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Source: (consider it)
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Thread: The Major Cause of Addiction
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Horseman Bree
Shipmate
# 5290
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Posted
which is the edited title of this article in the HuffPo
The author's thesis, backed up by useful research, is that the disconnection from society/family/friendly people that many people feel is a significant determinant of addiction of one sort or another.
I would hesitate to say that this is "The Real" cause of addiction, but, in my own school-teaching and small-town-living experience, it is certainly a large factor. (Anecdotal evidence on request)
The problem, of course, is that this idea would put all of us Christians in the position of having to do something to help beat addictions by "connecting" with at least some person each in the attempt to change their path. No relaxing in the comfort of The War on Drugs or the bland vileness of shunning. If nothing else, it should at least get us to drop some of the nastier views we have of "them", just as we are beginning to do with LGBTs.
What say ye?
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It's Not That Simple
Posts: 5372 | From: more herring choker than bluenose | Registered: Dec 2003
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cliffdweller
Shipmate
# 13338
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Posted
I saw the article on facebook this morning. It's an extraordinary thesis. I hope more research follows. If this preliminary thesis is confirmed, it will be ground-breaking in the way we treat addiction, and should have huge theological implications as well. Very, very intriguing study.
It somewhat aligns with what we're seeing with homelessness in general. We used to take homeless people and put them into rehab or get them on meds if they're mentally ill or get them a job or health care or whatever was the immediate cause of their homelessness-- and then get them housed. That didn't work all that well. The newest research has found that if we begin with housing-- put them in permanent, long-term housing (not just shelters) first, even while they're still addicted/mentally ill/disabled etc. we're able to overcome those other challenges much more readily with a far greater success rate.
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"Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid." -Frederick Buechner
Posts: 11242 | From: a small canyon overlooking the city | Registered: Jan 2008
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Bostonman
Shipmate
# 17108
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Posted
This is interesting but not a particularly new idea. Compare it to Emile Durkheim's idea that "anomie" (a sort of lack of moral structure arising from and combined with lack of social bonds and social dislocation) was a determining factor in suicide rates across societies. One of the founding approaches in modern sociology.
Posts: 424 | From: USA | Registered: May 2012
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orfeo
Ship's Musical Counterpoint
# 13878
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Posted
Seems a perfectly sensible thesis. A major goal of most addictive behaviours is to make life more interesting and exciting. If your life is already interesting and exciting, there's a lot less desire/need to supplement it. There isn't a void to fill.
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Technology has brought us all closer together. Turns out a lot of the people you meet as a result are complete idiots.
Posts: 18173 | From: Under | Registered: Jul 2008
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Timothy the Obscure
Mostly Friendly
# 292
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Posted
It's old news for some of us, but we do enjoy it when it leaks past the usual filters. The ACE Study covers a lot of it. This story doesn't focus on the addiction part (though it's mentioned). But yes, it's about pain--men with an ACE score of 7 are 4600 times more likely to abuse drugs intravenously than men with an ACE score of 0.
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When you think of the long and gloomy history of man, you will find more hideous crimes have been committed in the name of obedience than have ever been committed in the name of rebellion.
- C. P. Snow
Posts: 6114 | From: PDX | Registered: May 2001
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RuthW
liberal "peace first" hankie squeezer
# 13
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Timothy the Obscure:
It's old news for some of us, but we do enjoy it when it leaks past the usual filters. The ACE Study covers a lot of it. This story doesn't focus on the addiction part (though it's mentioned). But yes, it's about pain--men with an ACE score of 7 are 4600 times more likely to abuse drugs intravenously than men with an ACE score of 0.
Holy God. People need to read the info at that link. It's really stunning.
Posts: 24453 | From: La La Land | Registered: Apr 2001
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itsarumdo
Shipmate
# 18174
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Posted
Overwhelm, leading to emotional pain and/or numbness, leading to whatever - usually including disconnection from others.
"The alcohol is not the problem, it's the solution"
The addiction creates a numbness or forgetfulness or induces a temporary state of not{whatever the background emotion is}
One of the most common factors is some kind of dislocation/dysfunction/major neurosis in parenting (which leads to socialisation problems more than many other factors), but that's not the only cause.
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"Iti sapis potanda tinone" Lycophron
Posts: 994 | From: Planet Zog | Registered: Jul 2014
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Golden Key
Shipmate
# 1468
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Posted
Self-medication for real problems. Plain and simple.
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Blessed Gator, pray for us!
--"Oh bat bladders, do you have to bring common sense into this?" (Dragon, "Jane & the Dragon")
--"Oh, Peace Train, save this country!" (Yusuf/Cat Stevens, "Peace Train")
Posts: 18601 | From: Chilling out in an undisclosed, sincere pumpkin patch. | Registered: Oct 2001
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Moo
Ship's tough old bird
# 107
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Horseman Bree
The problem, of course, is that this idea would put all of us Christians in the position of having to do something to help beat addictions by "connecting" with at least some person each in the attempt to change their path.
I see the problem that many people, even isolated ones, don't want to have anything to do with people making friendly contact with the intention of changing their path.
Moo
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Kerygmania host
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See you later, alligator.
Posts: 20365 | From: Alleghany Mountains of Virginia | Registered: May 2001
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Alan Cresswell
Mad Scientist 先生
# 31
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Posted
How about recognising that for many people loneliness and social isolation is a problem, that in some cases leads to addiction or other negative responses. The church then would be helping people to reach out and connect with people to ease loneliness and social isolation, without any aim to go beyond that.
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Don't cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it.
Posts: 32413 | From: East Kilbride (Scotland) or 福島 | Registered: May 2001
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Mili
Shipmate
# 3254
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Posted
I agree with a lot of the article and it's not really surprising to anyone who works with people. I work with kids of all backgrounds and volunteer with kids (and also their parents) from disadvantaged backgrounds and it's fairly obvious that childhood traumas and exclusion really can affect behavioural choices and risk taking, which then impact health and often lead to teen parenthood or parenthood outside a stable relationship.
Drug using and alcoholic adults can be shunned by their communities and this can also lead to their children been shunned by families who do not have the same problems. Even those who want to be inclusive will not want their children visiting a home where there is abuse or neglect.
Or like my mother's family where her mother was a great parent (except for being unable to escape a relationship with a man who was a danger to the whole family for many years) but her father was mentally ill, alcoholic and violent - no one is invited home, so the social lives of everyone in the family are limited somewhat.
I think my mother and her siblings would score over seven on the ACE scale, but score quite well on the resilience scale due to having a loving, caring mother, support from some of their extended family including a Great Aunt who lived with them and also from neighbours and friends (though they all ignored the domestic violence which was pretty common for the time). That must be why they have turned out ok, though with some anxiety and depression and trust issues. My oldest Aunt has had a lot of health problems and nearly died a few times, but has always pulled through and is extremely resilient and healthy given she has also lost both her adult sons in traffic accidents.
Posts: 1015 | From: Melbourne, Australia | Registered: Aug 2002
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Mili
Shipmate
# 3254
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Posted
(sorry to double post) I don't agree with the bit about it all being caused or made much worse by modern society and the internet though. It's not like there was a golden age where addiction and social exclusion didn't exist. In former times social rules were often more rigid so it would probably be even more difficult to make connections if you didn't fit in for any reason. And if you lived in a small community and got excluded, there would be less chance of turning to anyone for support without leaving the community.
In the western world (and many other parts too) there is also now at least some effort to address domestic violence and most people recognise what was formally acceptable childhood punishment to be physical abuse. Eg. being hit with belts or the strap etc. usually to the point of bruising or bleeding. I don't know why people still defend corporal punishment by parents. It is not that long since is was acceptable for teachers to hit children, but even parents who hit their kids with wooden spoons would hit the roof if a teacher touched their child now.
Posts: 1015 | From: Melbourne, Australia | Registered: Aug 2002
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la vie en rouge
Parisienne
# 10688
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Posted
I just read a book on connection, The Love Secret by Sue Johnson. She makes some to my mind rather grand claims to have figured out exactly what is going on in our brains in our intimate relationships, but nonetheless she has some very interesting points to make.
Human babies must have other people to care for them or they die. Consequently we are born with our brains hardwired to bond with people who look after us. This is at the heart of attachment theory. What the book claims is that adults aren’t so very different. We are programmed to seek out meaningful connections, but rather than looking for basic needs like food and shelter, what we are after above as adults all is emotional security.
On internet communication – Johnson describes an interesting experiment which has looked at the effect of Botox on people’s empathy levels. Apparently, following Botox, people are less attuned to the feelings of others, probably because their face muscles are effectively paralysed so they don’t unconsciously mirror the expression of the person facing them, making it harder for their brain to process the other person’s feelings. In the same way, when we communicate with someone through a screen, we don’t pick up on the tiny cues that allow us to have empathy with their deep feelings in order to create the most meaningful connections.* In this respect, I think Mark Zuckerberg is a big liar with all that “friending” and “unfriending”. You don’t create a real friendship by clicking a button on your computer. You become acquaintances.
*I think there are limits to this, because I know some very empathetic blind people. However, they are much more sensitive to tone of voice than the average person. You still get a more in-depth connection with someone in person than through a screen.
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Rent my holiday home in the South of France
Posts: 3696 | Registered: Nov 2005
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no prophet's flag is set so...
Proceed to see sea
# 15560
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Posted
I might ask a question: Do you think that alcohol or drugs can be a form of crude self-medication?
I think so. But this is not the whole story. They can also be used to learn and to expand parts of experience. But I do think self-medication is what's going on sometimes. It is interesting there's an association between bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) and alcoholism for example.
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Out of this nettle, danger, we pluck this flower, safety.
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Posts: 11498 | From: Treaty 6 territory in the nonexistant Province of Buffalo, Canada ↄ⃝' | Registered: Mar 2010
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Tortuf
Ship's fisherman
# 3784
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Horseman Bree:
The problem, of course, is that this idea would put all of us Christians in the position of having to do something to help beat addictions by "connecting" with at least some person each in the attempt to change their path.
There is a difference between the cause of addiction and the - for purposes of this post - the cure for addiction.
This is not a blog, so I am not going into a dissertation about causes. Suffice it to say that when I read the article my thoughts were:
"I am that lab rat"
and
"Ah well, science seems to be catching up to AA."
As to the obligation of Christians to go out - find an alcoholic or addict (same thing really) and connect with them so they will be all better -
Rest your conscience. That won't work.
While things other than the 12 steps can work, all cures really need to come from within and with intensive work with people who understand the problem from the inside. That is a fellow addict/alcoholic.
Well meaning advice and charitable association might help with some side issues, but unless the addict/alcoholic is willing and prepared to face their own problems under their own steam, the helpers are highly likely to be enabling rather than helping.
Posts: 6963 | From: The Venice of the South | Registered: Dec 2002
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Horseman Bree
Shipmate
# 5290
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Posted
Thank you Tortuf. That matches my experience in schools - one kindly person can't make anyone change much, if at all. Lord knows, one tries hard enough to make some difference to ANYONE, but you would have to undo the previous 16 (or how many) years of experience.
But at least one tries to avoid making things worse.
And the churches don't do that, being so often interested in shunning/avoiding the sick or misdirected, and labelling the "bad". Cripes, the C of E can't accept half of the population (F) without making itself into a laughing-stock, let alone dealing with the problems of smaller groups.
How can one have much hope that those with actual problems will be welcomed if those who just ARE female aren't recognised as human?
Sorry, forgot to add the reason I came back to this thread:
“If the soul is left in darkness, sins will be committed. The guilty one is not he who commits the sin, but the one who causes the darkness."
--Victor Hugo, Les Miserables
which seems to relate to the link in the OP. (Hat tip to
Richard Beck
[ 24. January 2015, 00:32: Message edited by: Horseman Bree ]
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It's Not That Simple
Posts: 5372 | From: more herring choker than bluenose | Registered: Dec 2003
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orfeo
Ship's Musical Counterpoint
# 13878
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Horseman Bree:
Thank you Tortuf. That matches my experience in schools - one kindly person can't make anyone change much, if at all.
But it shouldn't be one kindly person. It needs to be a more kindly community, a more kindly society.
There's no way one single person is going to fill another person's life in a healthy, functional way. A fulfilling satisfying life is made up of a whole range of interactions.
In any case, studies like this aren't primarily about understanding how to fix addiction once it occurs. They're more about understanding how to reduce the incidence of them occurring in the first place.
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Technology has brought us all closer together. Turns out a lot of the people you meet as a result are complete idiots.
Posts: 18173 | From: Under | Registered: Jul 2008
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Rossweisse
High Church Valkyrie
# 2349
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Posted
I saw that article and shared it on Fb, because it makes sense.
Heroin was developed (and advertised) as a non-addictive substitute for morphine. The scientist who developed it tried it on himself, and was not addicted. Apparently he had healthy connections in his own life.
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I'm not dead yet.
Posts: 15117 | From: Valhalla | Registered: Feb 2002
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Pyx_e
Quixotic Tilter
# 57
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Posted
Interesting article. I am unconvinced by the message of undying unconditional love on behalf of the addicts family and friends. It is in my opinion madness to suggest this. Addicts will just consume all and spit out broken spouses, broken children and broken friends for years. Often without noticing or caring. There must be a place for retreating to safety and a degree of accountability and consequences. At the very least for the sanity and health of the addicts loved ones.
On the thesis that this is "the cause" of addiction again I would wish to be broader. My current understanding is that your chances of addiction increase in line with 3 factors:
- Childhood trauma
- Genetics
- Culture
From the very beginning can I say it is about CHANCES. You can fall into all three of the above categories and not be an addict. You can fall into none of the above and develop addictive behaviours.
I think I would go along with the article and suggest the strongest "cause" is the emotional and spiritual effects of childhood trauma. While no gene has been identified it is clear it "runs in families." Though that may also be because of cause 1. There are more alcoholics in South Wales rugby clubs (with its drinking culture) than there are in Saudi coffee houses.
It is more complex than the article suggests or a simple forum post like this can encompass.
Don't be afraid to undock.
Pyx_e
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It is better to be Kind than right.
Posts: 9778 | From: The Dark Tower | Registered: May 2001
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Lamb Chopped
Ship's kebab
# 5528
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Timothy the Obscure:
It's old news for some of us, but we do enjoy it when it leaks past the usual filters. The ACE Study covers a lot of it. This story doesn't focus on the addiction part (though it's mentioned). But yes, it's about pain--men with an ACE score of 7 are 4600 times more likely to abuse drugs intravenously than men with an ACE score of 0.
Damn. This explains a helluva lot in my own life, including my weight. (ACE score of 6)
But I haven't a clue how to undo the damage. Or even how to get my nearest and dearest to understand or believe this.
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Er, this is what I've been up to (book).
Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down!
Posts: 20059 | From: off in left field somewhere | Registered: Feb 2004
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Tortuf
Ship's fisherman
# 3784
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Lamb Chopped:
But I haven't a clue how to undo the damage. Or even how to get my nearest and dearest to understand or believe this.
Don't worry about your nearest and dearest. Think about seeking out a 12 step group that suits your needs and identify instead of comparing for a while. Start working the steps and you might find some serenity. When you do, your family will see a difference.
Then, if they want to change to have what you have they can do so. You cannot make them change, nor will worrying about whether or not they will change do you, or them, any good.
12 Step groups:
AA
CODA
Al-Anon
ACA
There are others.
That being said, as Orfeo observed, the causes of addiction, etc. are different than the cures.
Posts: 6963 | From: The Venice of the South | Registered: Dec 2002
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Kelly Alves
Bunny with an axe
# 2522
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Lamb Chopped:
quote:
Originally posted by Timothy the Obscure:
It's old news for some of us, but we do enjoy it when it leaks past the usual filters. The ACE Study covers a lot of it. This story doesn't focus on the addiction part (though it's mentioned). But yes, it's about pain--men with an ACE score of 7 are 4600 times more likely to abuse drugs intravenously than men with an ACE score of 0.
Damn. This explains a helluva lot in my own life, including my weight. (ACE score of 6)
But I haven't a clue how to undo the damage. Or even how to get my nearest and dearest to understand or believe this.
9 here. God almighty.
I strongly echo what Tortuf said. Alcoholism is a disease, so is codependancy. As one fellow Alanoner said to me, if you are surrounded by ( or have been exposed to) a lot of sick folk, it's up to you to start taking your own medicine, or you will get sick, too. Guarenteed.
That being said-- I've had some really sad experiences as a churchgoer regarding how AA / Addiction groups are discussed. I worked at a very with it, hip, affluent liberal church for a while, who sponsored a couple recovery groups, and any time something was misplaced on a Thursday morning, the directors would grumble, "AA was here last night. We need to make sure to lock everything up Wednesday nights." ( Usually the item they were referring to was of little value and turned up somewhere reasonably predictable. ) Sadly, I've run into this kind if talk elsewhere, and again in churches that were calling themselves liberal.
And I recently had strong words with another program member for saying" to hell with them" when I passed on some info about a joint meeting someone from AA passed me.
Some people should stay far away from addicts, for their own safety and sanity, and people afflicted with the disease of codependacy need help and recovery if their own-- put the oxygen mask on yourself, then maybe you can assess what you can do to help someone else. But if you are in program, one if the twelve traditions is that you respect and (ideologically) support people in other programs, and not gossip about them.
If you are a church providing community space, shit or get off the pot. Either deny access to groups that have exhibited problem behavior (if you have determined they have), or extend your helping hand with respect and cooperation-- including what comes out of your mouth when they are not around. The whole noblesse oblige routine of extending community service so that you can proudly print it in your church bulletin, and then mumbling and snarking about it ever after, is ugliness.
Sorry if that was a bit hellish, but yuck. ![[Disappointed]](graemlins/disappointed.gif)
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I cannot expect people to believe “
Jesus loves me, this I know” of they don’t believe “Kelly loves me, this I know.”
Kelly Alves, somewhere around 2003.
Posts: 35076 | From: Pura Californiana | Registered: Mar 2002
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Alt Wally
Cardinal Ximinez
# 3245
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Posted
I would imagine there is a good deal of counter evidence that would show a lot of people from environments with stable and supportive personal relationships end up in addiction. I don't buy this thesis.
Posts: 3684 | Registered: Aug 2002
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Mili
Shipmate
# 3254
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Posted
I agree culture also plays a big part. Especially in our culture when it comes to alcohol. Alcohol is considered to be fun to consume and is legally promoted that way - it's part of the benefits of the playground in our culture if we use the rat analogy. And especially among young people, including teenagers, drinking to get drunk is part of the fun and being included.
A lot of people can consume alcohol in a way that doesn't destroy their lives and disconnect them from others and it actually can enhance their social life. But of course for others it can be a life destroyer and does lead to shunning by others once it leads to them not being able to lead a productive life or relate well to family and friends. Some are still able to work and have friends, but destroy family relationships through their drinking at home or the behaviour it causes.
And I also agree that providing community for some addicts needs to be done at a community level and is actually harder for friends and family to do in many cases. Especially if the addict is violent towards loved ones, steals from them, or pressures them for money. People need to keep themselves safe too and their children.
Posts: 1015 | From: Melbourne, Australia | Registered: Aug 2002
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cliffdweller
Shipmate
# 13338
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Posted
just want to thank Kelly for her post.
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"Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid." -Frederick Buechner
Posts: 11242 | From: a small canyon overlooking the city | Registered: Jan 2008
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Gramps49
Shipmate
# 16378
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Posted
I am a Chemical Dependency Professional. While I would say chemical dependency has a lot of different causes one of the things I focused on was how people became more and more isolated as their dependency increased. One of the goals is to get them to reconnect with their emotions, their significant others, and their higher power.
This information is not that all knew. AA recognizes this in their STEPS program. First admitting they are powerless over alcohol (or other drug if NA); Turn your life over to a higher power (spiritual connection); make a fearless moral inventory (personal connection); make a list of those you have wronged; and, where possible, make amends (interpersonal connections)
Of course AA would say there is no cure.
Posts: 2193 | From: Pullman WA | Registered: Apr 2011
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