Basics of Addiction - a Treatable Disease

General Information about Chemical Dependency

Primary Illness
There may be associated problems (ie: medical complaints, depression etc.) but until the chemical dependency is addressed, the other problems cannot be effectively resolved.

Progressive Illness

The illness will with time become worse. Almost all chemically dependent person’s exercise some measure of control over their addictive use until the day they die.

Chronic Illness

There is no know cure for chemical dependency. Numerous treatment strategies have attempted to identify a model to teach alcoholics to drink socially (never heroin addicts to shoot heroin socially). To date, no methodology has been able to clinically prove long term success.

Fatal Illness

Chemical dependency is thought to be the third most deadly illness. It is a contributor to illnesses such as cirrhosis of the liver; heart disease; liver cancer; automobile accidents; and domestic violence.

Phases of Use:

Experimentation
Social/recreational use
Abuse
Dependency