Addiction: Frequently Asked Questions

Addiction: Frequently Asked Questions

.. Addiction is a disease
.. Abstinence is the only method to control addiction
.. Treatment will help in controlling addiction

You ask questions and we'll try to provide answers. Here aresome questions people have been asking us. If you don't see a question listedbelow, or need more explanation or clarification, send us an email. We'll beglad to provide an answer.
What are the common misunderstandings about addiction?

1. Addicts are bad,misbehaved, lazy or useless people
2. Addicts shouldnot be treated unless they are violent or fall in gutters and create problemsin social setting
3. People who donot abuse/drink continuously, that is throughout the day, don't have a problem
4. People who areinto substance abuse can be left alone if they earn well and work well
5. Alcohol, ganjaare used in festivals, while cough syrups etc. are medicines, therefore theycan be consumed without any harm
6. Alcohol improvesappetite and sexual libido
7. Smoking filteredcigarette and drinking foreign liquor is fashionable and an occupationaletiquette

Is hospitalization always necessary?

Most of the cases not needed.we are not permit the addictsin hospitalizations.
What is recovery?

A person is on the recovery path when he abstains from orstops the use of addictive substance completely, examines and improvesself-thinking, feeling and behaviour patterns; that is he tries to makereasonable changes in his lifestyle. The recovered addict also startsrehabilitating himself in family, job, education and career. He also takesefforts in learning ways to cope with free time, money and relationships, thatis channelling 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. Requiredmedical and counselling support is also provided as withdrawal symptoms (commonlycalled "turkey") like disorientation, sleeplessness, restlessnessoften occur during detoxification.
What does a your ayurvedic center do?

A rehabilitation center helps addicts in the recoveryprocess.

we are giving them ayurvedic medicines for the aversiontowards alchohol and smoke and drugs
What happens after treatment?

Persons 100 % free from addictions with the full course
What is AA, NA?

AA is Alcoholics Anonymous, a self-help group started by andfor the alcoholics. (The story of birth of AA).
NA is Narcotics Anonymous, a self-help group for users ofnarcotic drugs like brown sugar, charas, ganja, cocaine etc.
These groups have free membership, they provide anonymityand a sense of belonging to their members.
What is the role of family members?

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

* They need toaccept that the addict is ill, and should accompany him for treatment like anyother patient
* They need toplay a remedial role as prescribed by the counsellor
* Changing theirthinking, feeling and behaviour patterns is necessary
* It is importantto play a vigilant role in case the patient slips back to addiction
* The familyshould try and lead a normal life within the circumstances

What is sobriety?

Sobriety is not merely abstinence from the substance but aqualitative change in attitude regarding self, others and the world. It alsoincludes a sense of self-development and effort towards active reinstatement ofself in the social mainstream.
Can an addict lead a normal life?

Yes, and he can even progress and help other addicts duringtheir treatment and recovery. He can restart his education, career plans,family reunification etc. He should however always completely abstain from alladdictive, dependency-producing substances as there is a danger of relapse ofsome abuse or shift to a new abuse.
What others say of addiction?

1. Addiction is aconditional response
- Behaviouralpsychologist
2. Addictionresults from learned behaviour
- Cognitivepsychologist
3. Addictionresults from dysfunctional family
- Socialpsychologist
4. Addiction is apermanent, progressive, cunning, baffling and powerful disease, marked bymental obsession and physical craving
- AA / NA member
5. Addiction iseither substance abuse or substance dependency
- As classifiedin Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV
6. Addiction is abiological disease
- A ResearchPsychiatrist
7. Addiction is aneurotic self-destructive behaviour resulting due to Low Frustration Tolerance(LFT) or themes such as - addiction equals worthlessness, addiction as a copingmechanism, addiction as a result of demand for excitement etc.
- REBT Therapist
8. Addiction isgenerally applied co-habits that are not needed for life and also are hazardousto health
- Mental HealthTerms Glossary by Mark Dombeck, PhD
9. Addiction isbest understood as an individual's adjustment, albeit a self-defeating one, tohis or her environment. It represents a habitual style of coping, albeit onethat the individual is capable of modifying with changing emotional and lifecircumstances
- Stanton Peel
10. Addiction is afeeling of "I shall continue it as long as I can" despite havingdevastating effects on oneself or others
- Arnot OregonMedical center
11. Although thereare many kinds of addictions, no matter what the addiction is, every addictengages in a relationship with an object or event in order to produce a desiredmood change
- Mr. CraigNakken, author of "Addictive Personality"
12. Maladaptivegenes that produce and maintain the craving for the addictive substance(s) andas a result, alter the metabolism in "reward" centers within thecentral nervous system
- The BiogenicModel
13. Drug dependenceis a state, psychic and sometimes also physical, resulting from taking a drug,characterised by behavioural and other responses that always include acompulsion to take a drug on a continuous or periodic basis in order toexperience its psychic effects, and sometimes to avoid the discomfort of itsabsence. Tolerance may or may not be present. A person may be dependent on morethan one drug
- WHO ICD 1990(p. 1131)
14. Addiction ismaladaptive pattern of spirituality
- ReligiousLeaders
15. Addiction isanaesthesia
- DanielLaguitton

During the sharing at AA, it is often heard that there are16000 reasons for drinking. Similarly, there are different and divergentdefinitions of addiction. At least fifteen of such views are given above. We atAYURVEDIC DEDADDICTION are not interested indefining the term Addiction. However, for the purposes of treating addiction wefollow a simple elaborate statement so that the goal of treatment can beachieved.