MY SMOKING ADDICTION

 According to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an estimated 69.6 million Americans aged 12 or older reported current use of tobacco—58.3 million (23.0 percent of the population) were current cigarette smokers, 13.2 million (5.2 percent) smoked cigars, 8.9 million (3.5 percent) used smokeless tobacco, and 2 million (0.8 percent) smoked pipes, confirming that tobacco is one of the most widely abused substances in the United States. I myself have the smoking problem and am in the process of learning more about it in order to quit for good.

Although I have not been a heavy smoker over a period of time. I am just tired of being short of breathe, putting up with the smell which never bothered me until recently, the noticeable yellowish film on my teeth, and the cost of cigarettes these days is adding up. The problem wasn't noticeable until a year ago when i quit drinking, it seems I gave up one addiction for another.

Yes. Most smokers use tobacco regularly because they are addicted to nicotine. Addiction is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and abuse, even in the face of negative health consequences. It is well documented that most smokers identify tobacco use as harmful and express a desire to reduce or stop using it, and nearly 35 million of them want to quit each year. Unfortunately, more than 85 percent of those who try to quit on their own relapse, most within a week. I am going through the unfortunate phase of the withdrawals which entail irritability, craving, depression, anxiety, cognitive and attention deficits, sleep disturbances, and increased appetite. These symptoms for me come in waves within a few hours after the last cigarette, but I am told that they will peak within a couple of days and taper off in a few weeks.

There are over 4,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke and at least 69 of those chemicals are known to cause cancer.

In the articles researched I noted this about when or why I smoke. It stated that knowing when and why I smoke could help me find a strategy to quit. 

• To relieve tension, especially after arguments or during stressful times, or when you feel angry, depressed, or upset.
• To control your weight, either by keeping it down or because you're afraid of weight gain if you quit.
• For stimulation, to focus, improve your concentration, or boost your energy when you have low energy.
• To be part of the group, by joining your friends in having a cigarette. 

With all these negatives and not enough positives I feel it is time to make a real effort to quit smoking cigarettes. Not only the toll it is taking on my body but in my wallet as well. Here are some of the statistics I found:  
Cost of Smoking and Tobacco

• The cost of a pack of cigarettes averages 

    around $5.00, including taxes. A pack-a-day
    smoker burns through about $31.50 per week,
    or $1,638 per year. A 3 pack-a-day smoker
    spends nearly $5,000 a year on cigarettes.
   can add up to over $200,000, not including
   the other costs that go along with smoking.
   money on the resale of their cars and homes.
   They spend extra on dry cleaning and
   teeth cleaning.

• Over a lifetime, the cost of cigarettes alone 

• Smokers pay more for insurance. They lose

"Getting Gruesome to Stop Smoking | On Point with Tom Ashbrook." On Point with Tom Ashbrook RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Aug. 2013.

I learned that there may be new gruesome labeling packaging for cigarettes.

"Quitting Smoking / Smoking Cessation Center: Find In-depth Information to Help You Stop Smoking." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 13 Aug. 2013.

Found out the actual numbers of smokers in the United States.

"Cigarette Ingredients - Chemicals in Cigarettes." Cigarette Ingredients - Chemicals in Cigarettes. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Aug. 2013.

Explained the various toxins in one cigarette, very disturbing.
N.p., n.d. Web.
 "Cost of Smoking and Tobacco." Cost of Smoking and Tobacco. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Aug. 2013

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN !!

There are many facets of addiction, for example: Technology has changed our lifestyle, communication, entertainment and work. Advancement in technology has helped businesses as well as individuals to elevate new heights. However, the society is seeing an equal rise in addiction to the technology at a faster pace. Complaints are pouring in from parents, teachers, students and individuals. Parents are finding it difficult to control their children as they are way too busy with different electronic gadgets. Mobile phones, video games, internet, television, tablets and notebooks are keeping a human being busy in the virtual world. I can't say that I am not a part of the trend of having to check my cell phone constantly, check my Facebook account almost every thirty minutes. Though technology changed our lives for better living, it is also showing adverse effects on the other side. I have seen where some kids spend from five to ten hours a day playing video games.  

Technology addiction is new and is far more addictive then gambling or drug addiction. There has been a heated dispute whether there is a need to consider avid use of technology in every aspect of life and the addiction it is causing. The craving for the use of technology has termed different categories in the addiction. A human system has been designed in such a way that it is rewarded each time it receives what is craves for. During this stage, brain releases dopamine, which is neurotransmitter and fills in the craving. For example a  survey done like  ICMPA and Salzburg Academy on Media & Global Change with 1000 participents showed that it was impossible for them stay away from any kind of media for twenty four hours.

Read more: http://importanceoftech.com/dangers-of-technology-addiction#ixzz2b8abwrEG

on the different

Quality suffers
The magic word these days is multitasking. The internet truly enables people at home or at work to talk with someone over the phone or through any communications systems available while doing something else at the same time. But in my own expieriences it takes alot to concentrate on one task at a time, this would include driving and texting, talking with a person and trying to generate a report, any project I set out to do seems to always overlap into another. I was literally stretching myself to thin, all the while I was'nt being efficient and the quality of work generated suffered. I accomplished alot of projects in a short period of time but it also affected my focus on the quality of work as well as my ability to communicate with others.When you multitask your focus is actually in fragments. This may make you miss the essence of communication – making a meaningful connection.                                                                                                    

I feel that we are in a time where the need for electronic devices is a necessity, like an added limb for us to conduct our daily business, as well as a way to entertain ourselves. But just like anything else it can be used in excess. This effects the lives of many in our society today. For me I am one to use the resource as little as I need to. I was hesitant to rely on the electronic devices being used today. As for the children in today's society, It can be benifical in the long run and can also have it's draw backs, only time will tell. Being in the A&D counselling field of study I took note of the article stating that "Technology addiction is new and is far more addictive then gambling or drug addiction".

A little insight from a recent website visit:

"It's like a food addiction," Young explains. "You have to learn to live with food."

Because video game addicts can't avoid computers, they have to learn to use them responsibly. Bakker says that means no gaming. As for limiting game time to an hour a day, he compares that to "an alcoholic saying he's only going to drink beer."

Bakker says the toughest part of treating video game addicts is that "it's a little bit more difficult to show somebody they're in trouble. Nobody's ever been put in jail for being under the influence of [a game]."

According to the Center for On-Line Addiction, warning signs for video game addiction include:

• Playing for increasing amounts of time
• Thinking about gaming during other activities
• Gaming to escape from real-life problems, anxiety, or depression
• Lying to friends and family to conceal gaming
• Feeling irritable when trying to cut down on gaming

"Video Game Addiction." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 13 Aug. 2013.

I learned that the video game addiction has treatment facilities just like any other addiction.

#1 in Trends." TrendHunter.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Aug. 2013
http://addictions.answers.com/symptoms-of-addiction/the-different-types-of-addiction
http://importanceoftech.com/dangers-of-technology-addiction
http://importanceoftech.com/impact-of-technology-on-communication#ixzz2b7rnF0Ft
http://importanceoftech.com/dangers-of-technology-addiction#ixzz2b7quTr37. 
http://importanceoftech.com/dangers-of-technology-addiction#ixzz2b8TvhI20

INTERVENTION

 
 
The table above (Figure 8) is most often used with patients who are not alcohol dependent, and its goal may be moderate drinking¹ rather than abstinence (4-6). intervening with a person who has a alcoholic disease, it is aimed at the family making the effort to educate themselves first and make sure they do not rush the person , causing anger, resentment, non-cooperative behaviors.Nearly one-fifth of patients treated in general medical practices report drinking at levels considered "risky" or "hazardous" (1,2) and may be at risk for developing alcohol-related problems as a result. Brief intervention, which can be conducted in general health care settings, can help patients reduce that risk.Brief intervention is generally restricted to four or fewer sessions, each session lasting from a few minutes to 1 hour, and is designed to be conducted by health professionals who do not specialize in addictions treatment. It is most often used with patients who are not alcohol dependent, and its goal may be moderate drinking¹ rather than abstinence (4-6). intervening with a person who has a alcoholic disease, it is aimed at the family making the effort to educate themselves first and make sure they do not rush the person , causing anger, resentment, non-cooperative behaviors. This is but one of many intervention routes available.


 The term "Intervention" refers to the action taken when family members , friends or employers see a need to act in order to help a person who obviously in need of help. This is a very sensitive process in that it can be taken in a positive or negative way by the person with the disease. The person in need of help will be in a state of confusion, disorientated, depressed, under the influence and in some cases suicidal.. It is very hard to try and help the person who doesn't want the help, but in order to have some sort of trust all involved should take part in the intervention. Making sure the group intervention comes across as a caring, understanding, empathetic, and positive way.  This is a interview I conducted with a person in my AD-101 class, which is very personnel and an example of what she went through for a fellow in need of a intervention at the time.

Find someone who found themselves enabling a close friend, coworker, loved one etc.

"She was in a terrible state. Unfortunately they could not admit her that day. I called her boyfriend to see if she could come home for the night but things had gotten so bad between them and he has a small child that he said no way. After talking to the nurse about how to help her stay well over night, I decided to take her home with me. I got her a bottle and snuck her past the desk of my clean and sober building. I gave her a 2oz. shot every 4 hours over the next 20 hours. I got her up and ready the next morning, snuck her out of the building, and got her to Hooper. Thankfully, they admitted her that next day". 

·                             Give at least two examples of how they tried to assist that person in getting clean.

I have a friend who went thru treatment with me at DePaul. She left inpatient and within a few months was floundering. I organized a couple of friends and we went to see her at her home for a 12 Step call. We brought literature and phone numbers, offered support for her and her boyfriend, offered to take her to meetings. At the time she expressed gratitude for our concern and desire to get back into recovery. Unfortunately she was not ready. Her alcoholism progressed quickly and within another couple of months she had lost her job, her boyfriend had broken up with her, and she was drinking at least a 5th of vodka a day. It was a very frustrating and emotional experience for me. I was in contact with her boyfriend throughout the whole time, offering support and understanding, connecting him with al-anon websites and chat rooms, etc. Eventually I had to pull back from the intensity of trying to help her. I was so emotionally invested and so frustrated that it was effecting my disposition and my recovery. Finally she got in touch with me and said she was going to Hooper detox in the morning to try to get in. I offered to meet her there. The next day I met her at Hooper. She was in a terrible state. Unfortunately they could not admit her that day. I called her boyfriend to see if she could come home for the night but things had gotten so bad between them and he has a small child that he said no way.
       

·                               From their perspective what do they believe was helpful and not helpful in helping that person? 
                 And if they had to do it over again what would they do differently?

·         Upon reflecting on the whole experience I realized that since I live in clean and sober housing, I took a very big risk in taking her home with me. I put my housing at risk and caused myself a lot of anxiety. If I had to do it over again, I most likely would take my friend to the emergency room and have her admitted to the hospital overnight. I have learned that putting myself in such jeopardy is not safe and it is unnecessary. I cannot put the needs of others before myself, especially when there are other options, even if those options are not convenient for those I am trying to help.

N.p., n.d. Web.

This site gave me an idea of how family, friends, empolyers would plan a positive way to confront the person with the disease.
"Drug And Alcoholism Interventions - Guidelines And Resources For Performing An Effective Addiction Intervention." Drug And Alcoholism Interventions - Guidelines And Resources For Performing An Effective Addiction Intervention. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 July 2013.
www.niaaa.nih.gov  

THEREPY THURSDAY THOUGHTS

 

ENLIGHTENING TOWARD A BETTER  PLACE

With all the types of addictions these days there are vast amounts of resources to help get people help with thier diseases.The most notable and widely known for success in the United States is the Alcoholics Anonymous program. This is the mother ship for other programs that use the twelve step program for various other disease (narcotics,marijuana, nicotine, prescription/over the counter drugs, gambling, cocaine, sex, over-eating) which have thier own concepts of doing these steps.


I can attest to the idea that addictions are but a side effect in most cases from previous personnel expieriences, physical/mental trauma, or some family history of addiction in some form or other. The term "addiction" is very vague as noted before. This requires varied types of treatment, almost on a individual basis, but with times the way they are today a cookie cutter process is the norm.

The treatment of any addiction will include some sort of trauma in our childhood or early in our youth that plays a part in our developmet to deal with situations. In other cases it is a genetics and or environmental interplay.This is noted in "Scared Sick" where it states "Still, we cannot blame genes alone for addiction. As in heart disease, obesity, and other disease, "genes merely load the gun," researchers note, "while environment pulls the trigger,"Trauma, abuse and neglect in childhood are known to be associated with environments that contribute to drug abuse and addictions of all kinds, but some people never the less manage to avoid addiction. In our latter years some may have expierienced a traumatic event causing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), abandonement, adoption, death of a love one, physical,mental, sexual, and emotional abuse.




 Additional correlations between early abuse and mental health include the following: Dissociation interferes with the normal learning and with commonsense judgement, especially in relationships.The most surprising finding was children who experienced both verbal abuse and witnessed domestic violence were even more likely to suffer from dissociation than children who had been sexually abused. Anxiety, depression and anger/hostility:The effect of this toxic combination is equivalent to the effect of experiencing physical, emotional and sexual abuse combined. Substance abuse: Early maltreatment is clearly implicated in the later development of substance abuse and is also linked to depression and anger/hostility. In summary, the destructive impact of domestic violence on health does not simply appear out of the blue in adulthood.


For many people, addiction is a chronic, recurring problem, and it costs to society are emormeous. It has been estimated that state ans federal governments in the United States spend more than $15 billion per year, and insurers at least another $5 billion per year, on substance abuse treatment services for some four million people. this amount is likely to increase sharply with the recent mental health parity law, scheduled to take effect in 2010. For the first time federal law will require addiction treatment under a statute mandating that insurers cover mental and physical ailments equally. Today many clinics across the country have lengthy waiting lists, and researchers estimate that some twenty million Americans who could benefit from treatment are not getting it. the costs in human suffering, family disintegration, and lost of productivity are staggering. The lingering questions remain, What is effective treatment? How can it best be administered?
 






Maté, Gabor. In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction. Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic, 2010. Print.

AD-101 required reading, insightful on canadian physhician helping a communiity with the disease of addiction.

 "University Bound Network Sites." Psychology Degrees. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 July 2013.

This pie shows the vast area that counselling positions are available and how great the need is in the field.

"Cope with Life." Helping Introverts Learn How to Obstacles. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 July 2013.
 chucklestravels.com

THE MANY FACES OF ADDICITION

 Addiction is a chronic, neurobiological disease, with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors...It is characterized by behaviors that include one or more of the following: impaired control; over drug use, compulsive use, continued use despite harm, and craving." (Savage, Joranson, & Covington, 2003, p. 662
 

Chemical dependence disease shares some of the same charecteristics as impulse-control and obsessive compulsive diorders.

A drug is any chemical that changes normal physiological and function in the body and in high doses produces a toxicological or harmful effect. It is any chemical other than food or water that produces a therapeutic or nontherapeutic pharmacological action (effect) in the body.
Alcohol is a drug, not a food. drugs are generally catagorized as medicinal (pharmaceutical, therapeutic), legal (licit), or illegal (illicit). Nicotine is a chemical that is also a drug. Sometimes a drug can fall into more than one catagory, depending on how it is used. When drugs are taken in high doses, more often than recommended, or in ways that harm an individual or those around the user, the drug is abused. (A better term is misused, as people don't hurt or mistreat drugs, but misuse in the United States generally refers to the overuse of perscription drugs).

Alcohol is the most widely used and accepted drug. people often wonder how alcohol can be legal, socially acepted drug when most other mood-altering drugs are ilegal to posses, sell, or use. The reason it is seperated from other drugs is that it has aunique place in society, it has a tradition of benificail use that transends its overwhelmingly negative effects, and it is legal to buy and sell. "Socila use" of alcohol in my view, consists of an occasional drink or two in company of friends:a glass at a wedding, cold beer after a game. Two thirds of the U.S. population drinks alcohol, but the number of social drinkers cannot be defined due to conflicting definations of "social drinking. "Moderate use" which maybe 1-2 drinks per day, the definition of a "Heavy drinking" is defined by drinks per episode and duration of time drinking. "Problem drinking" is defined as drinking that results in significant risk of physical damage, psychological problems,accidents, legal problems, or other social problems.

These three addictions seem to be the top choices of our society today. The term addiction is a common part of every person's vocabulary. How often do we hear, "I love that so much, i'm addicted to it" or "I guess I'm hopelessly addicted to it". but there are aslo so many other forms of addiction. Much of the confusion regarding "addiction" is due to the umbrella-like nature of the term: it lumps all drug-use problems together. It also fails to acknowledge the critical differences between concious drug abuse (bad judgement" use of drugs, not a disease) and the pathological chemical dependence (impaired control over drug use, a brain disease). The public and the media have used and will continue to use the word addiction to describe situations where drugs, gambling, and other disorders are negatively affecting peoples lives. as long as this continues,
 it will be difficult for the public and policy makers to relate the word addiction to disease.

"The Science of Addiction 1st Edition." The Science of Addiction 1st Edition by Erickson. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 July 2013.
"The Science of Addiction: From Neurobiology to Treatment (Norton Professional Books) [Hardcover]." The Science of Addiction: From Neurobiology to Treatment (Norton Professional Books): Carlton K. Erickson: 9780393704631: Amazon.com: Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 July 2013

http://www.alcoholanddrugabuse.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/community_substance_abuse_centers.png

 

"Neurochemistry, Escalation, and the Process Addictions | Sex and Intimacy." Psych Central.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 July 2013.





 

 

Terminology & Charecterization of 'ADDICTION'

                                    Terminology and Characterization of “Addiction”

 Taken from the book Science of Addiction, Carlton K. Erickson, Ph.D. he states the word is unscientific. It is also referred to as “dependence syndrome” and is too broad, too vague, and too misunderstood. Much of the confusion regarding “addiction” is due to the umbrella-like nature of the term: it lumps all drug-use problems together. It does not acknowledge the critical differences between conscious drug abuse (“bad judgment” use of drugs, not a disease) and pathological chemical dependence (impaired control over drug use, a brain disease).

The term chemical dependence is preferred by many in the field, due to it being the closest in meaning to the term addiction as used by scientists. The term drug abuse (not a brain disease) and chemical dependence (the brain disease) are the preferred terms for scientific studies and clinical differentiation of people with drug problems. The same with the term alcohol dependence which is used more widely used than the term alcoholism in the alcohol scientific literature, whereas the term addiction is still more prevalent than drug dependence or chemical dependence in the “other drug” scientific literature. In most cases the term “addiction” over “dependence” is the case in order to avoid confusion with the term “physical dependence” which relates to withdrawal from drugs.

The public and media have used and will continue to use the word addiction to describe situations where drugs, gambling and other disorders are negatively affecting people’s lives, As long as this continues it will be hard for the public and policy makers to relate the word addiction to disease.

I am currently taking the Alcohol & Drug Counseling course here at PCC. I feel the topic of addiction is very broad, and has an affect/effect in just about every aspect of daily living in some form or other.

"The Science of Addiction 1st Edition." The Science of Addiction 1st Edition by Erickson. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 July 2013.
"The Science of Addiction: From Neurobiology to Treatment (Norton Professional Books) [Hardcover]." The Science of Addiction: From Neurobiology to Treatment (Norton Professional Books): Carlton K. Erickson: 9780393704631: Amazon.com: Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 July 2013.