Overcoming an addiction to drugs or alcohol is difficult. Some
people may try many times before succeeding. Some substance abusers find
themselves substituting one addiction for another addiction in the process. A
heroin user turns to alcohol. An alcoholic becomes an exercise-junkie. A methamphetamine
addict becomes an over-eater. For friends and family, this can be traumatic,
depressing and confusing. For the addict, they may not realize the severity of
their substitution or even that it is occurring.
A substitute addiction is defined as the substitution of one
addiction for another. Technically speaking, it is not the substance that is
the problem in this situation, it is the behavior and actions of the recovering
addict. It is apparent when a substitution addiction occurs that the cause,
triggers or trauma that all contributed to the original substance abuse problem
have not been resolved and the addict needs to fill the void that was left by
overcoming their addiction.
Satisfying the Need to Feel:
Substitute addictions may occur for a number of reasons. The person
who has undergone treatment and therapy for their substance abuse problem may
come out of formal treatment before they are ready to face the real world. The
anxieties and stresses that triggered their original problem are still an
issue, but the person has learnt to avoid high-risk situations where they may
use their drug of choice again. They know that they cannot go to a bar or be
around other drug users. They don’t want to use, but the build of anxiety,
depression, fear and cravings push a person to the edge. They may believe that
they need something to release the pressure. Some ex-users find themselves
binging on food, fighting the desire to push their body to the limit. They will
feel the same emotional responses as they did to their other substances,
euphoria, rush, comfort, fear, regret and guilt. These emotional responses are
comforting and familiar to the recovering addict, and they will subconsciously
seek them out again and again.
Drug Substitution:
Many heroin and cocaine users will increase their smoking habits
and may begin to use marijuana as a way to calm them during their withdrawals.Marijuana can alleviate some of the anxieties that
people experience when undergoing a significant reduction in the use of other
substances. But without medical supervision,
marijuana can simply become another addiction that a person has. They will
begin to use and be obsessed with the substance. They may believe that they
have control of the use of the drug, but in most cases, they do not. It is
simply being used like another drug to deal with the problems that have caused
the addiction issue in the first place.
Prescription medication is another high-risk substitution addiction
that can occur. Some people may be prescribed pain killers, sedatives or
anti-anxiety medication to assist with their recovery. But because some of
these drugs have addictive and abuse potential, the recovering addict can use
these drugs for non-medical purposes. They may begin to take more of the drugs
to get high while they are pretending to themselves and those around them that
they are only taking them to reduce the symptoms of pain, insomnia or anxiety.
Negative Relationships and Drug
Substitution:
Relationships with friends, family members, partners and even
work mates can become a problem when someone is substituting their addiction. A codependent relationship can cause significant problems in the future.
If a person had an addiction and their partner played the role of an enabler, there
can be major problems in the future if there is not a change in the
relationship. A wife who covers up her husband’s drinking problem will enable
him to abuse other drugs without seeing that there is a problem. A son who has
had a drug problem may pressure his father to fuel excessive drinking. Getting
involved in family therapy or relationship counseling can help to alleviate the
risk of falling into another addiction with all the associated problems.
Work can also be a problem for some recovering addicts. In the
face of owning up to their past negative behaviors and actions, they may find
themselves becoming aworkaholic. A
workaholic is someone who obsessively works and becomes totally engrossed in
meeting work targets. The behavior becomes negative when work begins to affect
a person’s family and social life, and they will use work as an excuse to not
be involved in normal activities or attend events. The reality of a workaholic
is that it is someone who is simply trying to escape responsibilities. They are
using work to fuel their need to ignore what is really going on in their life
and to fill the void that the addiction to a substance has left. This behavior
is negative and damaging and a sign of someone not being in control of their
emotional state.
Recognizing a Substitute Addiction:
Recognizing that there is a
substitute addiction problem occurring can be a challenge for friends and
family and especially for the recovering addict. People close to the person may
think that using one substance is better than another. For example, they might
believe that it is ok for an ex-heroin addict to drink heavily, or for an
ex-alcoholic to use marijuana. But the core issues at the center of the
addiction are still there causing problems. The reasons that a person needs to
use drugs or alcohol have not be resolved and may cause a person to spiral out
of control into another addiction. The behavior associated with the drug or
alcohol abuse is damaging and manipulative and will cause harm to the addict
and those around them.
Most people can take steps to
identify that they are losing control and falling into another addiction. By
taking time to sit and think about their behavior, an addict can see that they
need help. Because the recovering addict has gone through treatment they can
use the tools that they have learnt to help them rid themselves of the new
addiction.
Treating a Substitute Addiction:
In most cases, a substitute
addiction can be as serious as the original addiction so medical
detoxification, therapy and medication may be required to treat the addiction. Cognitive
behavior therapy and psychotherapy may not have been used in the original
treatment plan for the substance abuser. However, these treatments can
significantly improve the future of a recovering addict.
Cognitive behavior therapy has two key elements that are beneficial for
recovering substance abusers: functional analysis and skills training.
Functional analysis is where the thoughts, feelings and situation of the individual
are analyzed. This is a process in which both therapist and patient work
closely together to identify the reasons for the patient’s behavior. It can
help give the individual an insight into the nature and cause of their
problems, and also identify the situations that give rise to the patient’s
negative behaviors, such as substitute addiction. The second element of skills
training is all about unlearning old habits and learning new coping skills. The
idea is to get the individual to discover new ways of reflecting on, and coping
with, those situations that led to their addiction.
Psychotherapy is an effective treatment for substance abuse
and may offer especially good recovery rates for those who have been
substituting their addiction. Psychotherapy delves into the reasons that a
person abuses substances and why they wish to cause themselves harm.
Psychotherapy aims to get to the root cause of problems and anxieties and
resolve them in the most comprehensive manner. It is believed that certain
illnesses or behaviors are manifestations of unresolved problems which may have
begun early in life and will continue to cause problems unless they are dealt
with. Therapy sessions include discussions about dreams and fantasies, which
are analyzed with the client. Many clients state that the action of talking is
therapeutic in and of itself, and they feel a sense of relief after sessions.
Courtesy By: Dara Drug and Alcohol Rehab Asia