“What do you believe addiction is exactly?” This was the question Jonathan Looman was asked.
Johnathan believes that addiction is the inability to stop an activity. According to the American Psychiatric Association, addiction is "a complex condition, a brain disease that is manifested by compulsive substance use despite harmful consequences."
“Anybody can get addicted. It’s something that’s very hard to quit. Some people have an addictive personality, while others don’t. It’s just not about personalities either. It can be based off of drugs, video games, alcohol, and even food,” says Emily Kyle. “People with an addiction have an intense focus on using certain substances to the point that it takes over their life.”
Most people who have an addiction have distorted thinking, behavior, and body functions.
Over time, people build a tolerance for the drug or alcohol, which leads them to needing bigger portions of it.
The National Institute of Drug Abuse says that people begin taking drugs for a variety of reasons, but the main ones being: to feel/do good/better, curiosity, and peer pressure.
The symptoms of addiction can be broken down into four different categories. There is Impaired Control, where a person has a craving or strong urge to use the substance. The next one is Social Problems, which causes failure to complete major tasks at work, school, or home. Another one is Risky Use, where a substance is used in risky settings. For example, if a person uses drugs inside a grocery store, it is considered risky use. The last category is Drug Effects. Drug Effects is where tolerance and withdrawal symptoms come into play.
The first step of treatment for addiction is for the person to recognize that they really do have a problem.
Treatments for addiction are medication, therapy, hospitalizations, therapeutic communities, and outpatient programs.
Unfortunately, high schoolers are not spared from lives of addiction. If you are having a hard time with addiction, please find somebody that you trust and can talk to. We have great principals, counselors, teachers, and support staff. Really try to get help. You never know when it might be your last chance to.