The Importance of Treating Underlying Causes of Addiction

Addiction affects millions of people in the United States and throughout the world each year. Fortunately, help is available for this problem and it is possible to live a happy and productive life after achieving sobriety. However, it is important to understand the common causes of addiction and how to treat the underlying problems that led to the disorder. The latter may include depression, childhood abuse or other trauma. Identifying and addressing these underlying issues helps individuals remain sober and avoid relapse. There is a debate regarding whether addiction is a disease or disorder; however, there is no doubt that those in its clutches need help. Below are some of the chief causes of addiction in both adults and children: Untreated Mental Health Disorders Problems such as depression and anxiety are often overlooked when an addicted individual seeks help. Although people frequently hear terms such as “dual diagnosis” or “co-occurring disorders,” many experts believe there is only the thinnest of lines between mental illness and addiction. Although it is certainly possible for an individual to have only a mental illness or only an addiction, a definite link has been discovered between addiction and mental health issues, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD, depressive disorders, and anxiety. The symptoms of these illnesses can drive a person to self-medicate with alcohol, prescription medications or illegal substances. Trauma Most mental health professionals agree that there is a strong link between alcoholism or drug addiction and traumatic experiences. However, even mildly traumatic events can precede a substance abuse problem. These include the loss of a job, the breakup of a marriage or a serious car accident. Peer Pressure Although most parents teach their children that it is not necessary to go along with the crowd in order to be popular, many adults forget how strong peer pressure can be for a child or young adult. In many cases, a young person's need to “fit in” and have friends drives him or her to use alcohol or drugs to feel accepted and important. Hope for Addicted Individuals Virtually anyone can recover from drug addiction or alcoholism if underlying problems are identified and addressed. Anyone who is suffering from such problems should contact a mental health professional who can recommend a suitable treatment facility, such as Ultram detox. Thankfully, those who are in the clutches of addiction can lead happy, sober lives after proper treatment are sought. Treating the Underlying Causes of Addiction No person becomes an addict overnight, as addiction is a complex disorder with many underlying causes. For this reason, it is important to realize that the alcoholic or addict must be placed in a comprehensive treatment program in order to address the problems that led to the addiction in the first place. If these issues are not identified and treated, the person will simply leave the facility in which he or she underwent detoxification and return to abusing his or her substance of choice. This creates an endless cycle of detox and relapse and eventually makes the addicted person feel hopeless. For this reason, addiction must be treated as a symptom of a larger, underlying problem if any hope of sustainable recovery is to be expected.