Search Helium

Home > Health & Fitness > Substance Abuse & Addiction > Addiction

Once addicted, always addicted?

by deViant

Created on: August 23, 2007

There's only one answer to this - no matter what addiction it is, yes!
No matter how long an addict has not been using / giving in to his urges, and no matter how successful s/he might have rebuilt their life, an alcoholic will always be an alcoholic, a heroin addict will always feel the itch and a gambler will have to fight every day to stay clear of potentially addictive situations.


Generally, the worst problem with addiction is that, while rehab or counselling may work to address the main issues, there is an underlying danger that the addictive behaviour is always easily transferred to another activity - which might even seem more harmless.
As an example, a heroin addict might be clean for years but in order to cope with the urge to use s/he transfers the addictive behaviour to e.g. computer games, obsessive sport, an eating disorder etc - obviously this does not happen deliberately or consciously and can take years to develop into full-blown addictive behaviour, but it just goes to show that without a very strong mindset, good counselling and rehab (as a prerequisite to get over the first addiction) and constant self-analysis and discipline, an addict will always return to some form of addiction or another - granted, some are less harmful than others (physically and mentally), but addiction is a lifetime issue.

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

Helium Debate

Cast your vote!

Is the smoking ban in England working?

Click for your side.

193696

Featured Partner

International Human Rights Group

IHRG Mission Statement: Standing for Religious Liberties for All We believe that religious liberties are the foundation of human rights for any civilized society. Governments, however, have not always respected this most foundation...more


CONNECT WITH US

Read
our blog
Helum for writers

Write and get published
Share with other writers
Polish your freelancing skills

Join our active writing community
Helium Content Source for Publishers

Quality articles from proven freelancers
Exclusive rights, fast turnaround
Brand engagement, business blogging -- our writers do it all

Get custom content today!

INFORMATION


Helium, Inc.
200 Brickstone Square Andover, MA 01810 USA
#