Understanding Addiction

 

Labeling all people using substance as addicts can be counter productive, as it takes the attention away from those who need help the most.

Addiction is a chronic condition that is difficult to diagnose and treat. While the signs can be clear, diagnosis first relies on the person with an addiction or people close to them acknowledging and wanting to address the problem.

The first step in diagnosis relies on a friend, family member, or the person with addiction themselves acknowledging a need for treatment.

This can often be the most difficult step and might sometimes involve a personal or group intervention if an individual with substance use disorder is not aware of the extent of the problem.

So to make this process objective, criterias are set to help diagnosing substance dependance or addiction. Any 3 of the 6 criterias set out, if present over the last one year, helps confirm the diagnosis.

We will begin by looking at 2 of these initially.

a. A strong desire or sense of compulsion to take the substance;

b. Difficulties in controlling substance-taking behaviour in terms of its onset, termination, or levels of use.

Do watch this space for the remaining criteria used to determine problematic use of substance.