9/18/24
In media, addiction is often portrayed in stereotypical ways, often showing a character who suffers from an addiction to alcohol or drugs. This creates an unfair standard—one that isn’t entirely true.
Addiction is so much more than just alcohol and drugs; it can be anything, no matter how small it may seem. It starts as a habit, something done under specific circumstances like stress. Bad habits can be a gateway into addiction. These habits begin with the belief that they will make a person feel better. Once the brain becomes accustomed to this, it begins to supply it as a reaction to anything negative that may happen, in an attempt to cheer a person up. This is known as bottom-up processing.
People with addictions may struggle with self-harm or people-pleasing behaviors, which can lead to dangerous situations that feel impossible to escape. The early signs of addiction are more noticeable when they involve substances that can cause medical emergencies, such as drugs and alcohol. However, many people don’t realize that every kind of addiction can be destructive. No matter what it is, a person will begin to lose their sense of self.
Addiction is a serious topic—one that isn’t discussed enough in modern society. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, over 96,000 people die from drug abuse alone each year, and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that more than 178,000 deaths occur as a result of alcoholism annually. That’s over 274,000 deaths each year caused by addiction, not including suicides and other accidents related to addictions such as self-harm. If more people don’t start talking about this issue, the end result may be catastrophic.
Addiction is characterised by a person’s inability to stop a repeated cycle of behaviours designed to give them pleasure despite their potential considerable negative consequences – image Shutterstock
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