Addictions (alcohol/drugs/gambling/technology)

Addictions are common and take many different forms such as alcohol, drugs, gambling, food, television, computer games, social media, sex, pornography, exercise, and work. They arise for many reasons. People often use addictions as an activity to help manage stress or troubling emotions that arise from an anxiety of which they aren’t usually aware. Sometimes a vicious circle can arise where a damaging addictive behaviour creates anxiety that adds to that which led to the addiction initially. It’s important to understand that engaging in any activity excessively in an ‘automated’ or ‘compelling’ way, or that feels like it can’t be resisted, could be an addiction. Addictive behaviours are usually problematic at some level because of the effect they have on the body, our work, and our relationships. They can also be difficult to deal with as they often affect the brain in such a way that it feels as though ‘the more you do, the more you want’. People who engage in addictive behaviours are often self sabotaging. This article may help you understand a little more about self sabotage and this article will give you some ideas on how to start changing your own addictive behaviours.

ALCOHOL

  • Turning point provides assistance with alcohol and other drug addictions. Services available include individual, group, telephone, online, inpatient and outpatient. Here is a good video on the effects of alcohol on the body and the book This Naked Mind has been recommended by one of my clients as a balanced approach to managing alcohol addiction.
  • Addicted Australia is a four part series on SBS. ‘Ten Australians share an insight into a unique six-month treatment program designed to help them with their addictions or substance abuse problems, as well as the challenges faced by their loved ones’.
  • ‘Reframe’ is a paid, evidence based alcohol reduction programme that uses neuroscience to reframe your relationship with alcohol
  • Medications such as ANTABUSE can also be used to treat alcohol abuse.
  • If you want to understand the effect of alcohol on your body this 2 hour youtube by Dr Andrew Huberman (neuroscientist and tenured professor in the Department of Neurobiology and by courtesy, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford School of Medicine) may be of interest to you.
    • It covers the physiological effects that drinking alcohol has on the brain and body at different levels of consumption and over time. He describes genetic differences that predispose certain individuals to alcoholism, binge and habit-drinking. He also explains alcohol metabolism in simple terms and how it effectively acts as a poison, leading to cellular stress and damage. He then explains that it impacts neuronal function and changes our thinking and behavior – hallmarks of inebriation. I also discuss how alcohol consumption of different amounts impacts inflammation, stress, neurodegeneration, and cancer risk and negatively impacts the gut microbiome, brain thickness, hormone balance, mood and feelings of motivation. He also discusses the biology of hangovers and describe science-based strategies to mitigate the severity of a hangover. Since alcohol is one of the most widely consumed recreational substances, this episode ought to be of relevance to everyone. Indeed, even low-to-moderate alcohol consumption negatively impacts the brain and body in direct ways. The goal of this episode is to help people make informed decisions about their alcohol consumption that are in keeping with their mental and physical health goals.

DRUGS

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates that in 2019 about 9 million people aged 14 and over had illicitly used a drug at some point in their lifetime. Abuse of pharmaceuticals is now a major public health concern in Australia and has resulted in a range of harms.

Drug addiction refers to a physical or psychological need to use a substance, whether it’s legal or illegal. This is known as a substance use disorder and affects the brain and leads to an inability to control the use of that substance. Some substances change the way your brain and body work as they change the balance of chemicals that help you think, feel, create and make decisions. People quickly need larger doses of the substance to feel an effect, then need it to just to feel stable and relatively normal, and eventually find that it is impossible to survive without the substance.

There are residential programs available in Australia for people who are ready to make a serious effort to kick their substance habit. Residential programs are usually attended for several months up to a year.

To hear first hand accounts of drug addiction, you might be interested in these podcasts:

GAMBLING

Gambling addictions can have terrible consequences.

TECHNOLOGY

Social media appears to have as much of a toxic effect on humans as any other addiction, and is particularly bad for teens who are in a significant stage of their brain development. Here are some resources with further information.

TREATMENT

In addition to seeking professional help from health professionals and addiction specialists, the following services for treating addictions are available free online

  • SMARTRECOVERY programs are guided by trained facilitators and cater to all forms of addiction. Participants set their own goals and path to success using a range of evidence-based tools and techniques. Some programs are also offered face to face. They also offer a range of tools to help you assess, analyse and plan strategies to help yourself.
  • Turning Point, located in Victoria, provides face to face and online services to all Australians and provides links to other related services.
  • You can also explore REACHOUT, the Alcohol and Drug Foundation or LIFELINE to find out more about about drug use, addiction and rehabilitation.