What Is Drug Addiction?

If you or a loved one feel you may be struggling with drug addiction, this article is for you.

Understanding Addiction

Addiction is officially defined as a chronic disorder marked by compulsive drug seeking, continued use despite harmful effects, and lasting changes in the brain. However, addiction can often be more subtle and affect you in less obvious ways.

Addiction Is Subjective

No one can tell you if you have a problem; only you can answer that based on your feelings and experiences. A simple way to assess whether you might be facing addiction is to consider unmanageability.

Unmanageability

Substance use varies from person . For example, one person may enjoy a glass of wine nightly without issues, while another may drink only once a month but black out and damage relationships. 

Ask yourself: Are areas of my life becoming chaotic or unmanageable because of my drug use?

Powerlessness

Unmanageable behaviour stems from a sense of powerlessness. This means you feel unable to stop yourself from using substances, even when you don’t want to. For example, someone may intend to have just one drink with friends but end up using drugs all night. Another might take a sleeping pill every night despite not needing to, or wanting to.

Ask yourself: Do I behave in ways I don’t want to when around certain substances?

Loss of Self

The true cost of addiction is loss of self-worth, because you constantly break promises to yourself.

Ask yourself: How much is my drug use preventing me from living the life I want?

If the answer is concerning, it may be time to seek help.

Recovery

There are many ways to find recovery. You can contact a local twelve-step group or a treatment facility near you. A good starting point is my book ‘Addict’, published by Penguin Random House, where I share my journey through addiction from the age of 12 to 25, told from the perspective of 20 years of sobriety. 

Further Reading: Understanding Addiction