What is Addiction?

laurabell (57)in #addiction • 6 years ago

Before writing a series of essays elaborating why all plants should remain (or become) legal — I first need to address the elephant in the room. Certain drugs and/or plants can be addictive. They can be addictive either mentally and/or physically. This is true. However, I want to separate the addict from the addictive qualities of the drugs themselves. There is an underlying psychological mechanism of addiction that lies at the heart of “a drug problem”. Addiction is not the about the addictive qualities of the drugs themselves — if this was the case, every individual who ever tried alcohol would become an alcoholic. If we want to help addicts, we first must understand and define addiction. We must look at the root cause of addiction and not the symptoms (drug use).

[This is when I brought a friend of mine to the airport. She was headed to rehab.]

In its purest form, addiction is escapism to the utmost degree. A person in the grips of addiction cannot bare to live life on life’s term — meaning, an addict cannot accept the cards that life has given them in the past and they live in continual fear of what the future holds. Every addict has dealt with immense amounts of suffering, even though not every trauma survivor is an addict. Simply, an addict is a person who has faced injustice – major or minor. And when given the choice to heal, to adjust or change, to overcome and blossom; the person who is inside active addiction chooses to hide from the pain it takes to bloom. When to choice comes to stay suck or grow; the addict chooses to stay stuck.

Why? Because, in the short-term it feels better, it feels safer. The addict has already been through emotional trauma, and to change takes courage to work thorough these emotions. And to sit and feel those feelings that have been buried for years, or decades — is scary. So they hide, and escape these feelings that are bubbling and brewing. They escape with whatever means necessary, and the most common form is drug abuse. Inside their body, they feel like they are going to die if they choose to feel these feelings, or face reality. The addict uses drugs to survive these feelings. Right, or wrong — addiction is a mechanism of survival. Drugs are only used as a means to survive, and to forget. Drugs are only a symptom of addiction, the root cause is trauma and the inability to cope with one’s emotions.

Trauma can be simple, or complex. It can be as difficult as sexual abuse, the death of a parent, the loss of a home or country. A child can experience trauma by being neglected, or ignored as a child; even if they are given all the material possessions they desire. Trauma can be hidden or obvious. All the addiction does is create better, more pleasant emotions. Addiction fills a hole that trauma created.

Drugs can be many things, most addicts have their “drug of choice”, or a substance that allows them to feel control over their emotions and over their life. To some this could be Meth, Cocaine, Adderall — the highs make them feel powerful, and unstoppable. To others, Heroin and/or Alcohol put them in the perfect zen, and allows them to finally feel at ease inside their skin. It doesn’t matter what the drug is, all that matters is how that substances makes the addict feel. But addiction doesn’t even have to be a pill, an illegal plant, or a drink. Escapism can be enjoyed through video-games, food (binge eating, or restriction) and even something as benign as exercise. But would you recommend banning video games, food or exercise?

[A few years ago, I visited my old treatment center. This was my room for well over a year. I was in a treatment center for young girls for nearly five years.]

Addiction is not about the substance. Addiction is about trauma and the inability for the person to cope with said experiences — so they look for an escape. Addiction is escapism. Drugs are only a symptom. Banning drugs do not help addicts, it only turns them into criminals and creates more trauma. Treating addiction is rewiring the brain. It is giving better coping tools to addicts. Giving addicts a place to speak about their feelings in a safe place and replacing the isolation with community heals addiction. The war on drugs has not eliminated drug abuse. We need a different solution. Healing starts with helping trauma survivors cope in more effective manners. Or, allowing them to self-medicate in peace.

The sad truth is: only the addict can choose to begin growing again. And sometimes they choose not to, and that is a sad reality. Addiction, left untreated — can lead to death. I ask you earnestly, have you ever first hand seen the suffering of an addict inside active addiction? I have. One night I prayed for her. I called upon the universe. I asked for her safety in active addictions, the streets are not friendly to such a beautiful woman. I asked to the universe to guide her to peace — peace in recovery. Or, peace in death. The life of an addict is not easy. Let’s not make it worse by continuing the war on drugs. These people don’t need jail cells, they need love and healing.

There is also a parallel truth – not all escapism is bad, or is addiction. Escaping can be positive, and relaxing – it can be a well needed break. And not all “drug use” is escapism. Plants can be used as medicine. Just because someone struggled with drug abuse, does not mean they are an addict. The world is not black and white. Thinking of addiction in terms of a black and white issue – AKA if the person stops using drugs, all their problems will go away – will not solve any problems. Plants can be used as medicine. Plants can be used as drugs. Plants can be used for positive recreational use. Plants can be an addicts drug of choice – the same plant can be a person’s medicine.

This article is only explaining true addiction, and addiction is ONLY self-diagnosed. An addictive personality is not the same thing as addiction. Depression or mental illness is not the same thing as addiction. There can be overlaps, but this topic is not black and white. Banning drugs because it is “addictive” is missing the point of what addiction actually is.

Bottom line: Addiction is not about the drug, or availability of a certain drug. Banning plants does not stop addiction. Treat addicts with love, compassion and community – not with a jail sentence. Plant medicine is real – and plant medicine can treat addiction (psilocybin mushrooms and ayahuasca).

[This was my entire treatment center. I obviously blocked out faces of all the pictures for anonymity purposes. Being in treatment centers really solidified why I want to help change the system of health care. I lived in treatment centers from the time I was 16 till I left my last group home when I was 20. This is why I do what I do. The system needs to change.]

For those of you who need it broken down even farther.