Addictions are sub-conscious choice processes that compulsively drive an addict to repeat behavior in spite of the personal and societal consequences of that action. In his book Addiction and Grace, Gerald G. May states that he believes that addictions bond and enslave the energy of desire to certain behaviors, things, or people. These objects of attachment become preoccupations and obsessions that begin to rule the lives of the addict.
Addictions are sub-conscious choice processes that compulsively drive an addict to repeat behavior in spite of the personal and societal consequences of that action. In his book Addiction and Grace, Gerald G. May states that he believes that addictions bond and enslave the energy of desire to certain behaviors, things, or people. These objects of attachment become preoccupations and obsessions that begin to rule the lives of the addict. Attachments can be anything difficult to control or that causes serious problems in life. The same psychological, neurological, and spiritual processes that are responsible for addiction to alcohol or drugs are also responsible for addictions to ideas, work, relationships, power, and fantasies. What starts as an insignificant part of daily life, eventually begins to take over and drain time, money, energy, and other resources. The addict’s judgmental skills become impaired by the need for gratification from the particular addiction, which often results in participation in questionable activities that weakens self-perceptions and diminishes social skills. The diminished capacity for socialization eventually results in a weak systemic position, which is the position one holds in family and societal systems, both from self-perceived judgments and the judgment of society toward the deviant behavior of the addict. These systems are related to the principles of cause and effect, limits and consequences, privileges and responsibilities, and organization. In each organized system, we have a position with privileges and responsibilities. When we do not accept our limits and respect the limits of others, we often must suffer the consequences of our words and actions. We cannot be healed from our addictions and their consequences until we perceive a connection from the cause of our behavior to its negative effects on us and our loved ones.
Many behaviors that seem normal and harmless may actually be "soft" addictions that often control the lives of the addicts. Behaviors such as checking email, drinking coffee, or excessive cleanliness may seem harmless, but the problem with addictive conduct is that it begins to take control of the ability to live daily life in a productive and healthy manner. The consequences for even soft addictions can be devastating to families and society as a whole. In a consequential environment where every action draws a reaction of similar or greater proportion, these behaviors can become excessive and time consuming, interfering with relationships, which in turn impacts society, which may view them as deviant. Most addictions are attempts to counter a sense of helplessness, or loss of control in the historical life of the addict. Leaving the comfort zone of living for the addiction of choice may seem difficult, while requiring acknowledgment of dependence on the habit and making a conscious effort to overcome it. Taking responsibility for choices can help to understand that just as one behavior becomes a habit that one lets get out of control, one can choose other behaviors that will bring a sense of freedom and fulfillment. We must develop new coping skills, be flexible in our thinking and adaptable in our behaviors.
A chemically or psychologically addicted person has to make a choice to recover or continue in the destruction of the addiction, possibly dying early. Most chemical addicts die of their addiction and many addicted persons take their family members down the path of destruction with them. Millions of families are dominated by the addiction of a close relative. Co-dependency is frequently found in families with addictions. It is not just the addict who suffers. All those associated with an addicted person is under the tremendous stress and influence of the addictive behavior. Co-dependents rescue the addicted person from societal consequences, hide or minimize their behavior, and react to the behavior in inappropriate ways. Addicts and those who live with one are in a living hell, and have no peace. Nothing they try works and the pain seems endless.
The toll on American society for addictions and addictive behavior patterns is sometimes a very high price to pay. The cost of alcohol abuse alone was $185 billion in 1998. The cost of drug abuse was $97.7 billion in 1992. The cost to society for obesity is estimated at $100 billion annually. Employed drug abusers cost twice as much in medical and workers compensation as drug-free coworkers. For every dollar spent on treatment seven dollars are saved in costs to society in healthcare and criminal activity. But the fact is that 97% of addicts never see treatment. About 95% percent of untreated addicts die of their addiction, and only 4% of addicts are able to quit on their own. Over 450,000 of Americans die of smoking each year. One third of all high school seniors smoke cigarettes. About 100,000 Americans die annually of alcohol abuse. Some 50% of all traffic deaths are alcohol related. 50% of all homicides are also alcohol related. 40% of all assaults are alcohol related. 49% of child abusers drink alcohol at the time of the offense. 34% of child abusers are heavy drinkers. 90% of high school seniors have tried alcohol. Drug manufacturing accounts for a major portion of environmental pollution. 90% of property crimes and muggings are drug related. 83% of all drug addicts are unemployed. 7.1% of those12 years and up currently use illicit drugs. 43% of high school seniors smoke marijuana. Marijuana is no longer considered a soft drug because of increasing potency levels of THC, the addictive component. Marijuana use increases risk of motor vehicle accidents 2-4 times. Between 16 and 33 % of children and adolescents are obese.
