You may commonly hear others use the phrase “I’m addicted” when talking about something they love, or you may even use it yourself. But addiction is actually a mental health condition that can cause harm to you and those around you, and it is fairly common in the UK.
The definition of addiction is being unable to control yourself doing something, or taking or using something, to the extent that it may be harmful to you.
You may have heard of some of the most common addictions, including drugs, alcohol, or gambling, however, it is possible to become addicted to almost anything.
Other addictions include work, shopping, sugar, or even social media.
According to the UK Government’s “Adult substance misuse treatment statistics 2020 to 2021” report, between April 2020 and March 2021, there were 275,896 adults in contact with drug and alcohol services.
Of these, 51% were seeking treatment for opiate addiction, while 28% were seeking treatment for alcohol consumption. Although only 2% of adults were referred for treatment specifically for smoking, the prevalence of smoking in all individuals accessing treatment was higher than the prevalence of smoking within the general population.
There are a lot of misconceptions about addiction, and these often stem from a lack of understanding about the condition, especially when the addiction involves taboo topics such as drug use.
One of the biggest stigmas surrounding addiction is that individuals are making the choice to engage in the behaviour and often people with this misconception may view this as the individual making poor moral choices.
However, this is not true.
Research by News in Health scientists found that addiction is caused by chemical changes in the brain linked to our positive reward behaviours. With substance misuse in particular, key areas of the brain can be damaged, and this can disrupt the normal thinking processes that help us to outweigh the consequences of our behaviours against the temporary high the action will provide.
Other common misconceptions around addiction include the idea that individuals from privileged households or backgrounds cannot develop an addiction – that it only affects individuals who are struggling, or homeless. Again, this is untrue.
Addiction can affect anyone from any background, no matter their current circumstances. This misconception may stem from the visibility of addiction within society.
Although addiction can affect anyone, socioeconomic factors can impact addiction and access to recovery services. Those from poorer backgrounds are more likely to develop an addiction, and take longer to recover.
Research has found that heroin addiction is over 3 times as common in individuals making less than $20,000 per year compared to those who make $50,000 or more. Higher education levels are also linked with lower addiction rates, and survey data across decades has shown that the prevalence of addiction in unemployed people is twice as high as those in employment.
Many people with addictions are high-functional, meaning that they are able to hide their addiction well and continue functioning within society. One study conducted by the National Institutes of Health found that approximately 20% of alcoholics are highly functional.
This can make it harder to spot signs of addiction, however there are some signs and behaviours that may indicate that you or a loved one have an addiction.
Signs and symptoms of addiction include:
If left untreated, addiction can cause long-term physical and mental problems. Drug or alcohol addiction can lead to a range of health problems, while gambling or social media addictions could lead to relationship breakdowns. Many types of addiction can lead to financial problems.
If you spot these signs in yourself or a loved one, you should reach out for help, or encourage your loved one to consider seeking help.
The first step in the treatment process for addiction is being willing to work towards recovery. Often individuals with an addiction can be in denial that they have a problem, and be reluctant to access help.
As the main treatment for addiction is talking therapies, individuals must be willing to engage with treatment for the best chance of recovery.
For most addictions, after an initial visit to your GP, you will be referred for talking therapy, for example Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
You can also access community support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Gamblers Anonymous, where you can hear from others in similar situations, and share your own experiences.
For certain types of addictions, such as drug addiction, controlled detoxing may be recommended, or you may be offered an alternative medicine to assist with withdrawal symptoms.
There are plenty of organisations that offer a wealth of advice, knowledge, and resources for further support, from a broad overview of addiction, to specialised focus groups.
General
Addaction: a free, confidential webchat service for individuals and their families who need addiction support.
Addiction Guide: a comprehensive website featuring a wealth of information, research, and resources around addiction.
Drugs
Talk to Frank: Advice around drug and solvent misuse for individuals, as well as their families, friends, and carers. Visit the website, or call the 24 hour helpline on: 0300 123 6600. (Calls from a landline cost no more than a standard call, while calls from a mobile may vary).
Release: A free, confidential helpline – 0207 324 2989 – that offers free legal advice on drug issues for users and their loved ones.
Alcohol
Alcoholics Anonymous: a free self-help group with a tried and tested 12 step programme and regular support groups.
Alcohol Change UK: a leading UK alcohol charity offering a range of information and help and support advice.
Gambling
Gamblers Anonymous: Gamblers Anonymous offers an online forum and chat room as well as in person meetings across the UK.
National Gambling Helpline (operated by GamCare): This helpline provides information, advice and support for anyone affected by gambling. The freephone helpline is available 24 hours a day on 0808 8020 133.
GamCare: GamCare also offer free treatment services online and via phone.
Northern Healthcare is a specialist independent provider of 24/7 enhanced supported living services for individuals with a mental health diagnosis, learning disability or autism. We support over 150 adults across the UK in all aspects of their daily lives and mental health recovery. Find out more about Northern Healthcare.
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash.
