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Running Head: What Addiction Means in our Society

What Addiction Means in our Society

Kohl Roberts
Madonna University

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Running Head: What Addiction Means in our Society

What Addiction Means in our Society

Our society has a major problem that is beginning to affect many people. This problem is
addiction. Which is more than just drugs as people make it out to be. People can be addicted to
sex, money, computers, thrill seeking, and many more. When a person develops an addiction
they begin to put their need for drugs or whatever they have a need for before other more
important things such as, a job or taking care of their family. The addict loses their self-control
and the addiction becomes in control. The addict develops a mental illness to the addiction and
begins to be overtaken by the need to satisfy the addiction. As you look at addiction throughout
history you can see the way peoples view on it has changed. In the past addiction has been
considered a terrible thing and people who knew an addict were looked at bad also. But now
peoples views are being changed to show people that addiction is a disease and we need to start
getting these people with the addiction the help they need. I will discuss the different views of
addiction and the way it has changed from the past to the present.
Addiction is defined as a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory
and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological,
psychological, social and spiritual manifestations. This is reflected in an individual
pathologically pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other behaviors. (Public Policy
Code: Definition of Addiction, 2015). Characteristics of addiction are the inability to consistently
abstain, impairment in behavioral control, craving, diminished recognition of significant
problems with ones behaviors and interpersonal relationships, and a dysfunctional emotional
response (Public Policy Code: Characteristics of Addiction, 2015). This is a very serious problem
for people dealing with this disease because of the mental and physical abuse it places on the
person with the addiction, and the people around them. It also puts a negative perspective from

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Running Head: What Addiction Means in our Society

society on the person with the addiction by making them appear as non-valuable, non-productive
members of society. Addiction is often a very difficult problem to face. The person with the
addiction craves the activity that they are addicted to because they like the feeling it creates for
them because it is an enjoyable feeling or it helps them check out of life for the time they are
using the drug. The addict often does not realize what the personal and financial cost involved.
People who are around the person with the addiction, are usually affected in a negative way.
People who care want the addict to change, but cant make the person change, the addict has to
want to make this change. Addiction can be bad for the person with the addiction as well as for
the people around them because it may cause many problems in their lives. Examples include
relationship problems, unemployment, poverty, homelessness, child abuse, involvement with the
law, health issues and even death.
When thinking about addiction there are several characteristics that are present and define
an addiction. Many addicts are nave in their thinking, justifying in their mind that their addiction
is not harming anyone. The addict becomes obsessed about how they are going to do to get their
next fix whether it be a cigarette, or a drug like heroine. The addiction controls their thinking and
actions. Another factor that can play a huge role in the addiction of a person are the people who
enable the addictive behavior. If individuals are often making excuses about why its ok for the
addict to continue with the addictive behavior, or are always taking care of them, the addict never
has to face the consequences of their actions. The behavior becomes denied and the addict fails
to see anything wrong with what they are doing and the behavior continues. Often, growing up
around a person with an addiction can play a role in a childs life and can influence a child to
addiction at an early age. This leads many teens from addictive families into experimenting and
becoming addicted to substances themselves.

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Running Head: What Addiction Means in our Society

There are many different forms of addiction some can be positive such as addiction to
thrills and the adrenaline they get from it, but most are negative. Examples of negative
addictions include drugs, sex, tobacco, computer, and gambling. Some of these addictions are
worse than others. Some addictions can have severe health consequences, financial consequences
and also suffer from negative views from society. For example, a person who is addicted to
cocaine has a greater chance of losing their life and society looks at them negatively for doing
these drugs more than a person who is addicted to gambling. Drug addictions can be more
damaging to families compared to other forms of addiction. Family members are constantly
worrying about the health and welfare of the addict and are concerned how the addict will act
when they are under the influence of the drug. Poor decision making is part of drug addiction.
When someone makes these poor decisions and becomes addicted to a something they run the
risk of hurting themselves. Such as someone who is addicted to cigarettes runs a greater chance
of having long term health problems but it is not as immediate and severe as someone who is
addicted to harder drugs such as heroin or cocaine. People who smoke cigarettes also get a
negative societal view from people in the world who dont smoke.
Our society has a negative view about people with addictions from media ads on the
television, radio and the internet about cigarettes, gambling and drug addiction. There has been
laws made about smoking prohibiting smoking inside buildings and some stores are no longer
selling cigarettes. There are commercials on television that talk about people with gambling
addictions and how they are hurting their family by continuing with their behavior. On the
opposite side television shows like Breaking Bad that have come out the past few years almost
glorifies the making, selling and using of drugs. The show uses a character who is a high school
chemistry teacher that starts making crystal meth to sell. The show promotes the upside side

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Running Head: What Addiction Means in our Society

of making a lot of money off making and selling drugs. It doesnt show the real life bad side of
these kind of things such as the death of the people using these drugs, risks of being someone
who sells the drugs, people who want to kill you for your money and the devastation to the
families involved. Breaking Bad became one of the most watched shows in America. This
show became so popular that toy stores are selling action figures from this show and includes
little blue rocks which represent crystal meth. This is not portraying a positive view on our
society. The fact that we are idolizing a drug dealer and selling this figures to the kids of
America supports addictive behavior. Many gas stations also sell fake cigarettes and beef jerky
which is supposed to represent chewing tobacco for kids to use. These items support the idea that
it is cool to use these things when really they are very bad habits to start.
The use of drugs is becoming a very prevalent epidemic in America. Every day in the
U.S., two thousand five hundred youth, ages 12 to 17, abuse prescription pain relievers for the
first time (The Truth about Prescription Drug Abuse, 2006-2014). Of the 22,400 drug overdose
deaths in the US in 2005, opioid painkillers were the most commonly found drug, accounting for
38.2% of these deaths (The Truth about Prescription Drug Abuse, 2006-2014). Forty five percent
of drug related overdoses are caused from prescription drugs and thirty nine percent are caused
by illegal street drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. From an international
standpoint there were about 183,000 deaths from drug related deaths in 2012 (Stats about
International Overdoses, 2010-2012). Looking at data on the total deaths from drug related
deaths from 2010 to 2013 the total number of deaths has increased by 5,653(Annual Causes of
Death in the United States, 2010-2013). This information can lead you to believe that the number
of people who are abusing drugs is on the rise and we need to do something to start turning this
data around a cut down on the numbers. Many people in America smoke cigarettes and it is a

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Running Head: What Addiction Means in our Society

major health risk to them and can be to others around them. Data I have gathered from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that from 2005 to 2009 480,000 deaths were
attributable to smoking cigarettes (Health Effects Infographics, 2005-2009). This includes
diseases caused by cigarettes such as lung cancer, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease, and other cancers. On average about five people are affected when a person
becomes an addict (Wider Impact of Addiction, n.d.). These people are usually friends and
family members of the addict. Not only are deaths from drugs a major problem but the cost of
trying to deal with this problem is a major drain on the economy. According to the National
Institute on Drug Abuse there is about 67 billion dollars spent every year on trying to deal with
the drug addiction problem (Wider Impact of Addiction, n.d.).
Different drugs are used by people of different levels of economic status. Many teens
become addicted to prescription painkillers due to the fact they are of easy access from friends
and family. Teens dont have to pay very much money for them or their parents have them in the
house and the kids take advantage of this and abuse them. Cigarettes are a major problem with
teens as well. Peer pressure in middle school and high school often lead teens to try cigarettes
and/or chewing tobacco. Many kids believe it is cool to smoke cigarettes and get other kids
started on this bad habit. They also have easy access to tobacco products usually from family or
friends who are addicted. Cocaine is an expensive drug to use so many people who are addicted
to this are in the higher economic status because they can afford to feed their habit to this drug.
Two other drugs that are expensive to use are OxyContin and Percocet. These are abused by
people who are in the upper wealth classes. They often have easier access to getting a
prescription or they have wealthy friends who have access to these prescription drugs. These
prescription pills are very similar to heroin and people who are in the lower wealth categories

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Running Head: What Addiction Means in our Society

become addicted to these prescription pills but cant afford to use them so they turn to the
cheaper version which is heroine.
Looking at the situation from the addicts point of view, they do not believe they have a
problem with what they are doing, no matter how much people try to convince them otherwise.
They enjoy doing whatever they have an addiction to. Neurotransmitters in the brain cause the
feeling of pleasure when the addictive behavior is performed. The addict will not get help to stop
the addictive behavior because they believe they dont need any help and there is nothing wrong
with what they are doing. Often the only way to get an addict to seek the help they need is if
something negative happens to them to make them realize the behavior and cause them to want
to seek help. Something has to happen to make them realize what they are doing to themselves
and the loved ones around them. Some addictions are less damaging to a persons surroundings.
An example of this is a person who smokes cigarettes. They can go outside away from people so
it is not affecting them and this person can still be a productive member of society and provide
for their family. But this person still faces major health risks and gets a bad view from society
because they smoke.
When having an addict in a family it can cause major problems in the lives of people in
the family such as children. When children grow up with an addict as a parent they suffer greatly
from this. One major problem that occurs is they have a greater chance of becoming an addict
when they get older from being raised in an environment with addiction. These children are often
deprived of love and care from the addicted parent. The addiction impacts the self-esteem of the
children. As they grow up they began to realize that there is something wrong with their family
and how their family functions. The feelings of being different or left out is a major problem for
these kids and it can lead them into addiction if not given the help and support they need.

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Running Head: What Addiction Means in our Society

Growing up around addiction teaches children that is how you cope with problems and deal with
painful situations. So if they turn to this behavior they will fall into the same problems and
patterns that they grew up around.
There are many risk factors for addiction, starting from an early age. One risk factor that
is supported by research is genetics. A person with a close family relative with an addiction has a
greater chance at becoming an addict themselves. Some children are born to mothers that have
been an addict while pregnant, this increases the likelihood that the child will struggle with these
problem of addiction also. Addiction has moderate to high heritability, higher than most
psychiatric disorders, and this heritability is determined by multiple genes that both interact and
work independently of each other (Hesse, 2006). A person can also become addicted through
environmental situations. If a person is around people who use addictive substances there is a
greater risk of that person trying the substance and beginning to use it. In these environmental
situations peer pressure is usually an important factor. The person not using wants to "fit in" and
be part of the group. Also an environmental factor that can cause addiction is stress, which
studies have shown there is a link between stress hormones and alcoholism (Nordqvist, 2009).
Other factors that can impact a person's addiction potential are gender, mental illness, body
metabolism and the type of substance used. Studies have shown people with depression or
attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are at greater risk of becoming addicted to
substances like nicotine, alcohol and other drugs (Nordqvist, 2009). Often these people can
become addicted by using a gateway drug such as marijuana, then be given another drug or have
their marijuana laced with another drug such as cocaine. This could lead to them becoming
addicted to a stronger drug.

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Running Head: What Addiction Means in our Society

There are many different treatments for addiction. The most common addiction treatment
is participating in a 12 step system or program. When the addict is ready to get treatment it can
be very costly. Another form of treatment is going through an intervention with family members.
This process can be very difficult if the addict is not ready to go through this and make a changes
to quit the drug, treatment won't work. This can be very taxing on the people setting up the
intervention because they have be part of multiple meetings. They have to see the person who is
the addict refuse doing the intervention because they are not ready to seek help and give up the
addictive behavior. The addict gets upset that people are trying to stop them from something they
enjoy doing. The only way to break an addiction is for the addict to do it themselves. They must
go through the detox process which is a difficult process for a person mentally, emotionally and
physically. They must gain their self-control back so they can stay away from the addictive
behavior. Also, there are many things the family has to do when the addict becomes clean. They
must change the environment and their behaviors in the household. The addict can't return to
what they were living in. Without changes in their environment it is very easy for them to
relapse back into the addiction.
The consequence of addiction come in many forms and levels of severity. The most
severe is the addict loses their life, or takes the life of another person caused by the addiction.
This is a very real threat if the person is addicted to drugs. They can easily overdose or be killed
trying to buy the drugs. Others problems that occur are the destruction of personal relationships
with the people you love such as a spouse, children, parents and siblings. This happens when the
addict puts the need for the drug over the ones they care about and push them out of their lives
often times forever. Being a parent and putting your children in an environment that could affect
the way they grow and develop in a negative way is a problem that these people face. Having a

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Running Head: What Addiction Means in our Society

drug problem also gives the addict a negative view from society. People who are addicted to
drugs are viewed as nonproductive members of society and are not doing well for others. They
are viewed as having a mental disease and need to seek help. Some people stay away from
addicts because they are afraid of them, not knowing what they will be like when using
substances. It also causes a negative view on the family who is living with this person. They
become looked at like an addict too because they live with them and are not doing anything to
stop the behavior from happening.
After researching addiction extensively and viewing it from different views it is still very
difficult to come to a conclusion about what addiction really means in our society. Addiction is a
disease that is harmful to the addict and the people around them by giving them a negative view
from society. It is very costly for everyone involved and causes stress and pain. This is a very
difficult conclusion to come to because of everything that you must take in account including the
view from the addict. They enjoy this activity they are doing but dont realize what is really
happening to them. By teaching people more about how this disease works and what can be done
to help we can change societal views of how addiction is looked at and there can be more ways
to treat this problem and the people it affects.

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Running Head: What Addiction Means in our Society

Work Cited:
Definition of Addiction . (2015). Retrieved from ASAM: http://www.asam.org
Health Effects Infographics . (2005-2009). Retrieved from Center for Disease Control and
Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/
Hesse, M. (2006, January). What does Addiction Mean to me . Retrieved from US National
Libary of Medicine National Institutes of Health: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
Stats about International Overdoses. (2010-2012). Retrieved from International Overdose
Awareness Day: http://www.overdoseday.com/
The Truth about Prescription Drug Abuse . (2006-2014). Retrieved from Foundtion For a Drug
Free World : http://www.drugfreeworld.org/
Wider Impact of Adiction. (n.d.). Retrieved from alcoholrehab.com: http://alcoholrehab.com/