A MULTIFACETED DISORDER

Addictions mainly concern psychoactive substances, which may be legal (tobacco, alcohol, medicines) or illegal (cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, cannabis, amphetamines, etc). Addictive disorders may also exist without the involvement of psychoactive substances: this applies to eating disorders (bulimia, anorexia), pathological play, an over-intensive sports activity or cyber-dependency. The level of danger applicable to these types of addiction varies tremendously but they all closely meet dependency criteria: loss of control, monopolisation of the thought process, continued addictive behaviour despite the negative effects on the personal, affective and social life of the user, a need to increase doses and the appearance of withdrawal symptoms if the person stops using the substance or ceases the addictive behaviour.

 

A genuine brain disorder

Addiction should no longer be considered as a state of weakness but as an illness – a genuine brain disorder. And be treated as such. With use and abuse, the brain has been transformed and no longer functions normally.

Thought, sleep, mood and eating patterns are disturbed, interpersonal relations are modified, together with the person’s life model. This illness intensifies the emotions and hypersensitivity of patients. Channels of will and dependency gradually start to cross one another at an increasingly rare pace. Willpower is no longer sufficient to trigger capability.