How does someone become addicted. In my CEO message I talk about how an addicted person is often associated with the picture of a person on skid row drinking out of a paper bag or poking a needle in his or her arm. When individuals first start to use addictive substances, it is never with the intention to become addicted. Substance abuse is a phenomenon that slowly seduces the individual with its false promises and deceptive illusions. Vancouver, partly because of our climate and our status of a port city, have combined with other factors to create a systemic substance abuse problem. Following are the typical pattens we see when it comes to substance abuse in Vancouver. If you or anyone you know is struggling with a substance abuse issue, HeartQuest provides some proven solutions. Call Cory personally at 604.818.1771 or Click here to send Cory an email.
PATTERNS OF SUBSTANCE USE
1) No Use
- approximately 20% of the people in our society do not use any mood altering substances for non-medicinal purposes.
2) Initial Use
- motivation comes from personal curiosity & peer pressure
- this stage is highlighted by experimentation and adventure
- willingness of person to choose to use
- availability of substance of choice to use
- may be a separate and distinct experience for each substance tried
- recent trends show this pattern occurring most often in adolescence but also occurring at younger ages
3) Irregular Use
- responsible use on an irregular basis
- no substance seeking behavior except monetary preparation
- the choice process is still heavily involved
- use of substances only during non-work periods
- substance use fun and enjoyable with very few side effects
- use generally motivated by larger event (party, holiday, special dinner, etc.) rather than individual need
- approximately 20% of people in our society are irregular users
4) Regular Use
- use motivated more by personal initiation rather than by the event
- use mood altering substances more than 3 times per month
- substance seeking and substance use take up a larger amount of time
- substances are now being used to compensate for anxiety or stress
- more regular use of addictive substances (habit formation)
- loss of control over the use of the substances may begin to happen
- more severe side effects happen (blackouts, hangovers, etc.)
- some personal concerns (guilt) by the user may occur in this pattern and attempts at control and / or abstinence
- approximately 40% of people in our society are regular users
5) Problem / Intensified Use
- frequency of use varies widely and may range from daily to binge use
- 10% of people in our society are problem users experiencing some of the following problems:
a) Loss Of Control
- use of substance beyond what was intended most of the time
- control lost to the point where the person can control onset of using but has little control over amount used
b) Compulsion
- when substance use takes up an extraordinary amount of time
- always an excuse to use the substance (always an alibi after)
c) Continued Use In spite Of Negative Consequences
- lots of denial (refusal to see facts as they really are and refusal to deal with consequences of their actions)
- rationalization and blame help the person to justify the drug use in spite of nameless fears and anxieties (shame)
- substance use now has a bigger priority that relationships, friends, health, career, or other major life areas
- tendency to objectify relationships
- possibly suicidal
6) Addicted / Dependent Use
- inability to predict or control consumption of substance
- entire life depends on the use of the substance (obsessed)
- can’t function without the drug and severe withdrawal reactions occur with abstention
- medical complications due to the substance use
- continued use even though this use threatens their life, health, job, marriage, and family
- completely physically and psychologically addicted
- death through complications or accident a real possibility
- approximately 10% of people in our society are substance dependent