Adult Education 6 hours

Introduction to Addiction : 

Introduction to Addiction 4 2 hour segments

Definitions: 

Definitions Continued use of a person, activity or substance Despite negative consequences in one or more areas of life In order to escape from emotional or physical pain

3 stages of addiction: 

3 stages of addiction Preoccupation/anticipation Binge/intoxication Withdrawal/negative affect

Characteristics of dependence: 

Characteristics of dependence Tolerance Withdrawal symptoms Uncomfortable physical or mental changes occurring when a person is deprived of something. Use in larger amounts or for longer periods than intended Persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control use Excessive time is spent obtaining it or recovering from effects Social, occupational and recreational pursuits are given up or reduced because of use Use is continued despite knowledge of harm (physical or psychological)

More Characteristics: 

More Characteristics Preoccupation Chasing: After losing money gambling, the person often returns another day to get even ("chasing" one's losses) Lying to conceal the extent of involvement with gambling Illegal Activity Risked Relationships Bailout

Drugs: 

Drugs Tolerance Used more than intended Unsuccessful efforts to control or stop Excessive time spent preoccupied with, engaging in or recovering from it Withdrawal Social, occupational and recreational pursuits are given up or reduced because of use Use is continued despite knowledge of harm (physical or psychological)

People: 

People Tolerance Can deal with more abuse Withdrawal symptoms Uncomfortable physical or mental changes occurring when a person is afraid of losing the relationship Persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control use Repeated promises to leave or stop “stalking” Excessive time is spent in the relationship or recovering from effects Social, occupational and recreational pursuits are given up or reduced because of this person Relationships is continued despite knowledge of harm (physical or psychological)

Activity (Gambling): 

Activity (Gambling) Tolerance Need more money/bigger win/bigger risk to get the same high Withdrawal symptoms Uncomfortable physical or mental changes occurring when a person is unable to gamble Persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control time and money spent gambling Excessive time is spent gambling or recovering from effects (up too late, lost too much money, emotionally drained) Social, occupational and recreational pursuits are given up or reduced because of gambling Gambling is continued despite knowledge of harm (physical or psychological)

Activity (Food): 

Activity (Food) Tolerance Ability to eat, purge or starve more than before Withdrawal symptoms Uncomfortable physical or mental changes occurring when a person is unable to eat, purge or starve to self-soothe Persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control use Excessive time eating, planning eating, getting food, recovering from binging or purging or simply ruminating about food Social, occupational and recreational pursuits are given up or reduced because of this Eating behaviors are continued despite knowledge of harm (physical or psychological)

Activity (Sales): 

Activity (Sales) Tolerance Need to sell more, have more control and power, have more followers Withdrawal symptoms Uncomfortable physical or mental changes occurring when a person is unable to be the top dog Persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control selling Excessive time spent getting product, selling product, maintaining control of the market (Pro)Social, occupational and recreational pursuits are given up or reduced because of this Behaviors are continued despite knowledge of harm (physical, legal)

Addictions Fill a Need: 

Addictions Fill a Need Drugs Numb, Euphoria, Relax, Include People Comfort, Belonging, Validation Gambling Tension/Release, Activity, Promises Solutions, Control Food Comfort, Activity, Control, Sales Belonging, Control, Power, Validation, Rush/Euphoria

Clean vs. Sober: 

Clean vs. Sober Clean means you are no longer using dysfunctional addictive behaviors to meet needs Sober means that not only are you not using, but also you have developed healthy ways to meet your needs

Interventions: 

Interventions Complete the decisional balance exercise. The red boxes are reasons that support you stopping use. The blue boxes are all the reasons you do not want to stop. Until you address these, you are in danger of relapse. Continue Using Stop Using Benefits What are the benefits to continuing to use? What are the benefits to stopping use? Drawbacks What are the drawbacks to continuing to use? What are the drawbacks to stopping use?

Interventions cont…: 

Interventions cont… Now evaluate your reasons AGAINST recovery (the blue boxes). Develop ways to meet those same needs without using. Example: Drawback to stopping use…All my friends use and it helps me relax. Alternative: Identify activities you can do with friends that do not involve use. Evaluate your relationships to identify if your friendships are healthy. If not, find new friends who are clean and sober. Alternative: Identify what makes you tense and/or stressed and develop other methods or skills to help you relax.

Interventions cont…: 

Interventions cont… Social Support Anger Management Stress Management Relaxation Time Meaningful Activities Cognitive Behavioral Interventions to address irrational thinking patterns.

Addiction Substitution: 

Addiction Substitution Drugs Behaviors (Gambling, Sales, Chaos) People

Summary: 

Summary Addictions come in many forms They fill a need Biological Safety Belonging Self-Esteem/Validation Recovery means not only stopping the addiction, but also developing healthier behaviors