Language of Addiction

The language of addiction is important. When people use certain language to speak about addiction it can perpetuate old ideas that are counterproductive to dealing with addiction. Often you’ll hear someone say with disdain “all he does is get high everyday”. I’ve heard over and over that the addicted person just doesn’t want help so nothing can be done. Often a family member or friend will say that the addicted person is just selfish and doesn’t care about anyone else.

The truth is usually something different. When a person becomes addicted all the “fun” of using is gone and the person is using drugs so they don’t feel the pain of withdrawal. The brain chemistry actually changes so that a person feels as if the drug is a vital part of life. When the person thinks about stopping, the fear of not having the drug is often overwhelming. So, when we say the person is getting “high”, this is not a pleasant high — it’s just an attempt to feel normal because without the drug the physical pain and mental anguish are excruciating. The idea that the addict is getting high, partying, living it up, having a ball, doesn’t accurately describe the reality of the addict.

Once we realize that the addict is using because the pain of not using is too much to bear, then anger and condemnation toward the addict don’t make much sense. The addict is not consciously choosing to use drugs for selfish enjoyment — the addict uses drugs because to the addict it’s a matter of survival.

Not all addiction has reached this stage. Addiction becomes progressively worse. The signs and symptoms become more obvious over time. It could be that a person is selfish and lives a party life without thought of how it affects others, but all too often constant, obsessive drinking and other use is a sign of addiction. In order to deal with the problem this progression has to be understand, and the correct language of addiction must be used to describe the reality. If old ideas persist that the addict is simply choosing a selfish lifestyle of partying and getting high, then it’s difficult to reach the empathy necessary to effectively recognize and deal with the problem.