03-26-2020, 01:21 AM
"Addiction is a complex condition, a brain disease that is manifested by compulsive substance use despite harmful consequence. People with addiction (severe substance use disorder) have an intense focus on using a certain substance(s), such as alcohol or drugs, to the point that it takes over their life." -American Psychiatric Association
Addiction has two componets: physical and mental. From a physiological point of view with addiction/alcoholism, there are chemicals in the brain (tetrahydroisoquinoline or detrahydroisoquinoline to name two) , which occur only in addicts, that cause immense cravings in a person. This causes them to drink/use to excess (binge) despite all good intentions not to once they have ingested the substance. Psychiatric /Psychologically speaking there is denial in the persons mind composed of many defense mechanisms that convinces the addict that he in fact does not have a problem with the chemical, but instead it is extraneous forces that are the cause of the problem. The chemical use is so ardently defended because using the chemical is the only thing that makes life tolerable. These two aspects are and have been broadly accepted in the medical and Psychiatric fields.
Only the occasional outlier disagrees with these accepted facts, usually those who have either little knowledge of the research that has gone into the study of addiction over the past seventy or so years or one who has an ax to grind to see that the addict is held to task and not given a free out (usually arising from being hurt by an addict).
Additional information. I worked for twenty-plus years in the field of addiction as an addictions counselor. I have completed thousand of psy/social evaluation on addicts and have been called many times as an expert witness. I have also created treatment programs for both in-patient and out-patient treatment centers.
best,
dale
Addiction has two componets: physical and mental. From a physiological point of view with addiction/alcoholism, there are chemicals in the brain (tetrahydroisoquinoline or detrahydroisoquinoline to name two) , which occur only in addicts, that cause immense cravings in a person. This causes them to drink/use to excess (binge) despite all good intentions not to once they have ingested the substance. Psychiatric /Psychologically speaking there is denial in the persons mind composed of many defense mechanisms that convinces the addict that he in fact does not have a problem with the chemical, but instead it is extraneous forces that are the cause of the problem. The chemical use is so ardently defended because using the chemical is the only thing that makes life tolerable. These two aspects are and have been broadly accepted in the medical and Psychiatric fields.
Only the occasional outlier disagrees with these accepted facts, usually those who have either little knowledge of the research that has gone into the study of addiction over the past seventy or so years or one who has an ax to grind to see that the addict is held to task and not given a free out (usually arising from being hurt by an addict).
Additional information. I worked for twenty-plus years in the field of addiction as an addictions counselor. I have completed thousand of psy/social evaluation on addicts and have been called many times as an expert witness. I have also created treatment programs for both in-patient and out-patient treatment centers.
best,
dale
How long after picking up the brush, the first masterpiece?
The goal is not to obfuscate that which is clear, but make clear that which isn't.
The goal is not to obfuscate that which is clear, but make clear that which isn't.