The Philippine Online Chronicles

In the news last week, the sudden death of 80s teen star Corey Haim rocked the world. He was 38. A suspected player in the cause of his death: accidental overdose on over-the-counter and prescription medications.

As of press time, however, the cause of his death has not yet been determined as results of the coroner’s official autopsy have not yet been released. Nonetheless, while Haim was said to have been ill prior to his death, he had struggled with addiction throughout most of his life. Four bottles of prescription medication were found in his home after his death but there were no indications of illegal drugs. Authorities further reportedly uncovered that Haim had illegal prescriptions for the powerful painkiller OxyContin.

Corey Haim is just one in a long list of Hollywood stars whose lives have been cut short by addiction, whether directly or indirectly.

Addiction is a powerful and debilitating problem, or perhaps disease as some experts call it. It often starts out innocuously, such as a simple act of adolescent experimentation. However, for many, that one experiment can lead to a lifetime of being chained by addiction.

Some women begin their road to addiction with something that may seem benign, such as taking a dietary supplement. As they lose weight and receive positive feedback for their weight loss, this can trigger a desire for more of that substance to lose more weight. Albeit they may long to break free from these chains, they often find that they cannot. They are powerless to these addictions.

Addiction comes in many forms, and it chooses no one to be its prisoner. While many would assume that addiction is more of a man’s problem, it is a fact that women can be addicts too. Women of all ages, races and socioeconomic backgrounds can find themselves in the throes of addiction. In fact, according to the Harvard Mental Health Letter, women find it more difficult to recover from addictions.  Further, women progress more quickly from abusing a substance to becoming dependent on it. Women are reportedly more likely to become addicted to substances because of environmental cues or triggers while men become addicted to the substance itself. Studies suggest that women use drugs, alcohol or other addictive behaviors or substances in order to attend to cover up for emotions or medicate their pain.

Definitions and types of addiction

According to Joseph Frascella in an article written by Michael D. Lemonick, addictions are repetitive behaviors that one engages in despite being aware of the negative consequences attached to these behaviors.  Addiction involves two key elements: abuse and dependence.

Abuse is the excessive use of a substance or engagement of a behavior on a regular basis despite the legal, moral, social and physical repercussions. Dependence, on the other hand, is a psychological compulsion or physical need for the substance due and is characterized by tolerance and preoccupation with the substance or behavior between periods of use.

Addiction, however, has been extended to include other types and sources of addiction. Researchers have defined two different types of addiction, specifically substance addictions and process addictions. Process addictions involve compulsive dependence on behaviors such as shopping, eating, gambling, sex, hoarding, using the internet and spending.

Perhaps the most popular type of addiction that has been given attention in the last few months is that of sex addiction, especially in light of the Tiger Woods controversy. While more men have been associated with this, even women can also become sexual addicts.

Another widely publicized form of addiction in the past few years is that of prescription drug abuse and dependence. Over-the-counter medications are also abused. Though an old problem, the recent deaths of Michael Jackson, Anna Nicole Smith, Britney Murphy and Corey Caim brought the spotlight on this form of addiction. Because of the availability of drugs online, many are able to self-medicate and while their initial goal may be for pain relief, they are often hooked on these drugs easily.

A growing addiction in today’s highly technological world is that of internet addiction. With the advent of Facebook and Twitter, many have become increasingly attached to their social networking sites. In fact, some have lost jobs and compromised relationships because of their growing addiction to these sites.

Are you an addict?

When exactly does “addiction” happen? With all the different types of addictions out there, how can one really be identified as an addict? While there may not be a clear-cut definition of addiction, several symptoms and behaviors are associated with the diagnosis of addiction. Some red flags that one can look out for in diagnosing addiction are as follows:

1. Dependence and Tolerance. Is the individual displaying an increasing need to “feed their addictions”? Are they unable to move forward or to another task unless this need is met? Take for example the character of Dr. House in the popular television show House. He is a classic example of someone who is dependent on prescription medication.

3. Distress or Withdrawal Symptoms. Does the individual feel distressed either psychologically or physically if the substance or behavior they are addicted to is unavailable to them? With substance abuse, physical withdrawal symptoms such as shaking and nausea. For those who are addicted to the internet, for example, do they feel restless or anxious, or even upset, if they do not have access to their accounts for extended periods of time?

4. Danger. Has the person shown blatant disregard for his or her safety, as well as the safety as others, to be able to attend to his or her compulsion? For example, despite the dangers of drinking and driving, does he or she still get behind the wheel under the influence? Similarly, does he or she text or go online to check on their accounts while driving?

The road to recovery

What makes breaking an addiction to some substances difficult is the fact that it is socially tolerable. Drinking and smoking, for example, are widely accepted addictions. Despite the proven consequences of these behaviors, individuals are unable to curb these because not only is it okay in today’s society, it can at times even be encouraged. Shows like Gossip Girl, for example, show teenagers drinking alcohol on an almost daily basis, with little to no consequences for their actions. Further, it is affordable and accessible to most.

On the other hand, addiction to illegal substances such as metamphetamines, marijuana, and cocaine are still widely frowned upon. As such, these addictions are the types that often receive attention and help.

In the Philippines, there are centers that help individuals recover from their addictions, whatever these may be. While social support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous are less popular here than in our US counterparts, people who are ready and willing to battle their addictions can find help from professionals and counselors in rehabilitation and counseling centers.

Overcoming any form of addiction can be a difficult process. For some, it is like climbing a slippery slope. While they may wholeheartedly want to overcome their addictions, many find recovery as a lifelong process that requires a lot of social support and patience. Seeking support from professionals is an important step towards recovery and this journey can only begin when the addict finally recognizes and admits that he or she needs help.

Photos: “Corey Haim” by jerry angelica, c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved / "Drugs" by Ria Tirazona. Some Rights Reserved / “315 Crush” by Janine, c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved

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Maria Andrea (Ria) S. Tirazona, M.S. (cand.), popularly known as Yapatoots in the online blogging and social community, is a preschool teacher at Playschool International and part-time lecturer at the Psychology Department of De La Salle University. She is also an Associate Psychologist at PsychConsult, Inc, where she specializes in Psychological Asssessment. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Family Life and Child Development from the University of the Philippines and is currently working on her thesis for her Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology at the De La Salle University. In her spare time she maintains several blogs, includingwww.theaccidentalteacher.com and www.yapatoots.com.

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