Chemical dependency is a term which is often used interchangeably with such terms as alcoholism, substance abuse, substance dependence, drug addiction and drug use.
Professionals see chemical dependency as the primary mental illness or disease which is characterized by being addicted to a mood-altering chemical, be it drugs or alcohol. A person who is chemically dependent is unable to control his drinking or his use of mind-altering drugs, knowing full well what the ramifications are. Continued abuse of these chemicals has serious health effects; economic, vocational, legal and social consequences. It is a disorder that sees no age barriers, sex, race, religion or economic status. Chemical dependency is progressive and can be fatal.
What happens to the dependent person?
The drug abuser or alcoholic has lost the power of choice. They may be able to stop for short periods of time, but they return to the substance time and time again. They may have all good intentions, and they believe they can exert the necessary will-power to overcome the disease, but they can’t. It’s this very scenario that is so baffling to experts; they see chemical dependency as a cunning and baffling disorder.
It is characterized by a lack of continuous control over one’s drinking or drug abuse; the drugs can either be prescribed or illegal, they both can be addictive. The individual has a preoccupation with the substance despite the adverse consequences, which are often well known to the addict.
Denial, a notable consequence:
Denial, in the context of chemical dependency, is a defense mechanism that includes many maneuvers, which are designed to reduce the appreciation that the drug is the problem rather than the solution. Typically, the dependent person is the last to admit there is a problem. Denial is an integral part of the disease and is perhaps the biggest obstacle to recovery, and a most precipitous factor in future relapses. Denial is the baffling part of chemical dependency that keeps telling the addict he has no problem. When the person who is dependent on drugs or alcohol is “in denial,” they cannot be introduced into a recovery process because they do not see themselves having a problem.
The future for a drug dependent:
Chemical dependency cannot be cured, but it can be arrested and kept in remission. It is a complex disease, far more than the simple use and abuse of mood-altering chemicals. Recovery is more complex than simply becoming abstinent. Many people with a chemical dependency think that by becoming free from the clutches of drugs or alcohol, they will be OK. Detox alone will rarely solve the problem; one must make personal and interpersonal life-style changes; these changes take time and most professionals believe it is a lifelong process.
Chemical dependency, whether illegal drugs, prescription drugs or alcohol is something that cannot be cured, but it can be stopped, and in the process the dependent person can regain a dignified life. The professionals at Red River Recovery Center are the right group to contact for help.
