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Fighting Addiction

A One of the biggest health problems today is addiction: addiction to drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, food, shopping, gambling...the list goes on. Even though cigarette packages contain warnings, people continue to smoke. Despite the fact that obesity is life threatening, some people just can't control their eating habits. And while AIDS continues to affect people across the world, intravenous drug use and irresponsible sexual practices continue. In spite of the health risks of addiction, kicking the habit can be close to impossible for some addicts and very difficult for most. There are, however, many options available for those who want to stop.

B Every year, many people addicted to alcohol, drugs, or cigarettes try to go "cold turkey," stopping suddenly without the help of any kind of treatment. While going cold turkey is a popular method, it isn't very effective. Very few people who try to quit cold turkey actually succeed. There are, however, other methods to help people who are addicted. Experts don't agree on the origins and causes of addiction, and therefore there are many types of treatments.

C Some addicts turn to behavioral therapy, such as twelve-step programs, for help. The original twelve-step program was Alcoholics Anonymous, or AA. Other twelve-step programs such as Narcotics Anonymous and Overeaters Anonymous are modeled on AA. All of these programs treat addiction as an illness and help achieve recovery through spirituality and group dynamics. In these programs, addicts attend meetings, talk about their own addictions, listen to other people's stories, and try to follow twelve steps to recovery. Critics of these programs say that they focus too much on God and religion, while supporters say that twelve-step programs are not religious, but rather spiritual, and that they encourage people to consider whether or not there is a power greater than themselves. For those with very serious addictions or for whom these outpatient programs (programs outside of a clinic or hospital) don't work, there are residential treatment centers. Some follow the twelve-step program, some don't, but they all help patients to "detox" (get the drugs or alcohol out of their bodies) and to deal with withdrawal symptoms (the physical and mental effects of stopping taking drugs or alcohol when you are addicted). Many of them focus on involving patients' families in recovery.

D Another way of fighting addiction is to use prescription or over-the-counter medications. For instance, many smokers will try nicotine replacement therapy in order to quit smoking. Nicotine replacement products, such as the patch, gum, nasal sprays, and inhalers provide the body with small amounts of nicotine (the habit-forming chemical found in cigarettes) without the harmful toxins of cigarettes. This way, smokers can slowly stop their physical dependence on nicotine without severe withdrawal. Alcoholics (people addicted to alcohol) can use different types of medicine. Antabuse is a medication that prevents people from drinking. If a person drinks alcohol while taking Antabuse, they get severely sick with vomiting, shaking, and sweating. Other prescription medications used to treat alcoholism include naltrexone and acamprosate. These are not quite as strong as Antabuse.

E Finally, many people suffering from addiction have looked for answers in alternative remedies and treatments such as acupuncture, meditation, and hypnosis. These treatments are usually not done by traditional doctors or in hospitals. Acupuncture is a medical practice that started in China over 2,500 years ago. It involves placing needles in the body in order to stimulate the flow of energy. Many people have found acupuncture in the ears to be an effective treatment for addiction. In addition, meditation and hypnosis have sometimes been shown to help people change their addictive behavior.

F Many experts say that a combination of different treatments is the most effective way to stop addictive behavior. For instance, one of the most successful methods for smokers is a combination of the nicotine replacement products (such as the patch or gum) and antidepressants. Smokers following this plan should also see a counselor for additional support.

G Do these treatments work? One of the most common answers is "they work if you want them to." Studies show that addicts who are forced into recovery have a much lower success rate than those who try to recover because they want to. For instance, one alcoholic who had been drinking for over forty years had tried everything: Antabuse, counseling, inpatient treatment, and AA. He finally took part in an acupuncture program sponsored by the government. He found that the acupuncture in his ears coupled with a change in lifestyle finally helped him to stop drinking for good. Unfortunately, the majority of the people in the program did not go voluntarily. They were sent there by others: the courts, the state, or their families, and they were not successful. The government closed the program, saying that acupuncture was not a successful treatment for addiction. Similarly, someone who attends AA meetings occasionally, or who does not participate fully in the program will find that the program probably isn't successful. At the end of the day, most addicts who stop their addictive behavior are successful because they want to be.

Recognizing Paragraph Topics

Write the paragraph letter on the line of the topic that describes it.


1		One way to quit: Stopping "cold turkey"


2		Conclusion: What works?


3		Introductory paragraph about addiction


4		Alternative treatments


5		Anti-addiction medications and nicotine replacement therapy


6		Combining treatment methods for effective recovery


7		Twelve-step programs and inpatient treatment centers

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Fighting Addiction

Recognizing Paragraph Topics

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