Addiction. Addiction is a disease. Risk factors for drug addiction. Risk factors for drug addiction. Risk factors for drug addiction

Transcription

1 Addiction The Disease Concept The Progression The Effects on the Family Claudia Evenson, CAADC, Community Relations Coordinator Rosecrance Health Network Addiction is a disease Progressive Chronic Potentially fatal Identifiable symptoms Life deterioration Unknown cause Risk factors for drug addiction Age It takes 23 to 25 years for the brain to develop Frontal Cortex is the last section of the brain to develop; it controls decisionmaking, memory, response inhibition Risk factors for drug addiction Genetics If one or both parents has a history of ATOD dependence, the children have a 40% chance of developing it If the child is a male and his father has a history of ATOD dependency, he has a 80 90% chance of developing it Risk factors for drug addiction Genetics Recent research has implicated a gene (D2 dopamine receptor) that, when inherited in a specific form, might increase a person s chance of developing alcoholism Risk factors for drug addiction Environment Family Parenting practices and styles Media TV, music, Internet Community Community norm American Council of Alcoholism 1

2 Progression of Addiction Let s talk about dating for a few minutes How does this have anything to do with substance use? Stage 1: Attraction Physical appearance What friends and family say Highly individualized Different type of relationship at 16 versus 21 Progression of addiction Stage 1: Experimentation Packaging (commercials, billboards) What friends and family say Individual stressors Different effects at 16 versus 21 Stage 2: Dating See each other more How I feel around them Getting to know them (deciding if this person is right) All good qualities show through try to impress 2

3 Progression of addiction Stage 2: Misuse Using and around drugs more How I feel under the influence Getting familiar with drug and paraphernalia (deciding if drug is worthwhile All using seems pleasurable (80% don t feel any negative consequences) Stage 3: Going steady Symbols of connections Rings, necklaces, jackets Set rules If not together, then talking about him/her Everyone knows you re going steady Progression of addiction Stage 3: Abuse Symbols of connections Clothing, patches Set rules If not using, then talking about it Everyone knows you use Stage 4: Marriage Lifelong Main priority Legally bound (commitment) Most complicated to break-up Progression of addiction Stage 4: Addiction Lifelong Main priority Life evolves Hardest to quit Stage 5: Divorce Still have to deal with person because they haven t died Go through stages of grieving and finally accept your new relationship 3

4 Progression of addiction Stage 5: Recovery Drugs and alcohol are still in the world Go through states of grieving and finally accept a lifestyle free of alcohol and drugs Identifying signs and symptoms of substance abuse Physical/Emotional - Adolescent Physical/Emotional - Adults Unexplained extreme mood swings Increased aggression or anxiety Change in dress or appearance/hygiene Loss of appetite, yet periods of binge eating Threats and attempts of suicide Displays persistent feelings of sadness, anger and guilt Rationalizes drinking Neglects eating/ malnourished Experiences blackouts Develops an increased tolerance to substances Shows signs of physical deterioration Family & Home Employment Ignores curfews Withdraws from activities Avoids family and friends Experience family chaos Fails to keep promises Collects drug paraphernalia Avoids discussion about usage Misses excessive time from work Develops work and money problems Drinks/uses drugs at work Quits or loses job Avoids persons of authority Loses ambition and is unable to cope with responsibility 4

5 School Social Misses excessive time from school Increased tardiness Fails to turn in assignments Sleeps in class Exhibits persistent behavior problems Reduced grades Reduced interest in extracurricular activities Changes in friends Avoids contact with concerned persons Loses interests in hobbies/activities Secretive and defensive regarding actions and possessions Increased isolation Uses to feel comfortable in social situations Preoccupied with using alcohol and/ or other drugs Financial Legal Steals money or objects from family or friends Develops unexplained shortages of money Loss of possessions Increased amounts of alcohol missing in the home Limited income Financial ruin Extensive credit card debts Runs away from home Arrested for alcohol or other drug related charges Increased involvement with the police Probation or parole involvement Chief enabler The Addicted Family Traits of a family affected by addiction Closest emotionally to the victim Protector of the family Offers a sense of stability Allows (unknowingly) drug abuse to progress by preventing user from experiencing any consequences Martyr, self-righteous, super-responsible 5

6 Family hero Caretaker of the family Offers the family a sense of being ok Takes over the parent role at a very young age Excels in sports, popularity, academics Very responsible, self-sufficient, seeks approval Scapegoat Problem child Provides family with someone to blame for its problems Acts out the tension and anger the family ignores Distracts family from the real issue Causes trouble to get attention Hostile, rule-breaker Lost child Forgotten child Offers the family a sense of relief Escapes by being invisible Suffers from low self-esteem Becomes victim of abuse or drug addict (often) Shy, quiet, withdrawn Mascot Family clown Offers the family a sense of comic relief from the pain Entertains to distract from issues Prevents people from focusing on their problems through humor Immature, hyperactive, cute Victim Chemically-dependent person Outside Hostile Manipulative Blaming Inside Shame Guilt Pain Defenses families use to cope 6

7 Defenses families use Defenses families use Denial Maintaining something is not true which is in fact true Minimizing Admitting to a problem in such a way that it appears less serious Blaming Denying responsibility and placing it on someone else Diversion Changing the subject to avoid a topic Hostility Becoming angry when questioned in hope to back people off Rationalizing Providing reasons other than dependency to explain behaviors Defenses families use Enabling Intellectualizing Avoiding emotional, personal awareness of the problem by dealing with it on a level of generalization and theorizing Allowing and even encouraging irresponsible and self-destructive behavior in another by shielding them from the consequences of their actions Can be parents, spouses, friends, teachers, employers or co-workers Enabling What it sounds like Sam can t come to school today. He s got the flu. Ok, son, I ll pay your rent this month, but this is the last time. She was just holding the bottle for her boyfriend, it wasn t hers. Detachment Productive caring that allows others to be themselves and learn from their mistakes Being responsible for one s own feelings and well-being It is not separation, but the beginning of a new relationship 7

8 AT.LAST ( ) * Pictures of individuals in this presentation are for illustration purposes only. These pictures portray models and are not pictures of actual clients of Rosecrance. No inference should be made, or is implied, that the pictures used here are of individuals connected in any way to Rosecrance or to its affiliates or programs. 8