Who are Addicts?
We’ve all heard stereotypes about what an “addict” is, and they are often hard to avoid. We are taught in school, and shown in movies, television shows, art, magazines, and the news, what happens when you use drugs or alcohol in excess. Many are left with stereotypes about addicts; they are usually in bad living situations or homeless, or that they can’t manage their money, or are “strung out.” (you could still get even less polite here if you wanted for effect) We are left with the impression that they don’t contribute to their community and that they have no will-power or worse, they have failed as human beings. Perhaps the most damaging stereotype of all is that it is easy to tell when someone is an addict; that they stick out like a sore thumb. This misconception means that we might not notice when someone is struggling, we might not be providing the support that we should be to those who need it, and we may be misjudging people who are addicted.
Who is addicted?
Addicts are on the PTA, CEOs, pastors, college students, social workers, sweet grandmothers, and they are children. Anyone you encounter on the street could be an addict, and you probably wouldn’t be able to tell. Many studies have been conducted to see who is addicted to alcohol or illicit substances in this country. One study found that people with the highest rate of substance use disorder (addiction to alcohol or illegal drugs) are those between the ages of 18-25. Another study showed that teenagers that come from wealthier homes with parents that have higher education levels show more alcohol and drug use than their peers in lower-income households. It has also been shown that only 45% of people with an income of $30,000 or less per year report consuming alcohol, whereas 78% of people with a salary of $75,000 or more report consuming alcohol. Also, only 52% of people who have a high-school education or less report drinking alcohol; in contrast, 80% of college graduates report drinking alcohol. Lastly, studies have shown that children with higher IQ’s are at a higher risk of experimenting with drugs as adults. All of this is to say that many risk factors can make someone more likely to suffer from addiction. People who are intelligent, young, wealthy, or well adjusted are not safe (would it be better to say “are just as likely to suffer from addiction” here?) from this issue and might be a more realistic stereotype of who an addict is.
What causes (using italics would help here as strictly speaking you are not talking about causation below IMHO) addiction?
Many factors can make someone more likely to become addicted to drugs or alcohol, and we are still learning about what causes this disease. Some of the risk factors for becoming addicted to drugs or alcohol are:
Your genetics: Drug and alcohol addiction can be more common in certain gene pools due to a genetic predisposition. If you have family members that are currently addicted or have been addicted in the past to drugs or alcohol, you could be at higher risk for developing an addiction. However, it is crucial to keep in mind that you could still be genetically predisposed towards addiction and not have a relative who is an addict.
Your mental health: If you have a mental health disorder like depression, ADHD, PTSD, anxiety, or an eating disorder, you could be at a higher risk for developing an addiction. Also, if you tend to be very impulsive or sensation-seeking, you are at an elevated risk of developing an addiction.
Your environment: Being in a situation where drugs and alcohol are widely used and easy to access can increase your chances of developing an addiction. Also, if you live in an abusive or traumatic environment (physical, emotional, sexual, financial, etc.), you are at a higher risk for developing an addiction.
Your parents: Lack of a robust supportive connection with your parents, or a lack of parental supervision, can make you more likely to develop an addiction.
Your friends: If you are surrounded by people who are peer pressuring (this seems an awkward term that you could easily restate) you into using drugs or alcohol, you are at a higher risk of becoming addicted. Peer pressure tends to be especially harmful to children, teens, and young adults.
Your age: The younger you are when you start using drugs or alcohol, the more likely you are to become addicted to those and/or other substances. This is due partly to the fact that drugs and alcohol have more of an effect on a developing brain than they would on an adult.
Your drug of choice: Some drugs are more addictive than others (stimulants, opioids, cocaine, etc.), which can make developing an addiction more likely. Also, some methods of using drugs can be more addictive (smoking, injecting, etc.), which could put you at an even higher risk for developing an addiction.
If you think that you, or someone you know, may be addicted to alcohol or an illegal substance, you should act now. (Bring to assessments or website) AGREED
In the meantime (HOW ABOUT “REGARDLESS HERE?), here are ten things that can help you, or someone you love, be kind to themselves and practice self-care as you navigate this difficult journey.
10 things that you can do if you are at risk, or already addicted (I AM STILL TROUBLED BY THIS ALTHOUGH IT IS ACCURATE. SHOULDN’T WE BE TELLING ADDICTS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT?
Learn whether or not you are genetically predisposed to addiction
This can be a powerful tool, whether you are already experiencing addiction or not. By getting genetic testing or learning about your family’s addiction history, you can learn more about your own body and upbringing (upbringing? I do not think that is accurate). This can give you a better idea of what substances might be very addictive for you, and what forms of treatment or prevention might be most effective.
Be kind to your body
I know we have all heard it before, but moving your body can indeed have a massive impact on your mood and overall health. Finding time to do a physical activity that you enjoy can be a way of giving back to yourself that makes you feel better physically and emotionally. Also, remember that it doesn’t need to be anything strenuous or groundbreaking to be worthwhile; it just has to feel good to you.
Also, being mindful of what you eat can make a big difference in your day-to-day life. This doesn’t mean that you have to eat salad all of the time, or that you can’t ever have a cheeseburger. What I (intended use of the personal pronoun? First time to this point I think) would suggest is taking the time to pay attention to what makes your body feel good. Maybe you don’t feel great when you eat a lot of carbs, or dairy makes you feel queasy. Making some small changes to include foods that make you feel good into your diet is just another way of doing something kind for yourself and your body.
Be kind to your mind and spirit
If you are currently addicted, or you are at a high risk of becoming addicted, taking care of your mental health will drastically improve your quality of life. You can try something alone like meditation or something collaborative like therapy or a 12 step program. There are endless options for ways to improve your mental health, and it is definitely worth the effort. (paragraph break intentional?)
You can learn more about the relationship between mental health disorders and addiction from resources like the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Find your home
I know it sounds strange, but many of us have a place to live that doesn’t really feel like our home. If you live in a safe situation, but you don’t feel relaxed or at peace where you live, take some time to see if there is something you can do to make the space relaxing for you. It could be as small as cleaning your home and getting rid of clutter, or as big as moving to a new place entirely. You may find that having a place that genuinely feels like it is yours may help you feel grounded and give you the foundation to go out and face the world from a renewed perspective.
If you are not living in a safe situation, for any reason, it could be challenging to overcome or avoid addiction. Many people are living in life or death situations every day, or feel that they can never truly let their guard down; this will make it even more challenging to focus on sobriety. If you are experiencing abuse (physical, emotional, sexual, financial, etc.) or you are homeless, please use this time to reach out to some of the following resources, and be kind and patient with yourself as you go through this difficult time.
Remove the temptation
There are many sources for temptation that we do not have much control over, for example there could be a lot of liquor or tobacco stores in your neighborhood. However, there are a lot of ways that we can remove the temptation to use drugs or alcohol from our daily lives. For example:
Refrain from keeping alcohol or drugs in your living space.
Report adds on social media as being inappropriate when they promote alcohol or drug use.
If you pass by liquor or tobacco stores often, try to take an alternate route that bypasses them.
Try to choose music, movies, tv shows, etc. that don’t reference drinking or drugs as frequently as others.
Invite people to join you in activities that don’t involve drinking or drug use, like going to a movie, going on a walk, or something creative like an art night.
Look at your friendships
From my personal experience, when I have had friends that pushed people around them to drink or use drugs, it was because they were going through something difficult in their own lives. You could try finding time to have a heart to heart with this person and ask if they are doing okay, they might be needing a friend right now and not know how to show it. However, it is important not to overextend yourself, and remember where to draw the line with helping others so you can also stay healthy. If that isn’t something you are comfortable with or several people are pressuring you, you could suggest other activities that don’t involve drinking or drug use. Lastly, if you have made it known to the people pressuring you that you aren’t interested in drinking or drugs, but they haven’t stopped, the best thing you can do for you is to get space from those people. You don’t have to cut them out of your life forever, but take some time for yourself to focus on what makes you happy. Friendships should help us to become the person we want to be, not force us to become someone we are not.
Change your focus
If you are worried about being high risk for addiction or that you may have an addiction, remember that it is okay to take some time to process that information. There is a saying that you give power to the things that you pay attention to, and it’s very true. As you journey through this, remember that you can take your time with this information, and sometimes it can be essential to change your focus if you find yourself becoming overwhelmed. Don’t be afraid to watch an episode of something that makes you laugh, or make your favorite dinner before returning to thinking about this. You will find the path that works best for you, and you will get the help that you need, but don’t forget to take a minute to laugh, rest, or eat some mac and cheese in the meantime.
Remember how awesome you are
It might sound silly, or even impossible, to think about how amazing you are, but doing so can bring some perspective to your life and your potential. For example, the odds of you being born are so small that you are, in fact, a miracle. There are days when it can feel almost impossible to get out of bed, go to work, or even think a positive thought. If you have done even one of those today, you have already overcome something difficult. You are enough, just as you are. You do not need to “fix” yourself, because you are not broken. You do not need to prove to anyone that you are worthy, you always have been, and no one can take that away from you. You’re your own worst critic. People are spending more time focusing on themselves and trying to figure out life than they are looking to the flaws you see in yourself. You don’t have to impress anyone else or meet their standards of “great,” you only need to focus on your standards and what will make you happy.
Make some S.M.A.R.T goals
It is crucial that we set goals for ourselves, not only so that we continue to learn and grow, but also because it helps us discover who we are and what matters to us. One way of setting ourselves up for success with our goals is to create SMART goals. SMART goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely.
Setting goals this way not only ensures that they are clear and achievable, but it also gives us something to move towards and look forward to. By keeping promises we have made to ourselves, even small ones, it shows us that we are someone who can be dependable. This will empower you in all areas of your life to know that when you say you will do something, you will do it, and you can learn to trust yourself. Being able to trust yourself to show up for yourself and keep your promises will make a huge difference in maintaining or attaining sobriety.
Open up
This is something that everyone, and I mean everyone, has struggled with, but we must do it. I know it can be painful, embarrassing, frustrating, or terrifying to open up to people, especially the ones that matter the most to us. Still, no matter how much we wish they could read our minds, they can’t. Whether it is your family, your friends, a coworker, a therapist, or a person you just met, it is important to tell people if you are struggling or scared about your relationship with alcohol or drugs. If you don’t have someone that you want to open up to, for any reason, there are a lot of resources that can connect you with people who will listen and not judge you for what you are going through. Here are some options for getting connected with people you could open up to about addiction:
If, after reading this piece, you think you or a loved one may have issues with substance use, please feel free to attend a meeting on our website or join us on our forum. Our Codependency and Substance Use Disorder assessments are available resources for you. These resources are free and can be anonymous if you wish. Also, if you are in any danger from others or yourself, we urge you to call 911. We are here to support you, no matter your story.
Copyright, April 2020
Images via Pexels
