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Risk Factors for Addiction (Alexander's Story) Did you know that genetics, mental health, and trauma are some of the leading causes of addiction? Yes, genetic predisposition is as high as 60%. Is that surprising? Most people do not know this. Depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and bipolar disease are some mental health conditions associated with addiction. Childhood trauma such as abuse, neglect, and bullying are other risk factors. Did my son have risk factors? Of course he did. I suppose the cards were stacked against him. He had several risk factors including a genetic predisposition, clinically diagnosed depression, and anxiety. Did my son want to have an addiction? ABSOLUTELY NOT. He used drugs to suppress the emotional pain from his depression and anxiety. Oh, and let’s not forget the genetic factor. How do I know that depression and anxiety are risk factors? Initially, I didn’t know how bad depression or anxiety could be until my son passed away. You see, I became very depressed and suffered from extreme anxiety. There were times I felt like I couldn’t breathe and my chest would hurt during an anxiety episode. It was frightening and just a horrible feeling. The anxiety was right there all the time, ready to hit at any moment. The depression is like living in a dark hole with no light at the end of the tunnel. Everything is an effort. You can’t eat, sleep, socialize, or function. The anxiety and depression were so overwhelming and it consumed my life. Then I realized for the first time just what my son had gone through all those years. THEN and ONLY THEN, did I really understand why he used drugs. He used them to deaden the emotional turmoil he lived every day of his life. That is what I needed to do as well, but being a nurse, I knew to contact my doctor and get the necessary prescribed medicine and treatment needed to control the emotional turmoil I was experiencing. You can never truly understand the intensity of the emotional pain people with addiction experience. So next time, you see someone with an addiction, try to remember that there is a reason why they have this disease. Be kind, smile, wave, or just give a friendly gesture. It might be the only friendly gesture they get that day. To learn more about risk factors for addiction, go to the blog or articles page.

Why did I choose to create the “The Realities of Drug Addiction website?” The answer is quite simple. To honor my son, Alexander who passed away from an accidental overdose and to educate people about addiction with research-based education. Through his battle with addiction, it became obvious that there is a lack of understanding about addiction, which has led to the demoralizing stigma associated with addiction. We need to STOP the stigma of addiction. It does nothing but hurt the person with addiction. It does not matter if the addiction is to substances, eating, shopping, gambling, or whatever. Addiction is a DISEASE. It is NOT a choice, moral failure, lack of willpower, or a character flaw. Some people will disagree with this so here are some facts. Fact 1: First, people do not wake up and say “I want to be an addict.” Addiction evolves over time. In many instances, a person does not realize they have an addiction until they try to stop using a drug. This is what happened with Alexander. Fact 2: How do I know this? The brain changes with addiction. The reward center of the brain becomes hyperactive, while the front part of the brain that controls self-control, decision-making, problem solving, etc. slows down its activity. At the same time chemical imbalances occur in the brain. Dopamine, a neurotransmitter, (chemical messengers) is used to send signals of pleasure. When substances are abused, there is an increase in the amount of dopamine that is released causing euphoria or a “high”. However, with regular drug use, less dopamine is produced and transmitted causing a chemical imbalance. If the drug is not taken, dopamine levels drop causing uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms and powerful, uncontrollable cravings. Now imagine being rewarded for taking drugs with feelings of intense euphoria, increased confidence, social comfort, etc and then you decide to stop taking drugs. It doesn’t work. Your reward center and the chemical imbalances will make you believe that you cannot survive without your substance. Intense and extremely uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms will occur. It was very difficult for Alexander when he stopped using. Withdrawal symptoms and the uncontrolled cravings made it almost impossible for him to stop his drug use. Fact 3: Other neurotransmitters can be affected by the type of drug that is taken. Serotonin levels are affected by stimulants (i.e.: Meth, Cocaine,). Fact 4: Don’t tell a person with addiction to “just stop using drugs”. It doesn’t work!! They CANNOT just stop. The functional brain changes and chemical imbalances will NOT allow this. Fact 5: A person with addiction will require detox. This typically takes about a week, but can be shorter or longer depending on the drug. Dopamine levels can recover in about 90 days but this could be longer depending on the severity of drug addiction and if the person suffers from depression and anxiety. Alexander had to detox prior to being admitted to an inpatient rehab program. There he got medicines to treat his withdrawal symptoms. It took 3-4 days to detox.

Written by Terry Gion 12/29/2022 There is something evil in this world It’s a drug called crystal meth It lies, it cheats, it doesn’t care It can lead you to your death It rewards you with a sense of pleasure To escape from your distress But the pleasure doesn’t last too long And then you feel the duress Then cravings start and they won’t stop It causes your brain to obsess No matter what you try to do The cravings, you can’t suppress You try your best to stop its use But you are not able to Meth has now engulfed your life It now possesses you In crystal form, it may look pretty But trust me when I say It’s not as beautiful as it may seem It destroys everything in its way Crystal Meth is not your friend It lies, it cheats, it destroys It takes away everything you have Including happiness and joy