Addiction : How Does it Happen?

The cause of addiction has not been clearly defined, although there are studies that point to genetic, biochemical and environmental causes. The genetic theory is clouded by the question of environmental influences. Does the son drink because of the genes he inherited from his father or because he watched his father drink while he was growing up? Why, then does one son drink and another doesn’t? Why does the third one drink but is not an alcoholic?

This leads to the biochemical theory. There is something in the chemical makeup of the alcoholic son that is missing in the other two or vice versa. It is known that alcohol and drugs act differently in the body of an addict than in a non-addict.

Environment certainly affects behavior. Alcohol use is a socially acceptable behavior in our society. Getting drunk is not, unless you are a male college student. Then it’s okay because "boys will be boys." It has finally been recognized that driving while drinking is not okay. Drinking remains okay as long as there’s a designated driver.

The main reason for drug use in the young is the same as it always was, peer pressure. Only now there’s more to choose from. (When I use the "drug," it includes alcohol and nicotine.) Heroin has become readily available, less expensive and more easily used. The younger generation has not become weaker genetically and chemically. Environmentally, it has become cool to use heroin, almost socially acceptable in some circles. Using does not mean lifetime addiction; although heroin, nicotine and crack are highly addictive. The user needs to have the "right" genes, chemical make-up and environment. Some users can quit when they "grow up." They realize the harm they’re doing to their bodies.

They still may have an occasional drink or two. They also brag about how easy it was to "kick the habit" and are super-critical of those who can’t "just quit" or "just say no." Get off your soap box of superiority; you didn’t pick out the right genetic or chemical make-up any more than the addicts’ picks theirs.

The addict wakes up one day and sees what drugs are doing to him and makes the decision to quit and even succeeds for a short period of time. He then decides: "I’m clean, what’s a small drink or two." Unlike the user, the addict does not and cannot stop at one or two. This downhill slide may happen all in one night or could take many months. Either way, the addict wakes up another day to the realization his "one or two" has become not only as much as he did before he quit, but more. So he makes the decision again. This time he may have admitted to having a problem and may even go to a 12-step meeting.

After the meeting he thinks, "I’m not like them. They have problems. I did it before; I can do it again."

The story repeats itself over and over, always ending with an increase in drug use and self-hatred. It may include loss of job, dropping out of school and the departure of significant others.

The addict who has the hardest time coming to terms with his addiction is the one who is outwardly successful, managing to maintain a career, an outwardly happy life, and a respected place in the community.

The one who loses everything has constant reminders of the bad side of addiction. In 30 percent of the cases, this person will get in and stay in a recovery program. He can lead a normal, successful life. The other 60 to 70 percent will overdose; die of cirrhosis, AIDS, motor vehicle accidents; be homeless, friendless and alienated from his family and community.

The "successful" addict may have maintained a family made up of a wife who has become a martyr, children who fear and hate him, business partners who have covered for him to save the business, and a large circle of drinking buddies who consistently reassure each other they have no problem. They, too, can die of overdose, cirrhosis, AIDS, or motor vehicle accidents. The thing that keeps this group from being homeless, friendless and alienated is their drugs of choice are usually alcohol and nicotine.

These are socially acceptable. It would be unusual for a heroin addict to maintain his position in the community because the community does not accept heroin addiction. This could change if heroin use becomes as acceptable as alcohol.

The drinker is a nice guy, everybody’s pal and may, if he is a successful businessman, contribute to the community. He’s an all-round good guy who is still an addict.

"So what?" you may say. The "what" is that unlike the addict in recovery, he has not lived his life. He’s lived the life his addiction has chosen for him. What do I mean by this?

While working in detox, I constantly heard patients refer to their addiction as a separate entity. While using drugs, their thoughts, actions, needs or wants were those of this separate entity, the addict:"evil twin did it," "devil made me do it." It’s really recognition of the personality changes that are induced by the drug. The user is a different person while under the influence and will be things they would never do when clean and sober.

While using drugs they hand over their lives to this entity. Thus the first step to recovery is handing their lives over to a Higher Power instead of this, the lowest powers.

It is in recovery that addicts finally find who they are, beyond being an addict. They have a whole life to live.

Like the diabetic needs insulin and the cancer patient may need chemo, the addict has a disease which needs daily treatment. The acceptance of what he is saves the addict’s life. Without this acceptance he can not recover.

Who would do this? Look around.