This is the first part of a new series about addiction
Some consider addiction to be a sign of weakness, a judgment of character, or a deliberate unwillingness on a person’s part to control their behaviour.This stigmatised narrative of addiction can hinder a person’s recovery with poor understanding of what addiction is, questioning and judging a person’s behaviours, and creating an atmosphere of hypervigilance.
“For a country that has a very unhealthy relationship with alcohol in general, we have a poor understanding and tolerance when people become addicted,” says Dr O’Driscoll. “Nobody really asks why people are addicted. Shifting the narrative from ‘what’s wrong with him or her’ to ‘what happened to him or her’, would be much closer to understanding the nature of addiction and how people are struggling.
When it comes to habit forming leading to addiction, Dr O’Driscoll says that “in general, when we engage in a behaviour or take a substance in a way that is used to treat emotional or physical pain or discomfort, we tend to change our relationship with that behaviour or substance. When this continues in spite of unwanted consequences, this is where we may consider addiction having been established.
Dr Bennett highlights other concerns such as social exposure to drugs, a history of trauma, peer pressure, and a lack of a strong support system, can also contribute to the development of addiction, as can psychological factors, such as stress, mental health disorders, and a history of adverse childhood experiences. “Addiction is not merely a lack of willpower but a complex interplay of biology, psychology and the environment.
Financial issues: the person might experience financial difficulties due to spending a significant amount of money on the substance or behaviour. Risk-taking behaviour: engaging in risky behaviours while under the influence or to obtain the substance, such as driving under the influence or participating in unsafe activities.
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Our understanding of addiction is limited and damagingThis is the first part of a new series about addiction
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