ADDICTION: WHY QUIT?

[Guest guest]

ADDICTION: WHY QUIT?

Phil Rich, Ed.D., MSW

Addiction separates people from everything around them. It makes

invisible the damage it inflicts on the addict, those closest to the

addict, and on the world at large. Addictions blind and desensitize

the addict. But why quit?

A Multitude of Addictions

There are many types of addictions, and many things to become

addicted to. Some, such as drug addiction, involve illegal or

socially unacceptable behaviors. Others, like alcoholism, involve

behaviors that are legal most of the time, but have limits to their

legal and social acceptability. Some addictions, once illegal and

considered immoral, are big business nowadays although they can lead

to tremendous personal and social destruction. Alcohol use and

gambling, for instance, although actively promoted and encouraged,

can easily get out of control and absolutely require a level of self-

control and insight that many people don't have. And other

addictions involve a distortion of normal and expected life

functions such as eating, shopping, and sexual relationships.

The Price of Addiction

In some cases, the addiction itself destroys control and insight

when under its influence. Alcohol and drugs are good examples (and

alcohol can literally destroy parts of the brain in the long run).

Some addictions, once considered entirely normal and even desirable,

are now clearly seen as problematic and increasingly unacceptable.

The most obvious example, of course, is cigarettes. Then there are

those addictions that are currently acceptable and considered

benign, such as coffee drinking. Even though caffeine is physically

and emotionally addictive, the question remains as to what and how

much damage it causes, and whether it will remain an acceptable

addiction in the years to come. Addictions like this also beg the

question of what threshold must be crossed, what damage must be

caused, or what price paid before there is motivation for someone to

quit the addiction.

There are also the normal life functions and interactions, such as

eating, shopping, and sexual relationships, that lead to patterns of

addictive behaviors in some people. Here the issues are more about

self-control, regulation, and appropriate choice than quitting. In

fact, abstinence in such cases produces a different kind of

addiction that can be just as dangerous, or more so, such as

anorexia.

Recognizing Addiction

The effects of addiction include behavioral, mind altering, mood

altering, and physical change. Some of these changes are dangerous

to others (for instance, drunk driving), and others dangerous only

to the addict (overeating, for example). Some addictions produce

immediate or rapid changes, and some changes appear only over

extended and continuous addiction.

In some cases, the results of addiction are almost unnoticeable: for

instance, smokers and coffee drinkers don't usually behave

differently after they use. In these types of addictions, it's the

inability to engage in the addiction that produces noticeable

change.

In the case of all addictions, however, the absence of the addiction

produces change. In fact, it's the emotional and often physical

discomfort and anxiety that helps to maintain and drive addiction.

This is one of those hallmarks by which addiction can be most

clearly identified.

Why Quit?

Just as remaining addicted is a personal choice, so too is quitting

the addiction. But why quit? Why give up the thing that brings

relief? The question is what personal price or damage to health,

relationships, social functioning, financial freedom, independence,

or the lives of others must be paid before the addict decides to

quit?

Some addictions have such a high price, it's obvious why someone

should quit. Others, like caffeine use or addiction to chocolate,

don't and quitting becomes more of a personal choice than a social,

legal, or health imperative. But clearly, for some addicts, no price

is too high and they die addicted, and often because of their

addiction.

In the end, addicts quit when they fully realize that the relief

brought by addiction is temporary only, that there's a price to pay

for that relief, and that the price is too high. It's the addict who

gets beyond denial who gets to have his or her life back again.

References:

Ellis, A., McInerney, J. F., DiGuiseppe, R., & Yeager, R. J.

(1988). " Rational-Emotive Therapy with Alcoholics and Substance

Abusers. " Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Brown, S. (1985). " Treating the Alcoholic. " New York, Wiley.

Carnes, P. (1992). " Don't Call it Love: recovery from Sexual

Addiction. " New York, Bantam.

Fossum, M. A., & Mason, M. J. (1986). " Facing Shame: Families in

Recovery. " New York: W. W. Norton.

Goldstein, A. (1994). " Addiction: From Biology to Drug Policy. " New

York, W. H. Freeman.

Gorski, T. T., & , M. (1986). " Staying Sober: A Guide for

relapse Prevention. " Independence, MO: Herald House/Independence

Press.

Rich, P., & Copans, S. A. (In Press). " The Healing Journey Through

Addiction: Your Journal for Recovery and Self Renewal. " New York:

Wiley.

by Wiley & Sons. He maintains a private practice in

Northampton, Massachusetts.