Overcoming Addictions - Your Key to Survival!
There are some alarming facts to consider regarding addictive
disorders. For instance, a recent report in the National Drug
Addiction Recovery Month Kit showed the cost of alcohol and
illicit drug use in the workplace, including lost productivity,
accidents and medical claims to be an estimated $140 billion per
year.
Another fact: every eight seconds, a person dies due to a
tobacco-related illness, according to the World Health
Organization.
Also, an estimated 28 percent to 30 percent of people in the
U.S.A. alone have an addictive substance abuse disorder, a
mental health disorder or both, according to a 2002 report by
the National Mental Health Association.
And alcohol abuse and dependence occurs four times as much among
men over the age of 65 than women in the same age group,
according to the Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health, 1999.
Addictions present some common and some unique characteristics
and behaviors across the board, depending upon the behaviors and
/ or substances associated with the addiction. Let's take a look
at some common symptoms or traits and a little about how to
begin getting help for the more common addictions or dominating
dependencies today.
Odors associated with the substances like cigarette or marijuana
smoke are fairly noticeable traits. Here are some maybe not so
obvious:
*Fatigue
*Uncontrolled cravings
*Wearing long sleeves (to cover needle marks) during hot weather
*Hanging out with known addicts
*Thoughts, actions - nearly everything- - focused on addiction
*Nasal congestion (sniffing, nose bleeds...), eye changes
(redness, glassy, wears sunglasses when not needed, etc...)
*Behavioral changes (moodiness, mood swings with hyperactive,
lethargy, violence, paranoia, secretive, confused thoughts and
actions)
*Denial of use, addiction, etc.
*Memory loss, distorted time
*Stealing or excessive / unusual borrowing of funds
*Unkempt appearance, truant / absenteeism from work, school,
home... *Sudden changes in school work and grades, job
performance, regular behavior
*Withdrawal from normal activities, friends, family
*Withdrawal symptoms: nausea, sweating, chills, convulsions,
anxiety, nervousness, depression, headaches, hallucinations,
diarrhea, restlessness / sleep disturbances, shaking
(uncontrolled), sensitivity.