug, such as depressants, stimulants, narcotics, hallucinogens, etc. D. Enabling: when family, friends, and associates promote addiction in another individual or simply allow an addict to continue their addiction.

II. Chronic Drug Effects A. Withdrawal: an unpleasant effect, the opposite of how a drug made the user feel initially. B. Tolerance: a decrease in effect develops as the user continues to take the drug. C. Physical Dependence: when the user feels compelled to use a drug chiefly to reduce the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. D. Psychological Dependence: a craving to use a drug not motivated by the physical symptoms of withdrawal.

III. Alcohol: a depressant found in liquor, wine and beer. A. Emotional and Behavioral Characteristics of Intoxicated Individuals IV. Alcoholism: the addiction to or dependency upon drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. A. Denial: refusal to acknowledge a problem or believe any information that causes anxiety.

B. Delirium Tremens: symptoms associated with the abrupt discontinuation of alcohol consumption among alcoholics. 1) muscle convulsions (shaky hands) 2) confusion 3) diarrhea 4) insomnia 5) disorientation 6) extreme agitation 7) heart arrhythmias 8) hallucinations (often of insects, snakes, or rats) C. Risk Factors for Alcoholism… 1) new found freedoms in college 2) stress in life 3) family history (genetics & environment) 4) addictive personality 5) mental illness 6) cultural influences

D. Long Term Medical Consequences of Alcoholism 1) Alcoholic Liver Disease: arises from the excessive ingestion of alcohol. When excessive alcohol is consumed chronically, it can eventually result in liver scarring or what is known as cirrhosis or end-stage alcoholic liver disease. 2) Korsakoff’s Syndrome: a form of dementia leading to memory loss that results from a deficiency of vitamin B1, typically brought on by chronic alcoholism.

E. Treatment for Alcoholism 1) Detoxification: a program of supervised recovery provided in a hospital setting. 2) Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): a self-help group comprised of people who abstain from alcohol use and offer help and support to each other. 3) Controlled Drinking: reducing consumption of alcohol from dependent/abusive levels to moderate levels. 4) Disulfiram (a.k.a. Antabuse): a pill alcoholics can take daily that causes them to become physically ill when they drink alcohol. 5) Benzodiazepines: sedatives that operate similarly to alcohol by enhancing the effectiveness of GABA (a neurotransmitter) transmission in the central nervous system.