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Designed By David Hoare Bsc(Hons) MBACP(Accred)
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Drug Abuse -
Physical dependence is when the body comes to need a drug to function normally. If it's not taken, unpleasant withdrawal symptoms occur. The only way to avoid this is to take more drug(s).
Psychological dependence is when an individual comes to rely on a drug to supply
good feelings -
This is not just a casual desire; it's a powerful compulsion.
So, here's a scenario:
A person first takes a drug out of curiosity, peer pressure, boredom or whatever
They like what it does for them -
So they take it again, to try and get these good feelings back
And again . . . and again . . . and again . . .
Now they're becoming either physically or psychologically dependent on the drug.
They have to keep on taking it just to feel normal. They've got no choice.
They have lost control of their drug use.
Although they'll probably not be able to admit this -
So -
You'll note that a person who abuses drugs occasionally doesn't intend to go on to become dependent on them. This is not a voluntary process. There seems to be a line somewhere in any individual's personality and drug use, that once the line is crossed it's too late, that person is very likely to be powerless to stop or reduce his or her drug intake by their own efforts.
We're not just talking about desperate heroin addicts or alcoholics on park benches here. There's a whole range of drug dependence and it can affect anyone. This could be:
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The compulsive drink is no different to the heroin injection. The intensity of desire may be very similar.
People who have become physically or psychologically dependent to some degree on their drug(s) of choice often realise that they're drinking or using more than they used to. They may then make some effort to reduce their drug intake.
This could involve cutting down the amount taken each time; only drinking/using on certain days; switching to another drug (e.g. whiskey to beer, cannabis to alcohol, heroin to methadone) etc.
Sometimes attempts to cut down may involve a life change such as moving home or changing job.
It's very common for such efforts to end in total failure, much to the utter bewilderment and dismay of the individual concerned. He or she cannot reduce their drug intake.
They're now faced with the fact that their drug abuse is beyond their control. It has taken on a destructive force of its own. He or she now needs help to deal this problem.
Why Do Some People Become Dependant on Drugs?
No one knows why some people become dependent on drugs while others don't. It has nothing to do with lack of will power or moral weakness. A genetic component may be involved; an individual's family and social environment will also play a part.
But it doesn't really matter why anyway, what's more important is what can be done about it. If a person becomes dependent on a drug, they can cause chaos for themselves and their family.
They may act irresponsibly, causing financial problems, difficulties at work or school etc.
They may loose the trust of family and friends by deceit and broken promises
They may lie or steal etc. in order to continue using the drug.
They may feel shame and guilt from repeated failure in trying to control their drug intake.
And yet he or she will usually insist that there's nothing wrong! !
Denial is a symptom of chemical dependency. It works something like this:
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The person may really believe there's no problem, as this denial is subconscious.
Chemical dependency is an illness that tells the sufferer that nothing's wrong!
Much of what you've just read described the danger of either regularly abusing drugs
or alcohol, or becoming dependent on them -
You may be thinking that you know of people who get drunk now and then -
Well, we'd warn anyone who believes that casual drug abuse doesn't pose any danger, that in our experience both drug abuse and drug dependence are progressive.
They start small.. . and get bigger. . and bigger . . and bigger
It's very easy to move from cannabis to amphetamines to heroin, or from a weekly
drink to a daily drink to permanently drunk -
Remember, this can develop slowly -
There's no such thing as a safe level of drug abuse.
What's the Difference between 'Hard' and 'Soft' Drugs?
There's no difference. These are just old slang phrases from years back that were
used to make a distinction between drugs that were seen to be very dangerous -
Such distinctions are pretty meaningless.
Don't believe me? Well, think of alcohol. Alcohol's a drug that contributes towards
the illness, injury or death of many tens of thousands of people each year in the
UK. It's involved in most cases of domestic violence; it's a major cause of accidents
at work; it's responsible for much of the violence on our streets -
Is alcohol a hard drug or a soft drug? -
Alternatively -
Is tobacco a hard drug or a soft drug? -
Now consider heroin. Although heroin is physically addictive, less than 200 people each year die from heroin misuse in the UK. That's far less than the numbers who die as a result of using either alcohol or tobacco.
Is heroin a hard drug or a soft drug? -
I hope you can see the contradictions here. The concepts of 'hard' or 'soft' drugs
are very artificial. Their meaning (i.e. lots/little -
Does hard/soft refer to the addictiveness of a drug? Does it refer to the health
consequences of drug use? If so, tobacco must be at or near the top -
Does it refer to the social consequences of drug taking? If so, booze must be counted as the 'hardest' drug, so why does the government allow hard drugs in the form of alcohol to be sold openly?
We believe that all drugs are just that -
We don't believe there are any exceptions to this and we feel that the artificial
distinction of 'hard' or 'soft' drugs is one that is best avoided. Otherwise, it
is easy for an individual to justify his or her drug use by saying -
Is It True That Cannabis Is Safer to Use than Alcohol?
Yes and no -
It depends on what aspect of our personal safety we're looking at.
If we're considering the risks to our physical health, then we must conclude that
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Cannabis doesn't contribute to the type of illnesses associated with alcohol use, such as liver disease, stomach ulcers, heart and circulation disorders.
Also, cannabis is not usually associated with violent behaviour -
But -
If we consider the risks to our emotional well being, then we're likely to conclude
that cannabis is not safer than alcohol. Both drugs can be psychologically addictive
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If we consider the potential for harm that cannabis use can inflict upon other family
members, we're likely to accept that cannabis is not safer than alcohol. Family members
can be traumatised by drug use within the family unit -
Why Do Some People Abuse Drugs?
There's a big difference between why a person may try drugs for the first time and
why that same person may then keep on taking them -
Similarly, many people drink alcohol occasionally and have no problem at all about it, they do not get worried if they don't have a drink. But some people do.
For many people, drugs (including alcohol) can seem to provide something that is missing from their life, these substances can make them feel 'better', for a while anyway. This can take a lot of forms.
People may abuse drugs because:
They feel insecure about themselves
and the drug can provide self-
They feel lonely or unloved
and the drug is a friend, a best friend.
They feel alienated, not a part of society
and the company of other drug users can provide a sense of belonging.
They feel angry or resentful -
and getting stoned or drunk etc. can blot out these uncomfortable feelings.
They feel stressed out or scared as a result of some life situation.
and drugs or booze can seem to relieve this sort of anxiety.
They're unhappy with life in the home, job, school, and neighbourhood -
And drugs provide a means of escape for a while -
These are just a few examples -
But a fantasy is just a dream. Reality keeps coming back. So a drug user must keep taking more and more drugs to try and keep the fantasy alive.
It doesn't work -
Drugs that are abused are attractive because they can change how a person is feeling.
As the answer to the last questioned explained -
Different drugs act in different ways on people. Some drugs reduce anxiety, some
provide (apparent) energy, and some give self-
The bottom line is that DRUGS CAN PROVIDE GOOD FEELINGS (that's why people take them)
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It's impossible for us to describe here exactly what a drug or alcohol abuser gets out of using his or her particular drug, it will be different for every person. For those who have never abused alcohol or drugs, it may be difficult to imagine why some people do so.
If you've never abused illicit drugs, you may nevertheless have tried alcohol at some time. Can you remember how a couple of glasses of sherry, or two or three pints of beer/lager made you feel?
Did you feel relaxed? Did you feel more talkative than usual?
Did you feel more self-
Well, basically that's the sort of good feelings that drugs other than alcohol can provide. They offer an artificial means of feeling good. Some are more powerful than others and they all work in different ways.
So this is what a drug abuser is looking for. Something to make him or her feel good
about him/herself; to relieve anxiety, to provide self-
Positive Steps towards Solving a Drug or Alcohol Problem
Using drugs or excessive alcohol always brings problems. These can be very serious
as drug abuse hurts all aspects of our lives -
It's when we can't quite control how much we take, when we can't go without as easily as before.
Does this happen in your life ?
These are symptoms of dependency. You see, there's a whole range of drug dependency. It's not just heroin addicts or hopeless alcoholics, it can happen to anyone, even someone like you. Yes, even you.
OK then You, so you think that you may have a drug problem?
Well, if you have, you're taking a positive step toward resolving it simply by reading this webpage.
Hundreds of thousands of people, just in the UK alone, are dependent on drugs or alcohol. Lots of them either don't realise they have a problem or don't want to admit it. You're taking the trouble to read these pages, this shows that you're willing to check it out.
Well done for doing this.
It's not important what drugs you've used, or how much of any drug you've taken in the past. That makes no difference to the pain and distress that drug dependency can cause.
Some people think that drug dependence only happens to individuals who inject heroin or drink bottles of whiskey each day. Well, that's not true. Or that an individual must have a mental problem if they abuse drugs or alcohol. That's not true either.
It’s just ordinary people, who first used drugs or booze for a bit of fun, or excitement, or whatever. And then one day found that it wasn't fun anymore, it certainly wasn't exciting. It was just confusion, misery and despair.
Let's take a look at what drugs have done to peoples lives . . .
Here's some common signs of drug dependency, see if you recognise yourself in any
of them. Try to be honest You. No-
Loss of control
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Devious behaviour
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Mental obsession
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It's not easy to admit that drug use can make you behave like this. Lots of people make excuses or blame others for their problem. You’ll need to get past that. You’ll need to acknowledge the reality of using.
Yet many people with a drug problem find it very difficult to own up to it. This
is called DENIAL -
DENIAL is a real killer, because chemical dependency is an illness that tells the sufferer that nothing's wrong!
It's caused by internal conflict. A person may like abusing drugs because it makes them feel good.
BUT he or she knows that it's hurting themselves and their families. He or she can't reconcile these conflicting realities. So they deny that they have a drug problem! (this is a subconscious thing).
The only way to beat this is to try to be HONEST WITH YOURSELF. Real deep down HONEST. Perhaps deeper inside than you've ever been before. It can be scary, but it's good too.
You can ask other people what your drug using has been like for them, and then listen to what they say.
Then you can leave behind the excuses that you used to make. You know, excuses like; that I’m different from other people who abuse drugs or alcohol.
That I haven't really got a drug problem, I could stop if I wanted to.
That I only take drugs because . . . because . . . because . . .
As long as you kept making excuses, you could pretend that you were choosing to abuse drugs.
It’s time to check out the reality of your drug or alcohol use.
Here are a few questions, that you can use as a reality check. Take your time.
Answer "yes" or "no" to each question. "Maybe" counts as "yes".
Drug Abuse Checklist
Does your drug use make you feel guilty?
Do you sometimes not remember what you did when you were taking drugs?
Is it hard for you to stop using drugs?
Has your drug use ever created problems with your spouse, parents, or a relative?
Has anyone tried to get you help for your drug use?
Have you ever lost friends because of your drug use?
Have you ever lost your job or been suspended from work because of drug use?
Have you ever been arrested for possession or sale?
Have you ever been hospitalised because of drug use, either medical or psychiatric hospitalisation?
Have you ever broken the law in order to get drugs (stolen drugs or money, forged a prescription)?
Are you using more drugs or alcohol than you used to to get the same effect?
Are you using drugs or alcohol more frequently than you used to?
Do you use drugs or drink alcohol on your own?
Do you lie about your using -
Has your drug or alcohol use ever caused you any money problems?
Problems at work?
Do you regularly take more drugs or alcohol than you originally intended?
Have any of your family or friends voiced concern about your drug use or drinking?
Have you ever made any effort to cut down or stop your drug or alcohol use?
Did it fail?
Are you using drugs or drinking alcohol more or less continuously now?
Do you think you have a drug problem? If you've answered "yes" to any of these questions, then it's quite likely that you're dependent on drugs or alcohol. Don't despair !, accepting this is the first step towards finding a solution.
It’s make your mind up time; it's up to you, no-
Do you want your life to carry on like this? Or . . .
. . . are you willing to change? Because that's what it takes.
Sounds scary doesn't it? Changing, leaving behind what's familiar. But if you really want to overcome your drug or alcohol problem, that's the only way. Let me explain why........
Just cutting down on you using or boozing doesn't work. Always, sooner or later, your consumption goes back up again. You may already have found out about this. Once you've lost control over your using, you can never get it back. If you want to get well, you need to stop using
That's the first major change you can achieve.
It's fairly easy to stop taking drugs (including alcohol) for a while, the difficult bit is staying stopped.
If you want to stay well;
You need to ask for help -
That's the second major change you can achieve.
You can do this if you want to. You won't have to do it on your own.
The first thing to do is to stop using drugs or alcohol. How can someone do that?
The most important thing is to take action now. Don't just leave it for another day, or nothing will happen, just like all the other times when vague promises didn't work.
Even if you feel that you only have the beginnings of a drug problem, ACT NOW!
Because it gets worse. It will get worse unless you take action.
Coming off drugs is not too difficult. For the most part you'll only feel a sort of mental confusion for a few days. There are a few exceptions to this. If you've been using alcohol, barbiturates or tranquillizers regularly, it's best if you stop taking them under medical supervision. Go and see a doctor. The physical withdrawal from these drugs can be dangerous.
You'll probably get cravings for your drug(s) for a while. This is normal. These feelings will pass, so don't act on them. Put it off. Say to yourself "I won't use now, but I might tomorrow, or in two hours, or in 10 minutes”. You can live for 10 minutes, 2 hours or one day without drugs. Then you can do it again!
Now, I hope you'll remember this, it's important if you want to stop using drugs:
You can't do it on your own
You'll need help and support. Here's where to find it . . .
There's a lot of people who care about you You. They'll support you if you ASK FOR HELP.
For some drug users, family or friends can provide support while the user is learning to live without drugs. For others this may not be appropriate and they'll need to seek help elsewhere.
There are drug programmes and other organisations that deal with drug and alcohol abuse in most towns. They often have staff or volunteers who used to be dependent on drugs. GO SEE THEM!
What have you got to loose by going along? Nothing, except misery, loneliness, despair . . .
Then there are fellowships like Narcotics Anonymous (NA) and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). These are loose organisations of people who used to have problems with drugs or alcohol and who meet regularly to help each other stay clean. There should be a local meeting near you (look in the phone book).
GET ALONG TO IT! You'll find some good friends there.
In my experience it's very difficult for anyone who has a problem with drugs to get clean and stay clean on his or her own. When a problem comes along, it's so easy for that person to pick up a drug or a drink again. That's when you need support, encouragement, someone to talk to . . . to share your problems with.
Telephone to make an appointment with an experienced counsellor. Start to deal with the real issues. A counsellor will not shame or judge you. Most people who undertake therapeutic work make the neccessary changes in their lives to enjoy living to their fullest potential.
So, if you think you have a drug problem, here's what I advise you to do:
1 Give yourself a reality check. Look honestly at your using behaviour, you can use the questions above. Ask other people how they feel about your using. LISTEN to what they say.
Then, if you accept that you're dependent on drugs or alcohol -
2 Stop using -
3 Get all the support you can find. Ask for help, even when you're scared of rejection, ask for help. This is a big part of opening up and letting something else into your life apart from drugs.
4 Start to learn healthy life skills. Things like how to deal with conflict . . . with painful feelings . . . with relationships. This you can learn with an experienced counsellor.
I can only give you a few tips here But if you follow them, you can begin to overcome
your drug problem. I recommend using the support and experience that can be found
with a counsellor, or in self-
While this includes the use of substances like heroin, cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy
etc. it's important to remember that it also includes the abuse of prescription drugs
like tranquillisers, sleeping pills and suchlike -
Drug abuse means the voluntary abuse of drugs ( i.e. where people choose to do so )
Drug dependence is a bit further down the line and involves compulsive abuse of drugs ( i.e. where people are driven to abuse them by various internal compulsions).
A danger with so-
How Can This Happen?
If an individual abuses drugs to feel better or as a way of coping with problems, then there's a good chance that he or she will never learn the life skills necessary for feeling good naturally, or coping with difficult situations. Instead, he or she may always choose to avoid uncomfortable feelings or situations simply by getting drunk or stoned etc.
Here's a Make-
A schoolboy fails an exam. He feels bad and smokes some cannabis to avoid his feelings of shame and disappointment. He begins to do this regularly when he feels down.
He gets older. He loses his job. He's very angry, but the old level of drug abuse no longer numbs his emotions. So he gets drunk. This becomes his new painkiller.
He gets older still. A member of his immediate family dies. He's grieving. The old ways of killing his pain are not enough. He needs more. He begins to take heroin every day.
We can substitute alcohol or other drugs anywhere in here -
He has never learned any other way of dealing with uncomfortable feelings
So what's the problem with abusing drugs, as an emotional painkiller or whatever?
Some of the risks -
Risk to personal safety -
Damage to health -
Legal consequences -
Loss of control -
On this page:
Why do people become dependant on drugs?
What's the difference between hard and soft drugs?
Positive steps towards solving a drug or alcohol problem
Why do some people abuse drugs?
