Most people don’t plan on getting addicted to drugs or alcohol. They might start out by taking painkillers for a medical reason or do a little experimenting with drugs and alcohol because of peer pressure or social anxiety. 

A person predisposed to addiction will begin taking mood changers such as drugs or alcohol to feel good and then eventually find themselves needing more and more just to feel normal, believing they can quit whenever they want.

Addiction has taken a devastating toll throughout Sullivan County along with a growing opiate epidemic, but there is hope. The results from a study by The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids (drugfree.org) and the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) released earlier this year show that there could be as many as 23.5 million Americans in recovery.

Addiction is a progressive disease that can quickly spin out of control, producing both physical, social and psychological problems. Alcohol and narcotics are depressants that affect the central nervous system, reducing alertness and impairing perception, judgment and motor coordination. Taken in high doses, they can cause loss of consciousness and even death.

The disease of addiction

The disease of addiction is characterized by a compulsion to continue to use alcohol or other drugs despite negative consequences. These may include an inability to control how much a person uses, social impairment, use in risky situations, and physical/pharmacological criteria (tolerance and withdrawal). Drug abuse in young people may pose a greater hazard than in older people. This is because their brains are not yet fully developed. When kids use drugs, it can affect how their bodies and brains evolve. Using drugs when you’re young can increase your chances of becoming addicted when you get older.