Help us to help you in creating a drug free society.

What is Addiction?

The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), Maryland United States, defines addiction as a “chronic, often relapsing brain disease that

causes compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences to the addicted individual and to those

around him or her.”

Disease

Consuming alcohol and drugs alters

the delicate balance of chemicals in

the brain. Because substances imitate

natural brain chemicals, over time, the

brain stops producing its own chemicals,

and the body ends up needing the

synthetic substances just to return the brain

to its fake “balanced “ state; otherwise, intense

withdrawal symptoms will occur.

Harmful 

The disease is out of an

individual’s control. While the initial

decision to take the drug might

have been voluntary, the brain

changes that occur make it nearly

impossible to quit without assistance.

So even if loved ones experience severe

sociological and physical consequences,

they will find themselves unable to stop.

Relapsing 

NIDA describes addiction as an “often relapsing

brain disease.” So relapsing is a normal side

effect of this disease. And while relapsing

is devastating and discouraging, it does

not mean failure. This is why it’s so

important to recognize that recovery

is not a place; it’s an ongoing and

dynamic process.

ü Addiction is a disease

ü Abstinence is the only method to control addiction

ü Treatment will help in controlling addiction

ü Treatment can be given at any stage but is easier in the early phase

What are the common misunderstandings about addiction?

1. Addicts are bad, misbehaved, lazy or useless people
2. Addicts should not be treated unless they are violent or fall in gutters and create problems in social setting
3. People who do not abuse/drink continuously, that is throughout the day, don't have a problem
4. People who are into substance abuse can be left alone if they earn well and work well
5. Alcohol, ganja are used in festivals, while cough syrups etc. are medicines, therefore they can be consumed without any harm
6. Alcohol improves appetite and sexual libido
7. Smoking filtered cigarette and drinking foreign liquor is fashionable and an occupational etiquette

What is recovery?

A person is on the recovery path when he abstains from or stops the use of addictive substance completely, examines and improves self-thinking, feeling and behavior patterns; that are he tries to make reasonable changes in his lifestyle. The recovered addict also starts rehabilitating himself in family, job, education and career. He also takes efforts in learning ways to cope with free time, money and relationships, which is channeling energies into positive ways.

What is detoxification?

It is a process in which the patient is administered drugs, diet and a change of atmosphere to break the routine of addiction. Required medical and counselling support is also provided as withdrawal symptoms (commonly called "turkey") like disorientation, sleeplessness, and restlessness often occur during detoxification.

What does a rehabilitation center do?

A rehabilitation center helps addicts in the recovery process. The centers usually have an outlined residential program. Use of discipline, creative & constructive routines and psychological treatment methods are the salient features of the centers. The addicts are helped to analyze themselves, confront defensive behavior and learn coping patterns.

What happens after treatment?

Person comes back educated about his illness, believes that he can remain without addictive substance, and continues with his work. He sees other addicts in worse conditions and remains watchful of his own deterioration if he goes in to relapse. He is also aware of the disadvantages of substance abuse, and that if he does not take proper precautions there are chances of relapse.

What is the role of family members?

Role of family members/caregivers in helping the addict is very crucial.

ü  They need to accept that the addict is ill, and should accompany him for treatment like any other patient

ü  They need to play a remedial role as prescribed by the counselor

ü  Changing their thinking, feeling and behavior patterns is necessary

ü  It is important to play a vigilant role in case the patient slips back to addiction

ü  The family should try and lead a normal life within the circumstances

What is sobriety?

Sobriety is not merely abstinence from the substance but a qualitative change in attitude regarding self, others and the world. It also includes a sense of self-development and effort towards active reinstatement of self in the social mainstream.

Can an addict lead a normal life?

Yes, and he can even progress and help other addicts during their treatment and recovery. He can restart his education, career plans, family reunification etc. He should however always completely abstain from all addictive, dependency-producing substances as there is a danger of relapse of some abuse or shift to a new abuse.

What others say of addiction?

1. Addiction is a conditional response 
   - Behavioral psychologist
2. Addiction results from learned behavior 
   - Cognitive psychologist
3. Addiction results from dysfunctional family 
   - Social psychologist
4. Addiction is a permanent, progressive, cunning, baffling and powerful disease, marked by mental obsession and physical craving 
   - AA / NA member
5. Addiction is either substance abuse or substance dependency 
   - As classified in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV
6. Addiction is a biological disease 
   - A Research Psychiatrist
7. Addiction is a neurotic self-destructive behavior resulting due to Low Frustration Tolerance (LFT) or themes such as - addiction equals worthlessness, addiction as a coping mechanism, addiction as a result of demand for excitement etc. 
   - REBT Therapist
8. Addiction is generally applied co-habits that are not needed for life and also are hazardous to health 
   - Mental Health Terms Glossary by Mark Dombeck, PhD
9. Addiction is best understood as an individual's adjustment, albeit a self-defeating one, to his or her environment. It represents a habitual style of coping, albeit one that the individual is capable of modifying with changing emotional and life circumstances 
   - Stanton Peel
10. Addiction is a feeling of "I shall continue it as long as I can" despite having devastating effects on oneself or others 
    - Arnot Oregon Medical center
11. Although there are many kinds of addictions, no matter what the addiction is, every addict engages in a relationship with an object or event in order to produce a desired mood change 
    - Mr. Craig Nakken, author of "Addictive Personality"
12. Maladaptive genes that produce and maintain the craving for the addictive substance(s) and as a result, alter the metabolism in "reward" centers within the central nervous system 
    - The Biogenic Model
13. Drug dependence is a state, psychic and sometimes also physical, resulting from taking a drug, characterized by behavioral and other responses that always include a compulsion to take a drug on a continuous or periodic basis in order to experience its psychic effects, and sometimes to avoid the discomfort of its absence. Tolerance may or may not be present. A person may be dependent on more than one drug 
    - WHO ICD 1990 (p. 1131)
14. Addiction is maladaptive pattern of spirituality 
    - Religious Leaders
15. Addiction is anaesthesia 
    - Daniel Laguitton

What is denial?

When a person takes alcohol or drugs excessively, several problems arise which are clearly visible to others. Yet the person continues to say that he has no problems at all. This is called 'denial'. Addicts deny their problem in order to protect themselves from feeling hurt, sad or guilty and also to continue with their drinking or drug-taking.

Denial can be observed in various forms:

ü  Simple denial: The addict says he has no problem with drinking or drug-taking

ü  Blaming: Claiming that others are the cause of his addiction

ü  Minimising: Accepting the problem of addiction but claiming it's only a small problem

ü  Rationalising: Producing 'intelligent' excuses for addiction

ü  Diverting: Avoiding any talk about his addiction

ü  Aggression: Initiating fights and quarrels, which provides an excuse to drink or take drugs

What are the physiological facets of addiction?

Physical dependence as characterized by tolerance is defined by either of the following:

ü  Need for increased amounts of the substance to achieve intoxication or desired effect

ü  Markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of substance

Withdrawal is manifested as either of the following:

ü  Development of a substance-specific syndrome due to the cessation of or reduction in the intake of a substance that the person previously used regularly. In case of alcohol: increased hand tremors, insomnia, nausea or vomiting, anxiety, rum-fits, irritability. In case of drugs: dysphoric mood (excessive restlessness and impatience), muscle aches, pupilary dilation, piloerection (goose bumps) or sweating, diarrhoea, yawning, fever, delirium tremens, hallucinations etc.

ü  Clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational and other important areas of functioning.

Medical complications caused by substance abuse are as follows:

ü  Liver Diseases: Fatty liver, Alcoholic hepatitis, Liver Cirrhosis

ü  Gastrointestinal Disorders: Ulcers, Pancreatitis

ü  Nutritional Disorders: Malnutrition, Anaemia, Peripheral neuropathy

ü  Heart Disease: Cardiomyopathy, Hypertension, Ischaemic Heart Disease (IHD)

What are the emotional aspects of addiction?

It is argued that addiction is essentially an emotional problem. We are not interested in analysing whether the emotional problems are the root causes of addiction or not. But here we would like to present some of our observations.

ü  Depression -- in some cases leads to addiction. Some depressed persons use the substance to cope with depressive thoughts.

ü  Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) -- It is very difficult to identify whether GAD is the cause or the effect of addiction. However, a negligible percent of patients were earlier found to be treated for GAD.

ü  Personality Disorders (PD) -- Diagnosing PD is quite a difficult task. However, in a few cases if history is properly provided & clinical tests are carried out, personality factors can be identified.

What are the emotional problems caused by addiction?

As stated earlier, addiction has definite emotional consequences. We have observed the following emotional consequences:

ü  Emotions of an addict are usually "inappropriate". Consequently his behavior is irrational. He ignores his material & emotional goals; he cannot think of alternatives, invites unnecessary conflicts with others and at the extreme state harms himself.

ü  'Hate' is at the top of the list of most commonly experienced negative feelings at the onset.

After cessation of addiction following feelings are most often experienced - disgusted, resentful, bitter, detested, fed-up, frustrated, sad, depressed, sick, dissatisfied, fatigued, worn-out, useless, weak, hopeless, rejected, guilty, embarrassed, inhibited, bewildered, frightened, anxious, dismayed, apprehensive, disturbed, antagonistic, vengeful, indignant, mad, torn.

Now here is the list of extreme emotions experienced by the addicts. All the following feelings are intense and "inappropriate": Hate, unloved, abhorrence, despised, angry, hurt, miserable, pain, lonely, cynical, worthless, impotent, futile, accursed, abandoned, degraded, humiliated, shocked, panicky, trapped, horrified, afraid, scared, terrified, threatened, infuriated, furious, and exhausted.

What is addictive thinking?

We believe that it is largely the patients' self-defeating thoughts and resulting feelings and actions that sabotage their lives. Many of our recovering patients share that it is their "thinking" rather than "using" that leads towards or away from the "first drink" or first puff. Therefore AA slogans like "One day at a time", "Easy does it but do it" are the guiding thoughts that keep patients away from the first drink. Thousands of fellow members of AA & NA admit that these slogans have been helping them to stay sober.

We have listed below some characteristic features of addictive thoughts and general beliefs leading to self-sabotaging behavior.

Qualitative descriptions of addictive thinking:

ü  Autonomous and non-conscious

ü  Rigid and inflexible

ü  Dichotomous, all or nothing quality

ü  Over-generalized and illogical

ü  Jumping to conclusions

ü  Negative opinion about oneself

ü  Self-criticism and self-blame

ü  Negative interpretations of the event

ü  Ignoring the positive

Common content or theme of addictive thinking:

ü  Denial: Alcohol and/or drugs are not the problem

ü  Low frustration tolerance and/or self defined needs for high levels of stimulation, gratification and or excitement

ü  Substance is the only way to solve emotional problems

ü  Discomfort anxiety: all negative emotions are to be avoided at all costs

ü  Change is too difficult, therefore one is hopeless, helpless and worthless

ü  Self-blame, guilt and shame for being an addict

What are the interpersonal problems caused by addiction?

Addiction directly affects the interpersonal relationships of the person. The wife and/or mother of the person are the first victims of addiction followed by other family members. We have observed that in almost all cases, the interpersonal relationships are shattered in one way or other.

The most common problems faced by an addict are related to love:

ü  Rarely receives loving and confiding behavior from the parents & siblings

ü  Diminishing love, respect and trust of the spouse

ü  Hatred, fear, anxiety and distress expressed by the children

How is the behavior during active addiction?

Behavior is marked by the following:

ü  Arrogant or conceited: for example, boastful, self-important, self-cantered, jealous or envious

ü  Attention-seeking or theatrical: for example, always tries to be the center of attention, dramatists, displays theatrical and exaggerated expressions of emotion

ü  Intolerant or cruel: for example, unkind, mean, merciless, brutal etc.

ü  Lying or cheating: for example, malicious gossip, secret extramarital affairs

ü  Domineering or dictatorial: for example, bossy, over aggressive, disrespectful, over-controlling, authoritarian behavior

ü  Criminal and/or violent: for example, destroys property, physically assaults others etc.

Can an addict have a productive life?

Addiction results in diminishing capacity to work and/or have a productive life. Based on our experience following responses are observed towards productive work during addiction:

ü  Poor concentration or attention

ü  Fidgeting, pacing or hyperactivity

ü  Loss of initiative, interest and motivation

ü  Lack of spontaneity and slowed reactions

ü  Procrastination and avoiding responsibilities

ü  Rationalizations, justifications and blaming others at the work place

ü  Poor memory and learning ability

ü  Frequent errors in decisions and work

ü  Overly dependent behavior

ü  Disorientation

What about disorganized social life and financial problems?

During active substance abuse, the person faces several social and financial problems. The indicative symptoms are given below.

Social problems:

ü  Unstable and intense social relationships: for example, goes from crisis to crisis, loves someone one day and hates them the next

ü  Lack of loving and confiding with friends

ü  Avoidance of social gatherings, functions etc.

ü  Detached from organised social group(s)

ü  Phobia: for example, fear of public speaking, staying in a group, travelling etc.

ü  Prefers to be with other addict friends

ü  Avoids religious activities

ü  Mistrust or suspicion: for example, belief that others are always exploiting, harming or deceiving

ü  Prolonged anxiety

Financial problems:

ü  Loss of work or job typically leads to scarcity of money

ü  Spends whatever money is available on substance

ü  Spends money extravagantly, on material goods, gambling etc.

ü  Owes money to people

ü  Lives without income which causes further depression

It is often heard that there are 16000 reasons for drinking. Similarly, there are different and divergent definitions of addiction. At least fifteen of such views are given above. We are not interested in defining the term Addiction. However, for the purposes of treating addiction we follow a simple elaborate statement so that the goal of treatment can be achieved.

All our activities are focused upon helping addicts and their family members to live a happy, healthy and productive life. It is a known fact that our staff mainly consists of recovered addicts along with professional psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers. The professionals working with us are essentially involved in medical & psychiatric management of the patients and updating the knowledge base of our staff.

We have treated almost a thousand of patients every year. Our patients have enlightened us about the experience of addiction. Based on what we have gathered from our friends we look at addiction as:
"Substance addiction is a self-destructive behavior marked by physiological dependence & tolerance, followed by medical complications with emotional consequences, interpersonal problems, and adversely affecting individual's capacity to work and live a social life."

We would also like to add that addiction might be caused by any reason whatsoever. Addiction may be the result of a particular event or a series of activating events, or an individual might be genetically, socially, culturally or for any other reasons be trapped in the addiction for which he may or may not be exclusively responsible. However, he owns the responsibility of choosing the narcotic substance as a coping mechanism, he is responsible for the acts committed during his addiction and more importantly he has to take the sole responsibility of sober living.

We at our Rehabilitation and Deaddiction center provide our best treatment based on our experience and continuous interaction with the geniuses in this field.

We have separate accommodation for male and female addicts. We also have female caring staff, female counselors and doctors for our female patients.

If you’re the family member or friend of a loved one who is becoming more dependent, please feel free to contact us at:

Phone # 9136796009         Email: sheel.gurjar@gmail.com