APA Expert Opinion

In this month’s installment recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month, Leonardo Rodriguez, M.D., discusses addiction awareness in the Hispanic/Latino Community.

What is drug addiction?

Drug addiction is a brain illness that causes individuals to use addictive drugs compulsively despite serious consequences which include health, family, legal, and socioeconomic problems. People with this disorder lose control of their lives. They may end up using larger amounts of drugs for a longer period of time than anticipated, and attempt to quit multiple times without success.  They may spend their time acquiring, using, and recovering from the effects of the drug and neglect their families, education, jobs, and health allowing the substance to become the center of their lives. Over the course of time addicts need to use larger amounts of the drugs to get the same high, this is known as tolerance, and in the absence of the drug they may experience sickness, known as withdrawal symptoms. Addiction is a worldwide epidemic that can affect people of all ages, all socioeconomic status, both genders, and all ethnic groups. Once addiction develops the disease can last for life but with appropriate treatment individuals can regain control of their lives.

How does a person become a drug addict?
The vulnerability of a person to develop addiction depends on several risk factors. Biological factors like genetics account for up to 60% of the susceptibility to addiction. Age and mental illness are also important biological risk factors; teenagers and mentally ill persons are at higher risk of developing addiction with the use of drugs. Environmental risk factors like family, school, and friends can increase the odds of developing addiction. If the parents or adults of a family abuse drugs or engage in criminal practices their children have higher risks of abusing drugs. Peer pressure and poor academic achievement, and problems with acculturation, often experienced by Latinos/Hispanics and their children as well as other immigrant groups, can also influence youngsters and even adults to use drugs.
 Can a person become an addict by drinking beer?
Beer contains alcohol and alcohol is an addictive drug. A 12 ounce can of beer contains the same amount of alcohol as a 5 ounce cup of wine or 1.5 ounce shot of liquor such as tequila or whisky. With progressive use of alcohol the brain and other body systems undergo changes, develop tolerance, and the person needs to increase the alcohol intake in order to achieve the desired high and keep from experiencing withdrawal symptoms, ultimately leading to the repetitive, compulsive, and uncontrollable pattern of addiction.
Can addiction be cured?
Addiction, like any other chronic relapsing disease can be effectively treated so that persons affected by this condition can have a chance to live normal lives.  Having an addiction does not obligate the individual to live under the influence of drugs. Other medical conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes are similar in that they can also be effectively treated.
How is drug addiction treated?
Since addiction to drugs is a complex disorder that affects many areas of an individual’s life the treatment is provided in the form of a program composed of trained professionals including doctors, nurses, social workers, therapists, counselors and technicians to help the person recover from the illness and have a chance to live a normal life.

For many people the first step or phase of treatment is detoxification (detox) from the addictive drugs. This is generally done in a hospital or special detox center where medications are used for a few days to prevent or reduce the discomfort and dangerous symptoms associated with withdrawal. These symptoms can range from general malaise and flu-like symptoms to seizures, delirium and ultimately death. During this time the person also learns important information about recovery in preparation to continue to the next step of treatment. In some cases it may be possible to provide detox treatment as outpatient.

The setting of the next phase of treatment can vary according to the individual’s needs but it is generally geared to address and modify the person’s emotions and behaviors and provide with knowledge and skills to help the person abstain from the use of addictive drugs. Reading materials and self-help support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) can be very useful in helping maintain abstinence.

In addition to behavior modification interventions there are medications that can help reduce cravings to drugs and even block the effects of some drugs. People with addiction and mental disorders can benefit from a multitude of medications to help improve their condition.

Research data indicates that the best outcome in treatment is when medications and behavioral modification are combined. Although treatment success rates are encouraging it is important to know that an addict can relapse several times before achieving permanent recovery. Nevertheless, the first and most important step in the process of recovery is for the person to decide to get help.
Where can I get help and more information on addiction and treatment?
If you or someone you know kneed help to stop using drugs you may start by calling 1-800-662-4357 and an operator will tell you what treatment programs are near you. Or you can go online at http://dasis3.samhsa.gov.

Under this link http://www.healthyminds.org/hispanic_resources.cfm
Please add the following information.
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
1 Choke Cherry Road
Rockville, MD 20857
240-276-2420
www.samhsa.gov

National Institute on Drug Abuse
http://www.nida.nih.gov/index.html

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
5635 Fishers Lane, MSC 9304
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9304 301-443-3860
www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) World Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 459,
New York, NY 10163
(212) 870-3400
 www.aa.org

Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
Main Office
PO Box 9999
Van Nuys, California 91409 USA
 (818) 773-9999
http://www.na.org

Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.
1600 Corporate Landing Parkway
Virginia Beach, VA 23454–5617
757-563-1600
www.al-anon.alateen.org

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