by Tiory Clark

Created on: July 07, 2008   Last Updated: November 28, 2008

Reflections: Addiction *Are you willing to be the Nag?* The definition of an addict is a person with a habit so strong that they cannot easily give it up. Now in reality no one wants that title attached to their name. We deny it, ignore it and sometimes pray for it to go away. Most of the people I know are addicts of some kind. I have friends that can't go to sleep with out a beer or can't go one hour without a smoke.

With the economy in a serious recession and our increasing unemployment an addiction can become a serious liability. A problem that's consequences can be severe and deadly. At what point do we classify an addiction as a problem? Again any habit that is hard to stop is considered an addiction (so says Webster's Dictionary). I admit that I cannot start the day with out two cups of coffee and studies have shown that a large amount of caffeine taken over a short period of time can be hazardous to ones health. I'm also factoring in other forms of caffeine I take (of course). My point (I know it seems I don't have one, but I do) is that addiction is so rampant in most people's lives that we tend to except it. Now I'm not saying everyone does, but in my experience most people do. Most of the people I have talked to know someone with a serious form of addiction.

At what point do you turn to some one and say "you are out of control"? At what point does a bad habit turn into a strong addiction? These questions have been in my mind for quite some time. I live in a family with such a bad history of addiction that I stay clear of mostly any thing that could cause it. I don't drink (a lot), smoke or do drugs other than coffee (yes, I know coffee is not considered a drug). My question to you is how do we help others when we may have a problem ourselves? How do you tell someone they need help when they seemingly have everything under control?

I'm twenty two years old and in college. I have a friend with a great grade point average (better than mine) and is well liked and very put together, but there is just one problem she stays at the bar. It started innocently enough we went out and had drinks to celebrate. In the space of a few months it turned into a nightly thing for her. Without us she would head out around 11:00pm and sometimes didn't come home at all. When she didn't come home for a few nights in a row it became obvious that someone should say something. I talked to her and she threw the most basic logic in my face. Her GPA is perfect, she's had no complaints from anyone else on her behavior and she has never driven drunk. She also stated that I am not her mother and she is allowed to do as she pleases unless she becomes a threat to herself or others. Did I mention she is a psychology major? Although I didn't like what she said or how she said it, I somewhat agreed-Who was I to judge her? I asked a few friends and they agreed with her as well. Again I asked myself who am I to refute an accepted type of behavior? I am no saint and although I adhere from drinking most of the time I've had drinks before.

My belief is that an addiction no matter how small it is can be a problem. Like a bad rash if left untreated it can end in some horrifying results. No matter if no one has advised you that you have a problem, most of us (at least the rational ones) realize there is something wrong. Does she still drink? Yes. No matter what I said she had made her point and was sticking to it. If she doesn't get help at some point this ugly habit will be a full blown addiction for her (although I believe it is already). Although I don't want to be the nag someone has to be. So I ask you (I do ask a lot of questionsdon't I?) are willing to be the nag?

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