Health and Wholeness

Addiction
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Addiction defined

Addiction is the condition of being habitually and compulsively involved in something.

Habit:

repeated behaviour Compulsive: go from you controlling it to it controlling you

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Compulsive Habits

The need to always have something in your mouth ex. Nail biting Sex Gambling Television Work Exercise Pornography
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Common Addictions
Cigarettes contain nicotine and many other cancer causing poisons Caffeine acts as a stimulant Alcohol people have trouble controlling how much they drink and lose control Drugs

Cigarettes
Tobacco companies add nicotine to cigarettes because it is so highly addictive Very hard addiction to break A tolerance to nicotine builds up and soon you are smoking a pack a day Strong withdrawal symptoms

Caffeine Addiction
Found in coffee, tea, cola, and many non-prescription drugs Temporary surge of energy Tolerance builds up and it takes more and more caffeine to get the same buzz When daily coffee drinkers stop drinking coffee they usually have mild withdrawal symptoms like headaches, dizziness, and fatigue

Wired!!!

Drinking in Uganda 2001

Males
Any drinking Adults drinking 5+ days/week Episodic drinking 55% 20% 46%

Females
33% 2% 18%

Tobacco and Alcohol in Uganda 2000

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Men intoxicated, past month Women inteoxicated, past month

6 25 3
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
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Men who currently smoke Women who currently smoke

Proportion of 15-49 year olds

Hallucinogens Smoke, eat, swallow to escape reality

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Marijuana Smoke for feeling of escape

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Cocaine Snorted, smoked for intense euphoria, power

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Heroin Opiates are used for pain relief, but highly addictive: Intense tranquility, affects brain! Inject, smoke, snort

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Amphetamines Smoke, oral, or inject to Wake up! And get intense power and speed

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Sedatives / tranquilizers Medical use to slow down, sleep

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Steroids Performance enhancement

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Inhalants Breathe deep escape, rush

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The Temptation of Drugs

Energy (More? Less?) Power, control Escape: problems, boredom Reduce pain physical, emotional

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Addiction begins with USE

Use
Often experimental or social Attempt to relax, escape Triggers pleasure

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Problems start with misuse

Use

Misuse

Frequent or maybe daily use Introduction of:

Craving:

intense desire to have more Tolerance: need more for same effect Withdrawal: physical pain, sickness if stop using
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Abuse: in real trouble

Use Misuse

Abuse

Continued use despite consequences

social,

employment, mental or physical

May become physically hazardous

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Dependence and Rock Bottom

Use Misuse Abuse

Dependence

Use no longer tied to pleasure. Compulsive, it controls you. Pleasure turns in to depression, guilt and shame More harmful substances must be consumed to overcome these feelings

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Trap of Addiction
Becomes unconscious habit Becomes your best friend You are embarrassed now, and would rather drink to cover the shame Your body shouts: dont stop!

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Gateway: low level leads to higher level drugs

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Some people are more prone to Addictions than Others

Problems like drinking and drug use may run in the family
Genetics

Modeled

behavior: younger children see parents doing it they will think it is ok

People who are not aware of their bodies do not notice the changes occurring
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Consequences of Addiction
Employment Productivity Criminal activity Social/family Physical health Violence Road safety Society

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Normal web

From: www.agweb.com/.../spider-716915.jpg

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Marijuana: Fell asleep

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Amphetamine: worked energetically but little planning

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Caffeine: Unable to create a single cell, no hub and spokes design

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Sedative: Dozed off

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Know the signs of addiction

Get drunk or high on a regular basis Use more to get the same effect Want to quit but being unable to do so Lie about or hide use Avoid friends in order to get drunk or high Give up other activities (homework, sports) Pressure others to drink or use drugs Take risks, including unsafe sex Drive under influence Have trouble with law or school Think only way to have fun is A/D Forget what did when high/drunk Feel run-down, hopeless, or depressed

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Addiction Can Be Stopped

Overcome the denial. Stop the behavior. (Cannot reduce) Get through withdrawal Get support (12 Step is best) Improve leisure time activities Set aside the shame. Surround yourself with friends Get counseling

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Common Withdrawal Symptoms

Alcohol and Sedatives - shaking hands, upset stomach, vomiting, anxiety, sweating, rapid heartbeat, restlessness, trouble sleeping, seizures, and hallucinations. Caffeine: tiredness, sleepiness, depression, anxiety, upset stomach, vomiting, and headache Nicotine: bad mood, depression, trouble sleeping, crankiness, anger, anxiety, short attention span, restlessness, slower heartbeat, increased appetite, and weight gain.

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Helping others
Be firm, dont given in to them Hold them accountable Help avoid times and places of temptation Do NOT shame them Help them find alternative activities, friends Yes Pray!!!

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The Whole Truth

Romans 14:19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
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