A drug addiction – which is also called a substance use disorder or chemical dependency – is a term that describes someone’s inability to control or moderate the use of substances.

Drugs affect both our brains and our behaviours and losing the ability to moderate the use of substances has, can and will, unfortunately, take more away from us than it gives back.

Across the globe, drug use is a growing concern. In America, for example, drug overdose deaths have more than tripled since 1990, and only 10 per cent of the population receive treatment for their addictions. In Europe, Spain has one of the highest substance abuse problems, with 35.5 per cent of people attending rehab for alcohol addiction, and 24.6 per cent for cocaine.

Substance use disorder, affects the brain and our behaviours. It is defined by an inability to control or moderate the use of a particular substance.

Initially, with many addictions, use of the substance can be classified as recreational. However with repeated use and chemical “rewards” in the form of pleasurable sensations, the mental obsession can be formidable.

Physically the body becomes reliant on the substance over time. Tolerance to the chemical can develop and the need to recreate that initial ‘high’ leads to an acceleration in use (both in terms of amount and frequency).

The speed at which a person descends into dependency depends on many factors, but no matter the substance, the consequences can be equally as damaging.

Alcoholism or Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is the most extreme form of alcohol abuse and is defined by an individual’s inability to control their drinking habits. The symptoms vary in accordance with the severity of the problem but it is proven to be primary, progressive, chronic and ultimately fatal.

Accepted by both the American Medical Association (AMA) and World Health Organisation (WHO) as a disease in the 1950’s, it is easily identifiable as the sufferer has a complete lack of control over their desire/need to consume alcohol. The sufferer’s relationship with alcohol can seem insane to others but to the individual it is a vital ‘coping mechanism’ without which they cannot function. This belief fuels the ‘denial’ that exists around Alcoholism. 

In understanding Alcoholism it is important to ask yourself the following questions:

Psychological Trauma or Post Traumatic Stress is best described as a “wound” or “internal pain” that can often be the result of a perceived threat to safety. 

The word perceived is important here as it highlights the fact that an event (e.g. a burglary) can be easily brushed off by some, whilst for others the very same event can have serious long term mental and emotional repercussions. 

At some point after the event, if the trauma survivor (e.g. the victim of burglary) feels in any similar way violated, this could act as a trigger, opening the floodgates to a wave of pain or distress from the past. It is how the person deals with this stress that could become an unhealthy compulsion.

Another example is that of a soldier. In a war zone they may learn to react to the sound of a loud bang or a helicopter flying overhead by immediately getting themselves and their unit to safety. This is a survival mechanism. 

In civilian life however, the sound of a firework or police helicopter nearby are not potential threats to safety. The midbrain does not differentiate, the soldier is immediately and involuntarily thrown into a trauma reaction. 

This apparent overreaction or “emotional flooding” to stimuli is exhibited by an extreme reaction, often due to a build up of small things. An indicator of unresolved trauma is when the emotional reaction is disproportionate to the event.