Addiction: The Greatest Tragedy

Drug abuse is one of the prevailing social problems, and has proven difficult for scientists to tackle over the years. It was reported this week in Digital Journal that doctors can now stimulate one part of the brain with laser light, and wipe away addictive behavior….and conversely turn the non-addicted into compulsive cocaine seekers. I am not a doctor or scientist so cannot comment, except to agree that new methods of treatment are needed because any kind of addictive behavior can be problematic.

With addiction, the desire of the heart is to habitually attach itself to a specific object or activity or person, which harms or deters our ability to function in a major area of life. Impossible to control, the attachment ultimately enslaves the person’s will and masks their true feelings. It can be physical—to substances or food; or psychological—to compulsive behaviors.

Addiction is a form of emotional anesthesia; an escape from responsibilities; even an excuse to blame someone else. Addicted people feel the need to deceive themselves and others. They lie, deny, justify, or cover up their behavior; and rely on confused perceptions and misbeliefs. Life issues which need to be acknowledged and dealt with are not, thereby, enabling them to remain addicted.

Some people insist addiction is a failure of society, or a spiritual weakness called sin, or a state in which people simply won’t take responsibility for their behavior. These moralistic understandings are usually rejected by American society. The most popular theory is addictive behaviors are diseases. What is clear is addiction is a complex interaction of psychological, biochemical, neurological, and spiritual influences.

Like other compulsive behaviors, addiction is driven by deeper emotional factors such as, overwhelming helplessness, failure, rejection, anger, depression, abandonment, criticism, anxiety, or even boredom. You can have all the willpower in the world, be working like crazy to stop, but you can’t stop the behavior. Founder of analytical psychology, Carl Jung, said, “Every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether the narcotic be alcohol, morphine or idealism.”

What I’ve learned is the difference between having a passionate desire towards something and an addiction is freedom. If you have been unsuccessful in your attempts to cut out or cut down on your favorite thing, it may be an addiction. If your favorite thing interferes with your relationships, your work and family responsibilities, or your worship of God, it may be an addiction. If it dulls your awareness of your true feelings, it may be an addiction. If you continue to use it or do it despite negative consequences, it may be an addiction.

The consequences of addiction are estrangement from God, habitual sin, health, and relational problems. Unbeknown to us, the heart of any addiction is the longing for the holy. The only way to heal completely, I believe, is to first fill the hole in our soul with God Almighty’s healing grace made available through Jesus Christ.

This is an excerpt from the book Something Happened On My Way To Hell"" by author Kimberly Davidson