Addiction Alternatives: Counselling & Treatment Services

Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT IS "ADDICTION" OR SUBSTANCE DEPENDENCE?

Using mood altering substances is a matter of degree or severity. Addiction unfolds along a continuum. At one end, a person’s occasional drink, for example, is not a problem at all. At the other end, his or her use of alcohol has become extremely serious, perhaps even life threatening. Dependence results when an individual is preoccupied with using alcohol or drugs and continues the behaviour compulsively despite ever increasing negative consequences to life, health and self-esteem.

IS PROBLEM DRINKING OR ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE CAUSED BY A GENETIC PREDISPOSITION?

There are a multitude of factors that influence an individual’s use of alcohol, one of which may be a genetic vulnerability. This alone, however, does not account for the development of problem drinking or dependence. Social and psychological factors play a role as do past learning experiences. An individual’s personal characteristics- those qualities that make you the person you are - interact with the people, events and day to day stresses of your environment. Perhaps at one time drinking helped you cope when you seemed to lack other resources. Perhaps a drink or two made you feel strong, confident. Perhaps alcohol eased pain, made you feel less shy or anxious, helped you feel more socially competent, more intelligent or less lonely. Think of alcohol abuse or dependence as an overly-relied upon response that once seemed to help you through many of life’s difficulties. Now it has become another, seemingly insurmountable problem.

Alcohol abuse or dependence can develop in anyone yielding a differing array and degree of consequences.

IS EVERY PROBLEM WITH ALCOHOL PROGRESSIVE?

Research indicates that only a small number of those with drinking problems will experience a progressive decline. An individual’s drinking pattern frequently ebbs & flows over time. While “not drinking” may seem an unpleasant choice to someone who is currently a frequent and heavy drinker, research clearly indicates that even those labeled “alcoholic” have periods of normal drinking or even abstinence under the right conditions - if they so choose. It is also important to note that people can have different sensitivities to substance effects. In other words, some individuals have higher highs or lower lows or both. This tends to feed into what appears to be an addictive cycle.
WHY DO PEOPLE CONTINUE TO DRINK AFTER THEY BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES?

Over time, a drinker comes to associate drinking with certain cues and anticipated rewards ---a clock signals quitting time at work, for instance. The individual responds to the cues by looking forward to a few drinks, perhaps at the bar with other drinking friends, perhaps alone in front of the television. Whether a person drinks to get over bad feelings or to enhance good ones or for other reasons, the rewards for drinking are realized much sooner than the negative consequences experienced later on. Making changes in any seriously ingrained habit can seem an overwhelming task. Perhaps the individual feels poorly equipped to attempt changes or is reluctant to relinquish the behaviour entirely. Consequently, the individual’s life becomes ruled by drinking cues and anticipations that he or she constantly gives in to and that continue to result in ever increasing negative consequences.
WHAT ABOUT OTHER DRUGS?

Excessive use of other drugs causes many long-term health and social consequences . As with alcohol, the positive effects occur much sooner than the negative consequences. It is this short-term reinforcement or reward that is thought to be the reason why people engage in drug- taking while ignoring or discounting the very serious consequences that might develop later on.
WHAT SHOULD WOMEN KNOW ABOUT SUBSTANCE USE/ABUSE?

Alcohol and other drugs affect women’s bodies in very specific ways.
Women develop problems related to alcohol use within a shorter period of time.
Women substance users are at increased risk for certain health concerns. For example, women smokers are more likely than men smokers to develop lung cancer.
Women who use alcohol and other drugs may experience problems related to their reproductive systems.
Substance use/abuse during pregnancy can result in miscarriage or serious harm to the developing fetus
Women are twice as likely as men to receive mood-altering prescriptions for “emotional” problems from their physicians.
Women are more likely than men to combine alcohol and prescription medications thus increasing their risk for negative health and social consequences.
40 to 80 per cent of women who enter treatment programs for alcohol and other drug problems report having experienced physical or sexual violence at some time in their lives.
Women are more likely than men to be victims of negative stereotyping and double standards.
WHAT SHOULD THE OLDER ADULT KNOW ABOUT SUBSTANCE USE/ABUSE?

Even small amounts of alcohol can worsen some health conditions such as diabetes, heart or blood pressure problems, liver or stomach conditions.
Older adults are usually more sensitive to the effects of mood altering substances.
Alcohol reduces alertness, co-ordination, judgment and reaction time increasing the risk of falls or accidents.
Older adults are prescribed tranquillizers and sleeping pills more readily than younger adults. Using alcohol in conjunction with these medications can be deadly.
Older adults are more likely to use prescribed and over-the-counter medications at the same time.
Older adults are affected by different life issues and stressors than younger people. These issues must be addressed during the counselling process.
WHY DO SOME PEOPLE HESITATE TO CONTACT A TREATMENT PROFESSIONAL?

Time Constraints – People often fear that seeking assistance will mean an extended time away from home in a treatment facility.
Confidentiality – People are concerned that reaching out for help will “advertise” their problems in public manner. Often they fear that a group setting will undermine their anonymity.
Treatment Goal – Many individuals are apprehensive about having a treatment goal imposed on them that they find initially unacceptable.
Treatment Labels – Many adults resist the stigma of having to accept or being labeled an “addict” or “alcoholic”.
Negative Stereotypes – Assumptions and generalizations are often made about older adults and women that result in a patronizing assessment of their personal experiences.
Double Standards – Women worry that others will judge them by a more exacting moral standard than their male counterparts.
Lack of Identification – People often feel alone with their difficulties. They are concerned that no one will understand or accept their unique problems and life experiences.
Fear of Judgment – Individuals who abuse alcohol and drugs are frequently racked by feelings of guilt and shame. Because they judge themselves so harshly, they fear others will do the same.

WHAT IF I’M JUST A HEAVY DRINKER OR DRUG USER AND NOT AN “ALCOHOLIC” OR “ADDICT”?

Here are some facts you might consider.

One in four people who seek help from a health or social service provider have problems related to their alcohol or drug use

Many problem users wait for years - five years or longer- before seeking help

As few as 10 per cent of people who have alcohol and drug problems get help.
As a group, heavy or problem users are more prevalent and have a higher proportion of painful consequences such as car accidents, traumatic injuries, lost jobs or diminished work productivity, legal and financial difficulties and family problems.

You do not need to be dependent on alcohol or drugs before seeking help. The earlier the intervention, the better the outcome.

MUST I HAVE AN “ABSTINENCE ONLY” TREATMENT GOAL?

Some individuals might be appropriate candidates for a goal that includes a moderate use of substances. For others, abstinence may well be the wisest course of action. Many factors must be taken into account before such a determination can be made. In every case, a comprehensive assessment is undertaken that evaluates substance use as well as many other aspects of an individual’s functioning, life experience and feelings of readiness to engage in a program of change. All of these factors must be considered before deciding on a treatment goal.
IS ADDRESSING MY SUBSTANCE ABUSE ENOUGH?

No, but it is an excellent start. It might be helpful if you begin to think of changes in your drinking or drug taking habits as the first steps in a new, lifelong process of personal growth. I’m not suggesting that it takes a lifetime to overcome addictive behaviours. I’m suggesting that you begin to think of yourself as a unique and wonderful work in progress that will take a lifetime to complete. One begins by making changes in troublesome behaviours, restoring a balanced approach to living life and expanding one’s horizons in many new and exciting directions. We are all, body, mind, spirit and emotion. We aspire to ongoing personal growth -- self-improvement or personal renewal -- if you will, in all areas of our being. Positive changes have a nurturing influence on our self-awareness, confidence and self-esteem. It becomes a self-generating process. Making changes in mood-altering substance use is the necessary first step.
WHAT ABOUT MY FAMILY MEMBERS?

Your family members and loved ones probably believe that once you have stopped abusing alcohol or drugs, all of their problems will be solved as well. Unfortunately, problems in the family and in other significant relationships do not magically resolve when the drinking or drug-taking situation improves. Just as addressing your substance-using behaviours is a first step toward building a confident, healthy and rewarding life for yourself, your family members must engage in a similar life process for themselves and for the family as a whole. If recovery is to last, new patterns of interaction must be developed that are flexible and respectful of every family member’s needs. In addition, family members and other loved ones will frequently need help in validating and making sense of their own thoughts, feelings, values and attitudes as the ever-changing situation they find themselves in continues to unfold.