Transcript File - Partnership for a Drug

Dynamics of Addiction
Presentation by Timothy Bracaglia, BASW,
MSW Candidate, CADC Candidate
What is addiction?
A problematic pattern of use of an intoxicating
substance leading to clinically significant impairment
or distress (APA, 2013).
A primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation,
and memory in which an individual pathologically
pursues rewards and/or relief by substance use and
other behaviors which leads to characteristic biological,
psychological, social and spiritual manifestations
(ASAM, 2011).
How Does Addiction Form?
Dopamine: the motivation neurotransmitter
– Subjective reward / feeling of pleasure
– Survival of species
1 .) A user takes a drug
Dopamine is activated  sense of reward
2 .) User seeks continued dopamine releases /
rewards
3 .) Tolerance  need for larger dose
Dope – Dopamine – Dopey
Decisions
• Once addicted: the drug becomes perceived
as necessary
– Dopamine
– Shift in priorities … Guilt
Addicted: When the addict’s neurological need
for the drug trumps all else.
A Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual
Malady
• Biological
– Withdrawal, use to cope with pain / self-medication,
cirrhosis, etc.
• Psychological
– Underlying psychological issues / self-medication,
psychological withdrawal symptoms, etc.
• Social
– Loss of friends / family / loved ones’ support, social
circle becomes using peers, etc.
• Spiritual
– “spiritual bankruptcy”, loss of faith, resentment
towards self, others, higher power, etc.
The Chemically Dependent Family
System – 6 Roles:
• The Addict

Individual with the SUD
 Center of attention
• The Hero

Attempts to “cover-up”
 Guilt, fear, shame
 Denial
• The Mascot

The jester / people-pleaser
 Inappropriate humor as a coping
method
 Embarrassment, shame, anger
The Chemically Dependent Family
System – 6 Roles: (continued)
• The Lost Child

Quiet & reserved; “out of the way”
 Avoids discussion of the issue
 Guilt, loneliness, neglect, anger
• The Scapegoat



Trouble maker
Craves attention
Shame, guilt, emptiness
• The Enabler (Caretaker)



Pilots the family system
Makes excuses for behaviors of others denial
Inadequacy, fear, helplessness
Spirituality and Recovery…
Clients with higher scores on measures of spirituality
are more likely to be abstinent following treatment than
those with lower scores (Waters and Shafer, 2005; Miller, 1998).
Connectedness to self, others, and the universe
Spirituality is a protective factor against SUDs
Spirituality is a strength for those recovering from
SUDs


Armed with knowledge, dedication, and love;
together we will make a difference in helping those
suffering from substance use disorders find recovery.
Thank You For
Being Here!