| Contents | Previous | Next |
"I need junk to get up in the morning, to shave and to eat breakfast. I need it to stay alive."
These words were uttered by Sam, a drug addict. Sam really believes he needs drugs to stay alive. What he doesn't know is that the addiction will eventually destroy his life and adversely affect the lives of his family and those close to him.
Sam is a tall, slim, blond man who is nervous about his life situation, but feels he can do nothing about it. He is the supervisor in charge of a large construction crew. He is having trouble at work, and his productivity and efficiency have decreased.
Sam takes cocaine to increase his alertness and to make him feel good. "I'm going fast slow," he says to describe his feelings.
He always has the sniffles and feels congested. This is the result of the snorting of cocaine. Sometimes his nose gets so irritated, he injects the drug. His appetite is gone and he has lost a great deal of weight. The loss of weight leaves him tired and weary. He takes the cocaine to feel better, and so the cycle goes on. When he doesn't take the drug, he feels an uncontrollable twitching under his skin.
His relationship with his wife is worsening, and the stress at work leaves him irritable and paranoid. "I know Zeke is trying to get my job," he says, "he is always talking bad about me. I know he keeps the supplies hidden."
Sam has promised his wife time and time again that he will stop taking cocaine. He really intends to seek help, but the next day his priority is how to get another gram of cocaine. "Something always comes up to stop me from keeping the appointment or entering the program," he says. He snorts cocaine and the promise is forgotten. Matters will have to get much worse before Sam confronts his problem.
The behavior of some substance abusers is volatile one minute and depressed the next. They have trouble making decisions. When faced with a major decision, they are unable to make a good choice because of the fog that the drug creates in their brain. They are blinded by denial and distorted thinking. They are unable to sort out all the implications involved in making a choice.
In his confusion, Sam blames his wife for their difficulties and makes alibis about his job performance. "If they'd all get off my back, things would be all right," he says. Sam's physical condition is poor due to weight loss and general weakness. He is tired all the time and this weariness translates into depression. The few attempts to withdraw from the cocaine have left him with a bad case of the flu. That's why he believes, "I need junk to get up in the morning." Sam cannot see that the one factor affecting his marriage, his work, his health and his emotional condition is the cocaine.
Long-time substance abuse leads to emotional upset and erratic behavior. Unpleasant incidents mount up. There is discord with everyone who comes in contact with the abuser. Life in general, and especially in the home, is tense. Communication ceases. Sam spends more time away from home and the family rationalizes about his unpredictable behavior. They cannot count on him to participate in family occasions. He may forget appointments and not show up. The only thing of importance to him is his relationship with the cocaine. It is his compulsion and obsession.
Poor judgment and loss of inhibitions may lead Sam into sexual attractions. He loves the excitement of flirting. Sometimes sex seems like the answer to everything, and other times he wants to isolate himself away from everyone.
When Sam takes hallucinogens, he seems to lose all incentive for pursuing any worthwhile goals. Nothing matters. "There's no reason to try, nobody appreciates it anyway." Sam has the compulsion to take drugs rather than to find solutions to his problems by some other method. He is fearful of things he can't describe. The isolation, loneliness and feeling of nonbelonging becomes more pronounced.
Amy works in a newspaper publishing office. There is pressure to meet a deadline every day. Amy is well acquainted with pressure. She was raised in a household with an alcoholic father and a deeply religious mother. When she was a child, the entire household lived under the stress of the father's explosive anger.
"I think my dad was crazy," Amy says, "he was like a bomb ready to explode. My mother's entire existence was focused on not disturbing my dad. He loved his car and would take the family on long drives, but no one was allowed to talk in the car. Imagine three children in a car, on a long drive and not being allowed to speak!"
Amy was involved with a married man who was also an alcoholic. She was completely absorbed in helping this man with his affairs. She never became angry when he occasionally returned to his wife, but blamed herself for failing him in some way. She would lapse into periods of uncontrollable crying and think she was unworthy of his attention and love. Amy was just repeating the role of her mother. She must seek professional help to recover from this way of life.
"Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine;...." (Prv 23:29-30)
The behavior of the substance abuser is inconsistent. He has labile mood swings. The behavioral pattern develops slowly over a long period of time and changes a person's personality.
After prolonged substance abuse, the individual's thinking becomes defensive. He must guard against criticism from anybody. He develops the habit of lying about where he's been and with whom. If he gets in trouble with the law or gets a ticket, he will be ashamed. It is common for him to be paranoid. "They are all out to get me." Behavior is not always appropriate. Sometimes he will make comments that do not fit the occasion. He thinks he is articulate and a great communicator. If he thinks he has lost control, he will be irritable and angry. His view of the world is distorted because of impaired thinking. Judgment is also impaired and he may make harmful or stupid decisions. He has false courage which could turn out to be disastrous. He may think it is all right to steal or break the law. His sense of fairness and honesty is lost.
The substance abuser's fear of abandonment hampers his normal longing for intimacy with another human being. Low self-esteem will flood him with feelings of unworthiness. Despair and hopelessness may bring on suicidal ideation. Anxiety robs him of the ability to relax. He may deal with feelings of disappointment and loss by rebelling, taking physical risks or in delinquent behavior. Intense feelings of anxiety are taken care of through the excessive use of drugs. Others may try to soothe their emotions by overspending or gambling. Some individuals will try to lose themselves through work or in a hobby. They may find it hard to work with anyone or follow rules, and so they withdraw or isolate themselves from everyone. Because of their negative habits, they may feel guilty.
The longer the person incapacitates himself with drugs, the more his physical ability to lead an active life will be affected. Swimming or bicycling will no longer be possible. He becomes more sedentary. His reflex action is impaired, making it hazardous to drive a car or use machinery. He becomes limited in choosing an occupation or hobby. All aspects of his physical life are interfered with, even cleanliness. The substance abuser will neglect baths, shaving or brushing of teeth.
The health caretaker has a challenge to educate the substance abuser about the ravages of drugs to the body and spirit. The habitual use of drugs is equal to being put to sleep daily with an anesthetic. The body cannot be expected to function normally with an onslaught of this nature.
It is the caretaker's opportunity to instill in the substance abuser a love of himself. Stimulate him with a desire to capture a "natural high."
Start with an exercise program and then challenge him to learn something new such as playing the piano or guitar or singing with a group. Volunteering is the chance to do something worthwhile for other people and has many rewards. If he doesn't like something about himself, he should be encouraged to change it.
Boosting self-confidence is the first step to slowly building a different self-image. You'll be amazed at the difference it makes.
Long-time substance abuse leads to emotional upsets and erratic behavior.
The substance abuser has the compulsion to take drugs instead of seeking an alternative coping method.
There are three patterns of behavior
Characteristics of substance abuse behavior
The substance abuser's behavior is inconsistent.
Behavioral patterns develop slowly and change a person's personality.
A person's behavior is so because it is useful for him. When the behavior no longer works, he will change it.
Characteristics of the substance abuser