Who Am I?

By Kim Bull

I could be your son or daughter, mom or dad. I could be old or young, I could be married or single, gay or straight. I could be gainfully employed or homeless. I could be any race or ethnicity. I could be pregnant. I could be your neighbor. I could be you.

Who am I? I am a representative of the number one health problem facing America today. I am an addict/alcoholic.

Addiction is known by different names: chemical dependency, substance abuse or alcoholism. People who are addicted are known by different names: addicts, alcoholics, junkies, meth-heads, hypes, cranksters, and the list goes on. This topic can generate more discussion, debate, and controversy than just about any other and affects millions of families in America.

Following are some of the primary risk factors which increase the likelihood of a person of any age (but especially at a young age) becoming addicted if they use alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs (ATOD).

• Family history of addiction—if one or both parents, aunts, uncles, or grandparents are addicted- the risk increases


• Early first use of substances—the earlier a person uses a chemical - the risk increases


• Friends who use—having friends who use substances—the risk increases


An individual cannot control their family history. All the more reason to exercise control over those things they can. They can control at what age they start smoking, drinking, and/or using drugs; or they can choose to abstain from those chemicals. If you don’t smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, or do drugs, you can never get addicted to them. Also, they have a choice whether to spend time with friends who use cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs.

Simply stated: The younger a young person is when they start to use cigarettes, alcohol, or drugs, the faster a person transitions from social using to addiction. Many of the twenty and thirty year olds who enter treatment programs today for help with their addictions report starting using ATOD in Junior High School, at ages 12-14. According to 2007 Highlights for Treatment Episode Set (TEDS), the majority of adults who enter substance abuse treatment reported the age of first use as follows: 12 years or under --and 13 to 14 years—30%; 15-16 years –20.9%; 17-18 years—16.6%; 21 years and above—25%. –In other words, 50% of people are introduced to ATOD before age 17.

When one starts that young, addiction can happen in a matter of months, not the years that it takes someone who didn’t start doing anything until age twenty, especially if there is family history (a genetic predisposition).

Addiction is a true equal opportunity disease. It can affect all people in all walks of life. For most addicts it starts early in their lives. It isn’t what anyone aspires to do. When asked what they want to do when they grow you don’t hear: “ I want to be a meth addict and neglect my children.” Or “I want to be an alcoholic  who can’t stop drinking.” Or “I hope to be a junkie who will do anything for my next fix.”

There are 20 questions you can answer that will help you determine whether you have a problem with alcohol or drugs. These questions relate to common problems with using. Only you can decide if you have a "problem" and whether you want to do something about it.

1. Do you lose time from work due to your using?

2. Is using making your home life unhappy?

3. Do you use because you are shy with other people?

4. Is using affecting your reputation?

5. Have you ever felt remorse after using?

6. Have you gotten into financial difficulties as a result of your using?

7. Do you turn to lower companions and an inferior environment when using?

8. Does your using make you careless of your family's welfare?

9. Has your ambition decreased since using?

10. Do you crave a drink or fix at a definite time daily?

11. Do you want a drink or fix the next morning?

12. Does using cause you to have difficulty in sleeping?

13. Has your efficiency decreased since using?

14. Is using jeopardizing your job or business?

15. Do you use to escape from worries or troubles?

16. Do you use alone?

17. Have you ever had a complete loss of memory as a result of your using?

18. Has your physician ever treated you for using?

19. Do you use to build up your self-confidence?

20. Have you ever been in a hospital or institution on account of using?

If you answered yes to one or more of the above questions you may have a problem with alcohol and/or other drugs.



The following websites are excellent if you want more information regarding addiction and recovery.



SAMHSA.gov

NIDA.gov

Prevnet.gov