Being addicted is being physically or mentally dependant on a substance or activity, often to the detriment of health and wellbeing. It can be debilitating for people, and in many instances can lead to irreversible consequences for health, finance and relationships.

Treating and working with addiction can be highly complex, as the causes for addictions are often rooted in deep seated personal issues with family, relational patterns, self-esteem or affective regulation mechanisms. While there are many programs and resources that can be utilised to help overcome the presenting symptoms of addiction and resolve the immediate behavioural issue, this can often fail to address the underlying causes.

Talking therapies, particularly in conjunction with CBT techniques, can provide a safe and important platform to explore the issues that led to the addictions in the first place and help provide means to prevent relapse and develop an awareness of personal relationship to the condition. It is highly advisable that in cases of addiction, talking therapies are undertaken in conjunction with an appropriate support group.

An excellent resource for information surrounding alcohol addiction, treatment and recovery is the US based Alcohol Treatment site here:

Alcohol Treatment

For an excellent breakdown of drugs and their side effects, prescribed or otherwise, please see the US based site Rehab Center page on drug addiction types:

Rehab Center Drug Addiction Types

For their home page, click here.

Further information on drug rehab and in particular underlying causes can be found at Drug Rehab.

Drugs and related psychiatric conditions

Addiction

Signs of substance abuse

A useful breakdown of 12 step programs and their usage can be found here: 12 step programs

Further resources for addiction are as follows:

NHS Alcohol support

Alcoholics Anonymous

Action on Addiction

AddAction

Rehab4Addiction