Addiction

'He pulled me out of the mud and mire.
Set my feet upon the Rock.
Placed a new song on my lips.
Many are the things the Lord has done for me.
If I had 1000 years, it wouldn't be enough time to tell of them all.' Psalm 40:1-8

'Addiction' is a word that is appliccable to multiple and varying lifestyles. An addiction may be physical, behavioral, or psychological. It may be pervasive, or invasive. An addiction may be defined (basically) as a dependence upon someone, or something.

In medical terminology, addiction is defined as a state of being where a person develops a physical dependence upon a substance and may also present itself in the form of compulsive action; that is, a weakened resistance to someone or something.

An addictive influence will permeate a person's life to varying degrees and in varying stages. Some people become slaves to their addiction, while others will merely show some partiality to it. Addictions may be socially acceptable, such as: food, shopping, texting, emailing, exercising, reading, television viewing, coffee consumption and so on. However, they may also be morally and socially unacceptable, such as: drugs, alcoholism, pornography, compulsive gambling and shoplifting.

Addictions are non-polite and inconsiderate of their host. They will initially befriend a person, but once allowed a door into that person's life, they will use them, abuse them and finally, consume them. For the purpose of this webpage, we will be focusing a little on drug and alcohol addiction.

As you are reading these words, let me ask you a question... If you were to stand in front of a mirror right at this very moment, and very intently look at the person staring back at you, could you tell me who they used to be? Then could you tell me who they are now? Do you know them? Are they no recognizable to you?

Gambling Addiction

Harvard Medical School Division on Addictions estimated in 1997 there were 7.5 million American adult problem and pathological gamblers (5.3 million problem and 2.2 million pathological). Dr. Robert Hunter, a specialist in pathological gambling treatment, has estimated that 15 percent of gambling industry employees have a gambling problem. Studies have also found that adolescent gamblers are more likely than adults to develop problem and pathological gambling.

Gambling is both an impulsive and compulsive addiction. Once addicted, the need to win becomes the central focus of a person's life. In fact, once a person opens the door to a gambling addiction, other problems will inevitably enter. Stealing, overdrawing accounts, self-funding through the selling of important personal posessions and borrowing money that is already pre-allocated for financial repayments are all examples of this. In fact, in a survey of nearly 400 Gamblers Anonymous members, 57 percent admitted stealing to finance their gambling. Collectively they stole $30 million, for an average of $135,000 per individual.

When a person is addicted to gambling, an adrenalin rush resulting from the possibility of losing - or the thrill of winning - becomes the central focal point of a person's life. This can be likened to the rush of adrenalin (or insulin) a person receives from compulsive spending, over-eating or extreme exercise. If a person allows it to do so, gambling will aggresively take over their life.

If you are in the throws of a gambling addiction, please call the gambling helpline now, on: 1-800-522-4700.

Drug and Alcohol Addiction

Different drugs are more popular in certain regions than in others. Some age groups are also more likely to do certain drugs. The drugs most commonly abused within the U.S. include:

Alcohol and prescription drugs are also frequently abused by adults and teens alike.

How Quickly Can You Become Addicted to Drugs?

The amount of time it takes to become addicted to a drug depends on a number of different things including:

  • The drug you are taking
  • The frequency of use
  • The chemical makeup of your body

There is no telling how any one person will be affected by taking a drug. Some people will be much more sensitive to drug use than others. It doesn't matter who you are or what type of drug you are taking, drug abuse is a dangerous practice. With some drugs, an overdose can occur at any time.

Recognizing Your Addiction 

An addiction is not dissimilar to a growing tree. It may be towering, or tiny. Whatever the addiction and whatever the size, the tree will have a root-system. Addictive roots will grow into a person's life after seed is sown. Seed may be an action, thought, or feeling - but every single one of these seeds will be based on a lie (the lie may be faulty belief system/faulty behaviors/faulty feelings), no matter it's appearance or size. Once sown and grown a tree will begin to produce fruit.

Attempts at freeing a person (or yourself) from an addiction, may be successful when a person's will is totally engaged. If a person will not admit that they have a problem with addiction, then treatment will usually be ineffective. Ineffective treatment for addictions may be likened to chopping down a tree at the base of the trunk. In other words a person may be rid of most of their addictive symptoms, but because the root system of that addiction remains largely in tact, other smaller, or different addictions may sprout up in the place of the initial one. The Bible phrases it like this:

Matthew 7:16-18 (New Living Translation) 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit.

In order to recover from an addiction, the whole tree must be uprooted. In other words, the source of the addiction must be removed. How does one do this?  The answer  is: ask for help.

A person must be willing to open the door to truth. They will begin to know freedom when truth is revealed, as truth will open a person's eyes to the way things really are. This is life-changing stuff!! Once a person arrives at this place, it is important they position themselves to receive from people who will speak truth to them. This may mean disassociating themselves from negative influences and aligning themselves with positive influences. The Bible tells us, in Philippians 4:8:

'think about whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.'

The addict wishing for freedom from addiction should place themselves in a healthy position for change. It is always good to work with someone trusted to achieve goals that need to be obtained. A Christian environment (such as church, friends and Godly mentors), will provide some of the crucial support needed in pressing on towards a new direction in life. Medical intervention is also often needed. If this is the position you presently find yourself in, please visit one of the links below to connect with someone who can help.

It (more often than not) takes time to reverse the cyclic behaviors of drug and alcohol addiction - as with any other addiction for that matter. Even when a person befriends the truth, they may still need an intervention, or drug recovery therapy, as their physical body may still be addicted to their substance of choice - even if their mind is not. A person may need to go through the physical process of withdrawal (losing physical dependence upon their level of drug tolerance) and come clean. They may also need to find an activity to replace the addictive habit they initially had.

Some years ago, an older High School Math teacher of mine found that he was addicted to coffee, after visiting with his family doctor. He was so addicted in fact, that he could not walk anywhere (or be anywhere) without holding a coffee mug in his hand. When he finally admitted to his coffee addiction and truthfully set about dispelling the lies he had believed about his addiction, his mind was set free. However, he was still behaviorally/physically attached to the coffee.

To be set free from his coffee-related behaviors, my teacher became involved in sports and constantly arrived at varying locations whilst squeezing stress-balls in the palms of his hand. It was a process and took some time, but remaining committed to this process was what set him free in the end.

If you are struggling with an addiction, or if you are in need of some encouragement, please take a few moments to watch the following video:



Gambling Addiction

Gambling Addiction Helpline: 1-800-99-DETOX (1-800-993-3869)

Pornography Addiction

Covenant Eyes: An internet accountability program, fully endorsed by "Promise Keepers," "Focus on the Family" and "Christian Computing Magazine."

RSA Ministries: A 12-step sexual-addiction recovery program. Meets in person, or online through chat rooms and forums.

Substance and Alcohol Abuse

Addiction Helpline: 1-877-235-0400

Alcohol Drug Rehab Treatment Center: Support for family members wanting to help their loved ones recover from addiction.

Drug Abuse and Alcohol Hotline: 1-800-553-7160

Pacific Hills Helpline: 866.287.6745

Patrician Movement: Detox, counseling, CA, call for appointment. Ph: 210-532-3126

Teen Challenge: A Christ-centered program for drug and alcohol addiction.