Addiction is a big menace

 

Let us face it. The world today is far from what one would call beautiful or even “nice”. The venom of war, corruption, crimes, and even diseases have spread their talons all across. But what is the cause of all these? It could be poverty, it could be depression, it could be greed, or even natural calamities. However, these reasons are vague. So, does everyone in the world have a bad intention?

Not everyone is born a thief, a criminal or an anti-social element. Addiction to a habit or a third-party substance makes them. Think about it? How many criminals, anti-social elements or even jobless/irrational/menacing/mentally ill people you can think of those were not addicted to substances such as liquor, nicotine or drugs? Addiction is a disease that affects your brain and behavior.

This is the hidden evil.  Let us take a brief look at the major types of addictions.

Addiction to Alcohol- Alcoholism is the inability to control drinking due to both a physical and emotional dependence on alcohol. Symptoms include repeated alcohol consumption despite related legal and health issues. Those with alcoholism may begin each day with a drink, feel guilty about their drinking and have the desire to cut down on the amount of drinking.

 

·         India is home to six crore alcohol addicts, more than the population of 172 world nations including Italy.

·         As Indians make more money, they spend more on branded liquors, a study shows, but illicit alcohol remains a profitable trade.

·         Around 140.6 thousand people died due to liver cirrhosis caused by alcohol consumption across India in 2016.

 Addiction to Smoking- Most people who smoke started smoking when they were teenagers. Those who have friends and/or parents who smoke are more likely to start smoking than those who don’t. Some teenagers say that they “just wanted to try it,” or they thought it was “cool” to smoke. The tobacco industry’s ads, price breaks, and other promotions for its products are a big influence in our society. The tobacco industry spends billions of dollars each year to create and market ads that show smoking as exciting, glamorous, and safe. A big concern is government may ban alcohol, but no-one bans smoking.

 

·         There are almost 267 million tobacco users in India.

·         Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke kill about 1.2 million Indians each year.

·         Bidi and cigarette smokers die 6 to 10 years earlier than their non-smoking counterparts.

 Addiction to Drugs- When you’re addicted to drugs, you can’t resist the urge to use them, no matter how much harm the drugs may cause. The earlier you get treatment for drug addiction (also called substance use disorder) the more likely you are to avoid some of the more dire consequences of the disease. Drug addiction isn’t about just heroin, cocaine, or other illegal drugs. You can get addicted to alcohol, nicotine, sleep and anti-anxiety medications, and other legal substances.

 

·         A national survey has found that a concerning number of India's youth are suffering from alcohol, cannabis or opioid addictions.

·         It also revealed that three out of four people addicted to drugs don't receive treatment.

  

Cure

 A lot of medicines (again drugs of some sort!) along with therapy sessions are available for addicts. But 100% recovery is rare. Addiction is a psychological problem and medical treatment alone won’t cure it. And talking about therapy sessions, it is highly recommended to consult a therapist or consultant who knows top to bottom of addiction, and not just what was learned from text books.

I can help you with that. I am an ex-addict and suffered from alcoholism as well as addiction to smoking. But now, I have recovered and am helping others to do so with a special method. I have also written a book on the same, titled, “Alcoholism to Soberism” which is available on Amazon.

You are always welcome to contact me.  I will surely help you get rid of the addiction.