According to the data of the Center for Disease Prevention and Control, in 2016, the number of hospitalized narcological patients (i.e. people with various types of addiction diagnoses) was 15,657, and the number of first-time registered narcological patients treated was 6,998. It should be noted that this is only the number of registered cases . Addiction psychologists indicate that every fifth adult in Latvia suffers from addiction. Addiction is a primary, chronic and progressive disease that destroys not only a person’s physical and mental health, but also the personality as a whole. It can develop in any person regardless of age, gender, education, profession and religious affiliation.
Addiction is a primary, chronic (permanent and long-lasting) and progressive disease that destroys not only a person’s physical and mental health, but also the personality in general, affects his social status and increases the risk of disability and mortality.
Addiction is a biopsychosocial disease, so it affects a person’s biological, psychological and social functioning. Under the influence of addiction, the way a person thinks, experiences emotions, forms relationships and acts changes, and physical health is also gradually destroyed.
Addiction is characterized by:
- an intrusive, overwhelming urge to use a substance or engage in a certain behavior (using a computer, gambling, watching pornography, etc.)
- tolerance build-up (increasing doses required to feel good)
- loss of control (inability to refrain from further use)
- abstinence (discontinuation of use causes psychological and physical disturbances that are difficult to tolerate)
- socially dangerous behavior (criminal offenses, violence, suicide attempts, etc.)
An addicted person is not capable of returning to episodic use of that or any other addictive substance. The addiction process cannot be controlled by willpower and character alone. Alcohol addiction develops gradually, over several years, and the person himself most often does not notice or recognize it. For example, a typical alcoholic’s view of their drinking is: “I can stop at any time.” However, the opposite is true: addiction is a disease that is already running its course, and it needs help to cure it.
Addiction is a disease that cannot be cured: firstly, it manifests itself as a person’s inability to drink one glass or play one round of gambling and stop there, and it will be like that for a lifetime; i.e. the first glass will definitely not be the last, because the brain will ask for the next one. But by understanding the nature of addiction, signs and patterns of development, the addict can live sober for the rest of his life.
In the course of recovery, all areas of functioning are gradually restored, from the physical to the mental. The addict needs the support and help of specialists and recovered addicts in order to see the negative consequences of his addiction, his powerlessness in the face of addiction, as well as to gradually learn new ways of thinking, emotional reactions and problem solving, to form a more realistic view of himself and life, as well as to maintain clarity.
Possible types of help for addicted people:
- Participation in self-help groups (Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Gamblers Anonymous, etc.)
- Participation in short-term or long-term treatment or rehabilitation programs (28-day Minnesota program, social rehabilitation programs based on 12-step principles, etc.)
- Consultations of a psychologist or psychotherapist
- Addiction hotline (+371 67 037 333)
- Consultation with a narcologist (e.g. at the Narcological Help Service of Riga Psychiatry and Narcology Center)
IT IS DEFINITELY WORTH TRYING TO SEEK HELP AND BE READY TO GET IT! Recovery from addiction is not an easy road, but it is the only road to maintain/restore your human dignity, health, abilities and relationships, and experience life in its beauty, with all its hopes, challenges and possibilities.
References: www.veseligsridzinieks.lv, www.tavaiizaugsmei.com