Addiction is a term that encompasses a wide variety of things; from drug addictions to shopping addictions, it seems like anything can become an addiction nowadays. This article discusses alcohol, gambling and shopping addictions.
The NHS defines drug addiction as “when you become dependent on a drug, and it forms a central part of your life. Misusing drugs can lead to physical dependency, or psychological dependency.
Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol content is measured in units: 1 unit = 10 ml of pure alcohol
Government guidelines state that men should not exceed three to four units of alcohol on a regular basis, and for women no more than two or three units. In this sense, ‘regular’ refers to each day, or most days of the week. Research shows that men and women who drink more than this increase their risk of damaging their health, with this increasing further the longer they exceed the guideline amounts.
Effect of Drinking
Drinking can have a number of immediate, short-term and long-term effects which place a strain on the body. While some of these immediate effects may not seem serious, drinking too much on a regular long-term basis can have serious consequences. It takes the liver one hour to process a single unit of alcohol meaning it can be quickly overloaded. It is because of this people are advised to avoid alcohol for at least 48 hours after a heavy drinking session.
The immediate effects of drinking include dizziness, vomiting, headache and an inability to walk. The extent of these effects are dependent on the person, the amount of alcohol they have consumed, and the type of alcohol consumed.
The most common side effect shortly after heavy drinking is a hangover and this again is dependent on the person in regards to the amount of alcohol they consumed and how well their body is able to process this. Some people also experience slowed heart rate, loss of consciousness, sexual difficulties, and are at a higher risk of having an accident or injuring themselves.
People who drink over the recommended number of units on a regular basis greatly increase their risk of complications developing. This includes an increased risk of heart disease and stroke, liver disease, stomach damage, memory loss, some types of cancer and the most extreme complication of fatal alcohol poisoning. Other long-term complications include lowered fertility / sperm count, smaller genitals, hair loss, weight gain and skin problems.
Gambling Addiction
Gambling addiction is like other addictions in the way that it involves the person escaping from reality. Those with a gambling addiction are often unable to see the true extent of what their gambling is doing not only to themselves, but also their family, friends and working life. They often believe that further risks / gambles are necessary in order to put ‘everything right’ and that the next one will be the last.
With plans to introduce ‘super casinos’ and the rapidly growing number of online bingo and gambling websites it is becoming easier for people to gamble. It can be argued that online gambling in particular can be more problematic as it allows people to gamble 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and take part in such activities all over the world.
Shopping Addiction
Despite popular belief, shopping addiction is not an addiction which only affects women. It is a real condition, which affects not only the addict personally, but also their friends and family. It can lead to serious financial debt and relationship difficulties.
People who are shopping addicts tend to buy things they have no actual need for, they get a ‘high’ at the time of spending, but this soon turns to feelings of extreme guilt when the reality of how much they have spent sets in. In order to cope with these feelings, they often go and spend more money in order to make themselves feel better, making it a vicious cycle. They will often go to extreme lengths to hide their spending habits, by lying about what they have bought and how much it cost. In this respect, such behaviour can quickly lead to debt and place strain on relationships.
This article has been put together by the distance learning organisation Start Learning who are experts in home study. If you want to find out more about Working With Addictions or many other distance learning courses please browse their website: http://www.start-learning.co.uk
A good way to find out more about Working With Addictions is to sign up for a distance learning course on the subject. By studying in your free time and pace, you can gain the necessary knowledge while tailoring it to suit your schedule.
Kerrana McAvoy
Academic Director – Start Learning
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