by Marie Monroe

Created on: August 29, 2008

Here are some effects of drug addiction. This list can be used to further evaluate your own use of substances or that of someone you love. It is not an exhaustive list, but as you can see, the effects of addiction are pervasive and profound.

With a 'sober' and honest look at these, you can begin a journey toward greater understanding and then, if these apply to you, you can progress into recovery if you seek help. If these apply to someone you love, you can offer help, but you must remember that an addict recovers as he or she does the recovery work. If you are a loved one of an addict, your work is to take care of yourself and to not feed your loved one's ability to continue harming themselves.

For more information about how to cope when loved ones are addicted, please look at information from Alanon and research the issues of codependency, adult children of alcoholics, and enabling. If you are addicted, seek out Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous or other 12 Step programs for support. Get in touch with a treatment provider that is certified as an addiction psychiatrist or in addiction counseling. There are inpatient programs everywhere. Arrange an evaluation if you think you cannot manage with just self-help groups. Many addicts have other mental health needs. Look for a psychiatrist who has special training in addiction to help you sort out other issues that may need to be addressed.

As you can see below, addiction touches all aspects of our lives. These side-effects are only a quick review of possibilities. Please seek help if you think you are addicted. Please seek help for yourself is someone you love is addicted. There is an intense social stigma associated with addiction so that addicts and their loved ones will hide in shame, getting sicker and more and more desperate. Know that addiction is an illness and that social stigma comes from ignorance. Professionals are everywhere who are trained to address the disease process and its related problems. Support groups are there to help you shoulder the burden. Use them.

Addiction causes these things to occur in the life of the addict:

Loss of emotional control

Change in personality

Behavioral changes

Loss of meaning, motivation

Hopelessness, despair, depression, anger

Giving up of hopes, dreams, goals and goal-directed behavior

Loss of spirituality

Change in social associates

Retreat from usual sources of occupation and pleasure

Difficulty functioning on the job or difficulty in going to work

Legal problems

Relationship

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