by Ashley Cormier

Created on: November 04, 2009   Last Updated: November 06, 2009

I once read a letter written by an addict. At the beginning of this article he says "You cannot nor will not change my behavior. You cannot make me treat you better, let alone with any respect. All I care about, all I think about is my needs and how to go about fulfilling them. You are a tool to me, something to use."

Addiction is tragic; great kids gone sour by really great party or by great parents who no longer are there for their kids because they'd rather do drugs. Addiction has no remorse, it won't just let go of whomever it has control over. Addiction has no cares, no love, no feeling. Addiction is the need, the want, the desire to run away from reality.

Have you ever gone out drinking because you had a really rough day at work? Have you gone out drinking because your significant other dumped you? How about, when the kids are bothering you have you ever said "Man, I really need a night out? I'm going to drink the bar dry!" Then you know how the mind of an addict works, but they can't get out of thinking that way. Everything that happens is a reason to keep drinking, or doing pills. Everything that happens, the kids break a toy, your wife breaks a bowl or burns supper, you had a bad day at work... whatever it is, it's a reason, an excuse to not feel guilty about doing the drug. They get hooked on not having to deal with the repercussion of their own actions.

Most of the time, there is something that triggered the addictions, sometimes as simple as a night out with the girls and others very complex such as a horrible childhood memory. Addiction not only ruins the addict's life, but everyone around them as well. As friends, family or lovers of addicts, we feel responsible to support them and this is exactly what the addicts see as well. Addicts see that they are "sick" (if they are willing to admit they are addicts), and need help from everyone around them. They don't feel bad about taking things from anyone, they don't feel bad about stealing from anyone, their minds are not "normal".

Some may beg to differ, but in my experience, this is the way I have realized addicts are, and what an addiction is.

Learn more about this author, Ashley Cormier.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.