Understanding & Treating Different Types of Addictions – Veda Rehabilitation & Wellness

Addictions have been conventionally associated with alcohol and other substances. Addictions are closely related to misuse of alcohol and substance disorders but they extend to other behaviors as well. Alcohol includes beer, wine, spirits, toddy, etc. Substances include cannabis (bhang, ganja, charas, etc.), hallucinogens, cocaine, opioids (heroin, raw opium, Doda, pharmaceutical opioids, etc.), stimulants including caffeine, sedatives, hypnotics, and tobacco. Extensive use of social media and spending hours on gaming, shopping, and gambling come under behavioral addictions. Behavioral addictions are mostly rewarding, so individuals might find it difficult to stop indulging in those behaviors.

Addictions are compulsively taking substances or doing an activity even though that hurts the individual. Addictions are chronic and have harmful consequences. So, addiction is a disorder that requires proper treatment.

Do you know, alcohol is the major psychoactive substance used in India? Nearly 15% of the population aged between 10 and 75 years consume. Converting these to absolute numbers, about 16 crore persons consume alcohol in India. Approximately 3.1 crore of the population in India use cannabis. According to the NAMS Task Force, 20-40% of college students are prone to internet addictions.

Behavioral addictions are less talked about, but they are prevalent, according to community-based surveys. 7.4% of college students indulged in gambling problems.

Maladaptive daydreaming is an under-researched topic but has been seen as a growing issue showing symptoms of behavioral addictions. People spend hours daydreaming, interfering with the daily routines of an individual. Imaginative dysfunction extends to excessive reading of books, online role-playing games, and watching films. Maladaptive daydreaming is related to obsessive-compulsive disorder, dissociative disorder, or disturbance of attention.

Internet gaming and viewing pornography are other types of behavioral addictions.
The common baseline behind both types of addictions is avoidance of physical and emotional pain, which is escapism.

Early signs of addictions: 

1. Substance use disorders (presence of 2-3 symptoms)

• Intake of larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended
• Persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control usage
• A great deal of time is spent on activities necessary to obtain alcohol, use alcohol, or recover from its effects
• Craving, or a strong desire or urge for substances
• Inability to function and complete daily routine
• Inability to stop even when the health is deteriorating
• Developing tolerance, now one needs more alcohol or dosages
• Urge to use alcohol or drugs on weekdays and weekends
• Using alcohol to deal with hangovers
• Having withdrawal symptoms when you try to give up on the usage. Withdrawal symptoms are sweating or pulse rate greater than 100 bpm, hand tremors, insomnia, nausea or vomiting, transient visual, tactile, or auditory hallucinations or illusions, psychomotor agitation, anxiety, and seizures.

2.  Behavioral addiction

• Inability to stop the activity and spending hours on the activity
• Inability to concentrate on work, studies, and daily routines
• Sleep disturbances
• Lack of control
• Using activities extensively as a coping mechanism
• The activity is more important than anything else and dominates thinking
• Experiencing activity gives a ‘high’ or ‘buzz’
• Withdrawal—experiencing unpleasant states when the activity is discontinued
• Relapse of the activity after some time
• Social withdrawal
• Deteriorating interpersonal relationships.

Long-term effects of addiction on an individual: 

• Addictions in the long term can cause cognitive dysfunctions and the development of major mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression.
• They can also cause psychosis and emotional instability.
• Relationships are broken and social withdrawal, which further leads to mental illness.
• Work and career hit the ground as the ability to function reduces. This leaves the individual with feelings of guilt and shame.
• Physical health is impacted. Addiction can interfere with sleep, food intake, and hygiene, which leads to nutritional deficiency and a weak immune system.
• Acute intoxication refers to disturbances in the level of consciousness, cognition, perception, affect, behavior, or other psychophysiological functions and responses after the consumption of alcohol and drugs.
• Inhalant drugs can cause damage to the peripheral nervous system.
• Opioids are known for overdoses and deaths.
• HIV infections and Hepatitis B are seen in sharing used injectables.
• Chronic use of alcohol can cause neurologic complications, hepatotoxicity, cardiovascular complications, and Korsakoff’s syndrome.

Wernicke-Korsakoff’s syndrome is mostly seen in people consuming alcohol. Consumption of alcohol interferes with the absorption of vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency, which leads to amnesia and an inability to create new memories.

Treatment

1. In case of complications, individuals and families must immediately reach a healthcare facility.
2. The treatment mainly involves prescribing medicines and psychotherapy. Medicines are prescribed for opioid and alcohol dependence. Veda provides the best addiction treatment in Delhi.
3. If you have tried to quit alcohol consumption and substance use, you know it can be overwhelming to deal with withdrawal symptoms alone. The process can be scary for individuals and families. Also, withdrawal symptoms require immediate medical care. The luxury rehabilitation center in Delhi provides you with the right resources to deal with the process and not be alone.
4. Medications reduce discomfort and help to reduce the cravings.
5. Regular therapy sessions enlighten and help you rebuild your life by developing a better coping mechanism. Different therapies help achieve the goal of deaddiction.
   1. Motivation enhancement therapy
   2. Dialectical behavior therapy
   3. Contingency management
   4. Cognitive behavior therapy, and
   5. Aversion therapy
6. Support groups commonly known as AA’s are proven to be effective in the recovery from addiction disorder.
7. There is a possibility of having an addiction with comorbidity; the best alcohol rehab in Delhi helps you manage all different aspects of being cared for by mental health professionals. It is important to deal with the comorbidities, as they usually contribute to developing an addiction disorder.
8. People use addictions as a way to escape reality, but the escape is transient. To fully deal with the issue, one has to work on dealing with painful reality, which can be done through different types of therapies provided by Veda, a luxury drug rehab in Delhi.
9. Prevent relapse by developing healthy coping mechanisms for distress tolerance. Studies have shown that relapse is possible if the person comes in contact with drugs and friends who use drugs. It is necessary to develop assertiveness and self-control to avoid relapse.

Family therapy helps to reduce differences among family members and build a support system for the individual dealing with addiction.