Chemical Dependency
What exactly is chemical dependency? Fortunately, more and more people are coming to believe that chemical dependency is not a sign of moral and psychological weakness. Melenie Mender, a speaker from a drug treatment center, shares the same opinion about addiction as many drug specialists. "The disease of chemical dependency can be described; it is primary, progressive, and fatal" (McFarland 11). Many people begin covering their problems with drugs or alcohol. Their lives become unmanageable because of their using. Until the drinking or drug use is stopped, the underlying problem cannot be dealt with. Those with psychiatric problems have major emotional problems that become worse as their addiction increases. A progressive disease means that the disease becomes worse and more serious over time. The first change one sees is the behavior of the user. Their behavior becomes more unacceptable to those around them and the user is often very impulsive. Emotional growth is slowed and eventually stops. Now, more then ever, young people are showing rapid signs of deterioration. This is due to heavy drug use affecting the body of a young person not fully developed. Alcoholism, along with drug addiction is a chronic disease. On
Chemical Dependency is not a lack of will power or a moral weakness. It is a disease that prevents the body from functioning properly. It seeks upon those who are not aware of it and it destroys them. It destroys people mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Addicts do not have the ability to control their response to any drug that enters their body. Addiction effects everyone. It effects people of all age, sex, economic status, etc. Addiction causes physical, psychological, behavioral and social problems. In 1956, the American Medical Association recognized addiction and alcoholism as "a disease that is primary, progressive, incurable and characterized by a loss of control over alcohol and other sedatives"(130, Stares). By classifying chemical dependency as primary, it alone is considered a disease. The disease will continue whether or not one uses alcohol or drugs, but the symptoms will stop upon discontinued use. This disease is chronic as it lasts a lifetime. It takes a typical addict about fifteen years of serious addiction before he or she seeks treatment. Progressively, addiction to chemicals or alcohol gets worse over time. When one stops drinking or using drugs, many problems surrounding the substance stops. But if the person begins their use of the drug again, they will pick up where they left off. Unfortunately, l
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Approximate Word count = 919
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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