Addictions

It seems like addictions have been on my mind a lot lately, so I decided that if I wrote about it, some of it might make sense and help me to move on.

Wikipedia defines addiction thusly:

Addiction is a state in which the body relies on a substance for normal functioning. When this substance is removed, it can cause withdrawal. It [the term "addiction"] was first used in 1906, in reference to opium (there is an isolated instance from 1779, with ref. to tobacco). The first use of the adjective addict (with the meaning of "delivered, devoted") was in 1529 and comes from Latin addictus, pp. of addicere ("deliver, yield, devote," from ad-, "to" + dicere, "say, declare").

Addiction is a term used to describe a devotion, attachment, dedication, inclination, etc. Nowadays, however, the term addiction is used to describe a recurring compulsion by an individual to engage in some specific activity, despite harmful consequences to the individual's health, mental state or social life. The term is often reserved for drug addictions but it is sometimes applied to other compulsions, such as problem gambling, and compulsive overeating. Factors that have been suggested as causes of addiction include genetic, biological/pharmacological and social factors.

Probably the greatest work ever done on addictions has been through Alcoholics Anonymous. I don't think anyone has ever improved on their work, and I don't hope to do so. I think the only way this organization fails is in their name: if they had called it Addictions Anonymous, it might have better served the sick society that needs them so badly. Of course, when Bill W. started AA, he was trying to overcome an alcohol addiction, and I'm sure he did not know at the time that all addictions have similar characteristics.

Shockingly, we live in a society saturated with addictions: drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling, caffeine, nicotine, and unhealthy foods. Some have even suggested that television and video games have addictive qualities (the Plug-In Drug). Some people get obsessed with spending money to the point that debt is unavoidable and cannot be overcome.

I often wonder where this behavior began. There are stories in the old testament indicating addictive substances caused errant behavior, so apparently it has been around a long time. I wonder if addictive substances aren't part of the adversary's plan of destruction.

One of the primary components of addiction is denial that there is an addiction. This is certainly true of food. Someone told me the other day that she didn't think her food addiction was as bad as alcoholism as it didn't hurt anyone the way that alcohol abuse does. I don't agree with this. In my long lifetime of having food addictions and living with others who do, I think food addicts are every bit as destructive of themselves and others as alcoholics and drug addicts. I was going to say that perhaps the harder stuff does the job faster, but I think food addiction is more destructive in a subtle way. The end result is still the same: death (both spiritual and physical), but it is a more lingering and painful death. It usually begins killing us when we are children and drags it out until our bodies can no longer deal with the abuse, usually when we are older, but we are seeing more and more examples of humans who are being taken at a younger age.

I think the most amazing thing about any addiction is how much we lie to ourselves while consumed with the drugs of choice. First we do not believe we are addicted in any way even though we may admit we have a "little" problem controlling the substance. Secondly, we think we can stop it at any time. Thirdly, we don't think we are affecting others with our behavior. We don't think others know what we are doing; we are often secretive. We go to great extremes to be sure others don't know what we are doing.

The other thing that is amazing to me is how we continue to destroy ourselves even after we have the information at our disposal that we are killing ourselves. Even though the effects of our drug of choice are more and more unpleasant, we continue to use them. The few times we get on the wagon, we talk of how good we feel, yet fall off the wagon when the addiction rears its ugly head the next time.

What is the solution? Bill W. said it best. Many years ago I went through the AA program, and I know it works, but like everything else, one must stay on top of it. Here are the 12 steps of their program. I have reworded them to apply to all addictions.

The Twelve Steps of Addictions Anonymous

http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/en_services_for_members.cfm?PageID=98&SubPage=117

1. We admit we are powerless over our addiction—that our lives have become unmanageable.

2. Come to believe that a Power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity.

3. Make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understand Him.

4. Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

5. Admit to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

6. Are entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

7. Humbly ask Him to remove our shortcomings.

8. Make a list of all persons we have harmed, and become willing to make amends to them all.

9. Make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10. Continue to take personal inventory and when we are wrong promptly admit it.

11. Seek through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understand Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we try to carry this message to other addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

I think the saddest thing is that most people do not recognize that these steps can help them. They do not see that their disease is serious enough for these steps. Even other addicts do not see it. I used to attend AA and NA meetings, and when the members found out I was there for food addictions, they thought it was ridiculous. Of course, they thought, their disease was much more serious and of greater consequence than mine. It is easy to think that it is, and that is part of the lie.

It is pride that holds us back from recognizing it for what it is.

I am grateful for the journey that I am on. Although painful at times, I feel as though I am progressing towards my eternal goals.