The Most Common Types Of Addiction: How Are They Treated?

Life can be relatively smooth sailing for folks fortunate enough to enjoy a comparatively cruisey thoroughfare. Sure, we all have ups and downs, grief and loss, stress and anxiety, but the luckier ones will, on the whole, enjoy a relatively stable life. For others, however, there are roadblocks to maneuver, demons to battle, and addiction can become a common coping mechanism for many survivors of trauma. 

This article will cover some of the most common types of addiction and how they can be treated. We’ll cover chemical or drug addictions, like alcohol, opioids, and nicotine, as well as behavioural addictions, like gambling, shopping, and eating. 

If you’re experiencing addiction or know someone who is, this article also aims to provide reassurance, as well as guidance on how to seek help from licensed professionals qualified through online mental health counseling programs and other similar courses. 

What is Addiction?

Addiction is the term used to describe addictive behavior. Addictive behaviour will often encompass chemical or drug addictions, but can also be used to refer to other behaviors, like gambling, shopping, or even eating. It’s a type of self-destructive behavior that can cause a great deal of distress, as well as financial duress, health issues, and many other problems in someone’s life. 

Chemical or Drug Addiction

When it comes to one of the most common types of addiction, chemical or drug addiction, the sufferer will most often become dependent on consuming a particular substance. This includes substances that are legally dispensed, such as prescription pills or alcohol.

Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol is a drug typically found in beer, wine, spirits, and other alcoholic drinks. It’s a depressant, which means it slows down your body’s central nervous system. 

Initially, alcohol can provide a euphoric uplift in mood, but it can also elicit antisocial behaviour, or even unconsciousness, if excessive amounts are consumed. Alcohol is addictive, and alcoholics can experience physical symptoms of withdrawal if they don’t get their dose. 

Alcohol addiction can be problematic when it causes issues in your life, such as drunk driving, illness, injuries, violent behaviour, or interpersonal problems. 

Opioids 

Opioids are a class of drugs derived from the opium poppy. These can include opium itself or derivatives such as morphine, heroin, codeine, and even synthetic drugs such as fentanyl. 

Another central nervous system depressant, opioids also slow your nervous system and can repress breathing while creating a rush of euphoria. These drugs can be incredibly addictive, causing physical withdrawal symptoms including sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and insomnia. Addiction to these types of drugs can 

 lead to serious health complications. 

Amphetamines

As stimulant drugs which speed up your central nervous system, amphetamines refer to ‘street’ or ‘party’ drugs such as speed or meth, as well as prescription pills used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, such as Ritalin or Dexamphetamine. 

When used recreationally, these stimulants provide a rush of euphoria and sleeplessness. When abused, they can cause addiction, as well as long-term health issues. 

Nicotine

Found in tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and electronic cigarettes, nicotine is an addictive substance and is a mild central nervous system stimulant. Although the effects of nicotine addiction are not as catastrophic as other drugs, it can cost money, and smoking is a leading cause of death from cancer and heart disease.

Gambling, Shopping, and Eating

While not a substance addiction, gambling can be a harmful addictive behavior that can cause financial ruin, stress, and even the breakdown of interpersonal relationships. 

The same applies to shopping addiction, which can cause spiralling debt and financial stress, whereas an eating addiction can cause health issues such as heart disease and obesity. 

Treatment for Addiction

If you have an addiction, it’s important to know that there is hope and that recovery is possible. Whether it’s seeing a specialist counselor or attending a twelve-step group, you can change for the better. 

Addiction Counselors

An addiction counselor will use a variety of talk-based therapies to treat chemical or other addiction, with the most common and effective therapy used being cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is often used to treat mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and other common problems, but it can also be used to treat compulsive behaviors such as overspending, substance addiction, and overeating. 

The CBT method is based on several core foundations, affirming that;

1. Psychological problems are based partially on unhelpful, faulty, or distorted types of thinking.
2. Mental health issues and associated behaviors, such as substance abuse and addiction, are based partially on learned patterns.
3. People suffering from substance addiction can learn better ways of coping.

CBT can help addiction sufferers relieve their symptoms and become productive, stable, and happier in their lives through a changed relationship to substances. 

Read More: What Is CBT And How Does It Work?

Addiction Support Groups

Within the community, a range of support groups exists for people experiencing substance use problems. The most common of these are Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, which use a 12-step model for addiction recovery. AA is focused on alcohol, whereas NA focuses on addiction more broadly, no matter the type of drug being consumed. 

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In this article, we have discussed addiction and the most common types of addictive behavior, as well as how they’re treated.