Addiction is a treatable, chronic medical disease involving complex interactions among brain circuits, genetics, the environment, and an individual's life experiences. People who suffer from the disease of addiction use substances or engage in behaviours that become compulsive and often continue despite harmful consequences.
Unfortunately, the disease of addiction has been largely misunderstood by society at large. People who suffer from the disease of addiction have often been labelled as having a "lack of discipline", "no self-control", "zero values and morals" and the list goes on and on.
Addiction is a disease that fully consumes the addict and makes them too selfish to even see the damage they are causing to not only themselves but to those around them. Nobody grows up and aspires to become a homeless junkie doing whatever it takes to get the next hit, bottle, pill, bag or line... It is however the only disease that will tell you that you are doing just fine and that things are going to get better and be better, even when all the evidence and people around you are telling you the complete opposite.
Addicts use their substance or substances of choice, otherwise known as DOC (Drug of Choice) in order to numb feelings and escape their reality because it is too difficult and too painful to deal with. Plus the body develops a physical craving and dependence on the substance and makes the brain believe that it needs that substance in order to survive.
There is major delusion which comes with the disease and that delusion is what needs to be shattered in order for the addict and or alcoholic to realise that they are in dire need of help. The more pain and consequences that come the way of the addict, the more they will use until they hit their rock bottom and eventually ask for help because they can no longer continue on their path of using. This is the rock bottom process or what we like to call the the gift of desperation. Addicts need to feel the pain of their actions and the consequences of their choices. because only they can decide when they have had enough and want to change. This is when the family members and loved ones need to act quickly and get the addict into rehab so that they can get the help they need.
The statistical number of addicts who ever get into recovery and stay in life long recovery is 3.3%. That means that only 1 in every 30 people who ever receive treatment stay in long term recovery. 75% of addicts worldwide never receive treatment.
This is a common question that we get asked all the time and the simple truth is that no, addiction cannot be cured. However, it can be stopped and the person who is addicted to the substance can live a life free of using mind- and mood-altering substances.
Unfortunately, we live in a society where we have been led to believe that everything can be cured with a pill, a jab or some sort of medication, however this is not necessarily the truth with addicts and addiction as a whole.
Addiction is a disease and once a person is addicted to a substance, substances or toxic behaviours, they lose the ability to control when they will use, how and to what extent. They never regain control either, they need to learn a new way of life that treats the cause as to why they began using the substance in the first place.
There is no magic pill or treatment that will cure addiction as a whole. Addiction is a disease that manifests itself in the mind of the sufferer and can only be combated by the individual learning as to what the signs and symptoms are and being shown/ taught how to deal with those signs and symptoms, but it will be a lifelong recovery journey. Yes, it does require some hard work, especially in the beginning stages of recovery but a life in recovery is infinitely better than that of active addiction.
Nobody can force an addict to get better, it is something that they have to decide for themselves, only once they have decided that they no longer want to live a life in active addiction, do they stand a chance at recovery.
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