|
 Prescription and street narcotics addiction as well as
alcohol change the brain. In fact the alteration can become
so great that the addicted individual may not be able to
feel normal enjoyment of life without the "high" experience
of the drug or drink. For others the drug or drink may become
a necessity to even feel normal. Most of these addicts have a
biological propensity to become addicts, and some even become
addicted after their first drug or alcohol experience.
This was just some of the groundbreaking information presented
by Timothy Philpot at a health ministry conference in Philadelphia.
Registered participants included health professionals, clergy and
lay leaders from many different churches.
Philpot's presentation was entitled "The Hijacked Brain."
Philpot is executive director of the of a Pennsylvania alcohol
and drugs treatment center. "We are living in the first time in
history where addictions are now regarded as a biological disease,"
said Philpot. He said that this was important information because
with it one can realize why recovery may involve several relapses
before one can achieve sobriety.
Philpot then asked the audience what they felt were the
personality traits of an addict. The answers included compulsive,
dependent, in pain, manipulative, controlling, lonely, hopeless,
and depressed. Yet when he revealed that among the occupations
that may have addicts may include judges, lawyers, pastors and
other professionals, one could add to the personality traits
creative, motivated, and the like.
"Addiction is a disease," said Philpot. "It's a treatable brain disease."
He pointed out that just like physical diseases like hypertension, diabetes
or asthma have a biological, lifestyle and/or hereditary predisposition, so
does addictions. He said that our society is "more forgiving" of those who
get physical maladies because this is often viewed as not their fault. Yet
he countered this with the fact that the fact that "it's not their fault"
can also be applied to drug or alcohol addiction.
Why is it important to view addictions as disease?
"Because it reduces the stigma," said Philpot. While readily
admitting that drug addicts and alcoholics may resort to
criminal activity or lying to their loved ones to attain their
drugs adding to the stigma, when one sees it as a disease they
can more readily work towards helping the addict to recover.
"There are benefits to viewing addiction as a disease,"
said Philpot. "It decreases the shame. It makes it easier for
an individual to seek care. It makes it easier for the families
not keep it a secret. It allows for public advocacy for equal
treatment. It supports research to better understand and develop
more effective treatment approaches."
After Philpot's presentation, participants broke up into
small group to discuss healthy responses to addictive behaviors.
Among the questions that were explored were: In what ways does
addiction resemble a physical illness? What is recovery? How does
family contribute to the disease? They also touched on the video
footage with a physician with a drug-addicted patient, and their
reaction to the man who was ambivalent about giving up methamphetamines
even after he was shown footage of the damage it had done to his brain.
The second presentation at the day-long conference was
by Terry Lieb. He is the executive director of a family services agency.
He discussed "Other Addictions: Addictions as part of a
Personal Survival Plan." The "Survival Plan" focuses on
the fact that many people are controlled by dependencies
on smoking, eating disorders, gambling, pornography, and workaholism.
Lieb discussed how these addictive behaviors impact individuals
and their families.
He also pointed out that oftentimes addicts will trade one
addiction for another. Sometimes initially this may be a positive
first step. They may trade a harmful addition, to alcohol and drugs,
for another addiction like drinking coffee or overworking. Eventually
the latter can become detrimental, so they must undergo vigilant prayer,
shepherding and maybe therapy to overcome the underlying issue to
eventually become addiction-free, Lieb said.
to top of page
|
