Drug Addiction Defined

 Sadly enough, most Americans either know someone or are related to someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol. Those who have never been addicted to a mind-altering (life-altering) substance justifiably have a hard time understanding the mindset of those who have.

The American Psychological Association (APA) defines "addiction" as a habitual psychological and physiological dependence on a substance or practice beyond one's voluntary control.

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary similarly defines "addiction" as a compulsive physiological need for and use of a habit-forming substance (as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal; and broadly defines "addiction" as: persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be physically, psychologically, or socially harmful.

Having battled addiction to more than one substance for many years, I have learned that a definition for "addiction" is personally hard to come to terms with. The things I don't want to do normally end up being the things that I do. Likewise, the things I truly wish to act upon and really intend on doing all too often become the very things I neglect. To me, this ambivalence is the very heart of addiction.

The American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/addiction
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/addiction

But the best definition I have ever come across is Wikipedia’s definition of addiction:

the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice, or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.

In a nutshell, this is why that addict that you know is relapsing, not showing up in court, or dodging his/her alternative (TASC) sentencing officer. This is why they seem “unable to conform,” or “just not ready to grow up,” or “uncooperative with court recommendations.” This is why they may seem like they “don’t care about anything except getting high,” or “irresponsible with their life.”

It’s so very hard to commit to being clean. An addict will relapse once, if not a couple of times, before maintaining a good, lengthy spell of “clean time.”

Understand the addict you love. It may sound hopeless, but in reality, it isn’t. One thing is for certain, however:

an addict will not stop using until he/she is damn well sick of it all. They won’t quit ‘till they’re ready to quit. Every addict misses the possibly normal, quiet, peaceful life they had before leaning on drugs to help them escape pain. It’s not enough to miss a former life, even to desire the former life. Getting back to that former time is what eludes us all.