Essay on The Concept of Dual Addiction - 1232 Words

The Concept of Dual Addiction This research paper will focus on the concept of dual addiction specifically, that of alcohol addiction and simultaneous nicotine addiction. I should make note at this point of my personal interest in the addictive process is a result of the existence of addiction in my family. I have experienced and observed the chaos, hardships and tragedies in my family as a result of the progressive nature of the addiction process. First, I would like to provide a general definition of addiction. Addiction is the repetition of a behavior or behaviors in a habitual or obsessive manner in the face of continued or progressively worsening consequences. Twelve step programs have labeled it as a disease of the mind, body†¦show more content†¦Alcohol addicts its victims both psychologically and physically. As the psychological addiction progresses, so does the physical dependency as well. Alcohol is consisted of both ethyl and methyl alcohol. The ethyl alcohol is what gives a person feel good. Ethyl alcohol is quickly absorbed into the blood stream. Methyl alcohol is similar to embalming fluid, takes longer to breakdown and is responsible for the morning after hangover. The traditional cure for a hangover is to have another drink. Drinking more slows down the methyl alcohol while the body absorbs the ethyl alcohol, resulting in the person feeling good temporarily. The research that has been reviewed for this paper has utilized the Vietnam Era Twin, (VET), Registry consisting 3356 pairs of male twins. These twins were born between January 1, 1939 and December 31, 1955 and served in the military on active duty during the Vietnam War era (1965-1975). This follows a previously published study by Swan, Carmelli Cardon (1996), which reported a genetic correlation between smoking and alcohol consumption in male American World War Two veteran twins. In a study of female twins, Prescott and Kendler (1995) found that family system dynamics contributed modestly to nicotine and alc ohol dependence with only small geneticShow MoreRelatedTreating Trauma As The Root Of Addiction854 Words   |  4 Pagestreating trauma as the root of addiction Everyone has suffered from incidents in their lives that may be considered traumatic. These incidents are a necessary part of life: they help teach us important emotional lessons that can make us stronger and more successful people. Unfortunately trauma often exists at the root of an alcohol or drug addiction. Thankfully it s possible to treat this problem and return you to a happy and successful life that is free of addiction. Understanding Trauma TraumaRead MoreSelf Help For Individuals With Co Occurring Mental Health And Substance Use Disorders1601 Words   |  7 Pagesstruggling with mental health problems (Timko, Sutkowi, Cronkite, Makin-Byrd Moos, 2011). 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