7.Alcohol.

Alcohol addiction, or alcoholism, is characterized by a persistent, habitual use of alcohol, even when the alcoholic is aware of the harm being done. This is different than alcohol abuse.

Alcoholic

Drinks to prevent withdrawal, to become ‘normal,’ and then gets drunk

May have some sobriety but at great difficulty.

It is not always possible to distinguish someone who abuses alcohol from an alcoholic. There are so-called, "high functioning" alcoholics who hold jobs and are able to maintain relationships. Some will point to these facts and deny they have a problem. This is why the first step in the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) program is: "We have admitted we are powerless over alcohol and our lives had become unmanageable."

Alcohol Addiction

The chief characteristic of alcohol addiction in either model is excessive craving and an inability to abstain from alcohol. The form doesn’t matter. Alcoholics may prefer beer, wine, or any other intoxicating beverage – the common ingredient is alcohol. The craving to drink has been compared to that for food when starving or water when dehydrated.

As the disease progresses, more and more of a person’s life becomes dedicated to drinking. Relationships fail, health deteriorates, and loss of employment occurs. Alcoholics put others at risk when they drive or operate machinery under the influence. Gradually, the health problems mount and death from liver failure is the predicted outcome. Fatty tissue builds up in the liver, constricting blood flow and eventually, the alcoholic drowns because of backed-up fluid in the lungs.

The signs that alcohol is a problem are:

• anxiety;

• being unusually suspicious;

•blackouts/memory loss;

• breakdown of relationships;

• depression;

• getting driving tickets;

• insomnia;

• loss of self-esteem;

• not taking care of yourself;

• poor work performance;

• taking sick days for hangovers;

• trembling hands;

• hallucinations;

• delirium tremens - can be severe and often fatal;

• activation syndrome - characterized by tremulousness, agitation, rapid heart beat and high blood pressure.

8.Drug addiction.

Amphetamine Addiction

Amphetamines are a class of drugs that mimic adrenalin in the body. Although amphetamine is a particular compound, the word is often used to describe similar drugs in the class (methamphetamine, phentermine, Dexedrine, others).

Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine, a powdered extract of the coca plant, can be snorted or smoked. When modified chemically for smoking, it is referred to as crack cocaine. Cocaine base is water soluble, while the crack form is not. This means cocaine base can be dissolved in water and injected or snorted as the power into the nose. The lining of the nose and sinus cavity has enough water to dissolve the base drug and it is absorbed into the blood stream there.

Ecstasy (mdma) Addiction

“If it feels good, do it.”

This is a principle that fits ecstasy addiction. The drug decreases anxiety and gives users a pleasant feeling of intimacy and love. Perceptions are enhanced while aggression and hostility is lowered. This seems like the perfect drug for a party. Users get the ‘social lubricant’ of alcohol without the hangover. And the ecstacy addiction potential is lower than many other drugs of abuse. Unfortunately, the story doesn’t end there.

Heroin addiction

Heroin addiction is one of the most destructive and painful addictions in the world and rehab can be a lifelong process. Produced from the poppy, heroin is a semi-synthetic form of morphine. It has been estimated to be one of the most addictive substances created.

This is ironic, because when heroin was first marketed, it was thought to be safer than morphine and was used to treat morphine addiction. We now know heroin may be even more addictive than morphine; heroin addiction treatment is very difficult and cravings very persistent.