The Complexities of Addiction

What is Addiction?

Though this idea is far from novel, perfection is unattainable. Everyone has been exposed to this sentiment, and yet mistakes are still looked unfavorably on by so many. There are several cliches predicated on the idea of accepting mistakes. Whether it is failure is not falling down, but staying down, the only mistake in life is the lesson not learned, or any other superficial statement that is plastered on the walls of classrooms to “foster a more accepting learning environment”, it is all seemingly forgotten in the real world. We are taught that making mistakes is okay, and yet for so many, society denies people the ability to learn from their errors and stop the mistake from defining them. This idea is perfectly characterized in the way addiction is treated in America. When you think of an addiction or an addict the first thing that comes to everyone’s mind is drugs. This is justified of course, as drugs are extremely addictive and detrimental, but addiction is transcendent of just straightforward substance abuse. Addiction, in simple terms, is a disease that compels someone to partake in some activity, often to stimulate their mind with a reward. True addiction is when that person begins to choose to partake in that activity despite the clear detrimental effects. In the case of using drugs, these strong chemicals are able to elicit a reaction in the brain that causes an effect. Whatever the effect is, the brain starts to crave it, and eventually, an addiction is formed. This is a very straightforward way of explaining the formation, however, there are other ways an addict can be created. A common misconception is this idea that you can be addicted to dopamine, a chemical in the brain that causes a positive sensation throughout the body. This is not exactly true, however, dopamine does play a part. Dopamine itself is not addictive, but it motivates the brain to continue the participation of whatever act released dopamine. When a dopamine rush is induced, the first thing the mind does is keep track of what caused it. Eventually, the brain will seek this same feeling continually, and you can become addicted to whichever activity released this dopamine. Addiction can happen to anyone and to anything. It is easy to fall down this cycle and eventually, the user cannot overcome it alone. What makes addiction so hard to overcome is the withdrawals that take place when a person is no longer exposed to what is driving their compulsion. The idea that withdrawals can be cast aside through a strong will is simply not true. Depression, Anxiety, Chills, and often other symptoms that may even need professional help to overcome are constant in the absence of whatever is driving their cravings. The person has built a dependence and needs outside help to have a chance of overcoming their addiction. The problems that are currently restricting the number of people who can get the help they need, however, is one that is hard to combat. 

The Stigma of Addiction

Addiction, like many other things including religion, gender, or mental health, all suffer from the effects of stigma. In this case, the false pretense that addiction is not a mental illness, but a product of a lack of strong character. This is counterproductive, as it makes people too ashamed of seeking substantive treatment. Perpetuating this stigma not only influences society to look down upon those who suffer from mental illness but influences the court systems, further limiting people from getting the help they need. Additionally, there is also stigma coming from the other side of the issue. Healthcare workers often are quick to turn away intoxicated people because they believe that they are only seeking drugs and refuse to treat them. This in turn makes someone ashamed, as the people who are supposed to help them reject them. Essentially, both of these stigmas are restricting progress being made on addiction, all while making the people who suffer from it feel ashamed of their problem. That cycle is why it is necessary to start taking action towards the stigma itself, as it could revitalize the progress being made currently. Another example of stigma being a detriment to those suffering from addiction is the stigma around recovered addicts. Due to over-policing and the negative light of being an ex-convict, those whose lives were once ruled by addiction but overcame it, are only met with more challenges. It is incredibly hard for these people to find jobs and become contributing members of society and that’s a problem with both stigma from employers and shortcomings of the incarceration system. This means that after struggling to recover from addiction, a former addict may be forced into a life of crime or low economic standing because of something that no longer is a part of them.  So, how would someone go about reducing the stigma around addiction? Like many things, spreading awareness and erasing people’s misjudged beliefs is the most efficient and permanent. If people understand the realities of addiction, not only will people be more inviting of getting those people to help, but the legal system would be spurred into a change that maximizes the number of people receiving aid. Overcoming stigma may not seem to be as important as finding new treatments and more research into addiction. However, the truth is, the only way to develop new techniques is to garner as much support as possible so that it becomes a priority, and funding increases.

Which Communities are affected at a higher rate?

Lower-income communities are affected by addiction at a significantly higher rate and this makes sense for several reasons. Firstly, addiction rates are twice as high among those who are unemployed. This could likely be from addiction impeding a person from attending to their responsibilities, ending in termination. Even more so, Furthermore, the pressures of being unemployed will also drive dependence on a vice to cope. This cycle means that an addiction that was started, prevents someone from getting a job, which then results in the addiction worsening. It is so important to understand individuals who are at high risk for addiction so that resources can be designated in the most efficient way. Additionally, the financial toll associated with addiction also impacts those of the low-income community disproportionately. For example, someone addicted to alcohol or nicotine will start taking away money from other long-term and beneficial assets, reallocating back to whatever fuels their addiction. This can include necessities like food or rent. In certain cases like addictions to gambling and more expensive illegal drugs, addiction can cost a large majority of someone’s income and savings. Due to addiction’s increased impact on lower-income communities, it is important that if efforts are made, it should be prioritized there. The problem that is also severely limiting the help that needs to go towards addiction is the fact that it is strong over-policing in poorer communities, especially in those of color. Due to our legal system unfairly punishing addiction, poorer communities suffer the most from the shame from addiction and not being able to get the help they need to better their own lives. The legal and incarceration system does not take the necessary adjustments and treat addiction with the care it requires. It is not a symptom of bad character, but a problem that can be cured through the proper treatment. Locking these addicts up with other truly immoral people demonizes addiction and promotes the mistreatment of mental illness. These are things that contribute to stigma and until activists begin to strive for tangible change within the policing system and incarceration system, it will continue to get worse. The question then persists, how can someone work to end the over-policing of underprivileged and minority communities. FIrstly,  fight for funding to be allocated towards mental health services, as the current training program of police officers emphasize fighting through conflict as opposed to taking it down. This would mean that instead of dehumanizing addicts struggling with a problem, people who feel accepted are more open to seeking professional treatment. Additionally, another thing that can be done on the policing side is finding police officers who operate within the community they are from. This creates more cohesiveness among a community and means that the people enforcing the rules are more understanding and considerate of what needs to be done. Finally, the hardest aspect to change would be the incarceration system, as it would require large-scale massive policy change that stops rewarding private prisons for housing more inmates. An economic incentive destroys the prison’s intent of creating a rehabilitation center to realign immoral people and makes it a vicious cycle that is impossible to get out of and recover from. There are several ways to get involved, as even forms of spreading awareness bring light to these issues. However, focusing our efforts on the direct cause is the most efficient way of bringing real change towards addiction, potentially saving so many of the people who suffer today.

How has Quarantine Affected Addiction?

Reasonable thought would conclude a quarantined lifestyle, with limited exposure to people and the outside world, would be tortured for those suffering from addiction. Long periods of solitude and monotony create restlessness and boredom, slowly building so that former addictions were their only reprieve. Due to the financial impacts of addiction, addicts who now face widespread losses of sources of income, are more likely to contract and spread Covid-19. Furthermore, quarantine has severe effects on mental health. Quarantining and any form of solitude have recorded effects including the deterioration of mental health. For those already suffering from preexisting mental health issues, including addiction, they now have to tolerate an increased load on their minds, descending them into their destitution. Being alone, away from many of the relief means like therapy and Alcoholics Anonymous throws addicts out of their recovery journey. Those who were sticking to their routine and working through addiction day by day are now forced to adapt to an already difficult situation. Essentially, quarantine has created several new people who now struggle with addiction by not only disrupting the lives of former addicts but spurs mental illnesses which drive them towards coping mechanisms and ultimately dependence. It also discouraged addicts from getting professional treatment as fear was continually spread about concerns regarding the virus. More than anything, it is paramount that there is attention brought to this. Though life is on its way back to normalcy, there are still several restrictions in place that are severely limiting those suffering from addiction. It is required that addiction is included in the current push for mental health advocacy, as it is a mental illness that so many can relate to. Without the appropriate resources and information spread, the effects of quarantine will continue to grow. Moving past only advocacy, you can of course contact legislators and push for treatment to get more funding and become more pervasive. Addiction is something people can overcome if given the proper facilities and it is important those who can make a difference regard addiction appropriately. Quarantine is difficult for everyone and will continue to be something that everyone has to get used to, but it is important to consider that not everyone’s fight with social distancing is the same. There has to be more done regarding how addiction is treated and it is best accomplished by spreading the word.