Drug Addiction Cycle
It seems that the cycle of addiction never ends and seems unstoppable. No matter what race, sex or religion, it seems also that drug addiction has touched every part of our culture. It is reported that around 13 million Americans today are abusing drugs and or alcohol. Not one of us intends to become a drug addict or alcoholic, but often, many of us do. Addicts do not set out to destroy their lives or to hurt their families and friends this is just a part of the effect of the cycle of addiction.
Theft, lies and the never ending dishonesty conveyed is equalled to the severity of the addiction. In our experience, it is shown that an addict can be well thought of, creative, smart and have so much to offer, but they can never get past getting the next high. The use of drugs or alcohol becomes obsessive to the addict. The addicted person is trapped. Whatever problem they were initially trying to solve by using drugs or alcohol fades from memory. At this point, all they can think about is getting and using more drugs. They lose the ability to control their usage and disregards the horrible consequences of their actions. As the addict slips down the spiral, their loved ones try to deny the problem exists, sometimes for years. This is a part of the vicious cycle of drug addiction.
The more the addict uses drugs and alcohol, the guiltier they will feel and the more depressed they will become. They will sacrifice their personal integrity, relationships with friends and family, their job, savings and anything else they may have in an attempt to get more drugs. The drugs and getting “high” are now the most important things in their life. Their relationships and job performance will go drastically downhill.
They now seek drugs both for the reward of the “pleasure” the drugs give them, and also to avoid the mental and physical horrors of drug and alcohol withdrawal. Ironically, the addict’s ability to get “high” from the alcohol or drug gradually decreases as their body adapts to the presence of foreign chemicals. They must take more and more, not just to get an effect, but often just to function at all.
At this point, the addict is stuck in a vicious downward spiral. The drugs they abuse have changed them both physically and mentally. They have crossed an invisible and intangible line. They are now in the thrawls of drug addiction or alcoholism.
