Addiction Transfer Essay

353 Words2 Pages
Formulate a verbal hypothesis statement concerning cross addictions, substitute addictions, and addiction transfer. Psychologists have helped to expose the struggles of addicts; no longer is recovery a major issue on the journey to sobriety, but the resistance to avoid new addictions is an additional struggle plaguing their lives. Addiction is a brain disease. Charles Graham, the program manager at Sober Living by the Sea (an addiction treatment center) states, “When a person gets clean and sober from one drug and then encounters stress or anxiety, the probability of resorting to another drug having the same effect” (Vivo, 2012). The transference of one addiction (like alcoholism) to another addiction (such as drug addiction) is known as addiction transfer in the discipline of psychology. Generally, the new addiction develops months to years after recovering from the initial addiction. Another struggle in addiction is an addict’s cross addiction (or addiction to more than one drug; generally in the same drug class). Psychologists coined the phrase “addiction transfer” due to the observation of drug addicts and/or alcoholics recovering from one addiction to another compulsive behavior (Vivo, 2012). This behavior is attributed to a void still afflicting an addict going through the recovery process. According to drugaddictioncenter.org, the following addictions generally are associated with addiction transfer: Central Nervous System (CNS) stimulants such as methamphetamine, cocaine, Ritalin, or nicotine. CNS depressants, such as alcohol, sedatives, hypnotics, or Xanax, are additional addictions. Narcotics, opium, Vicodin, and Oxycontin are well-known opiates contributing to addictive personalities. Cannabis (such as THC, marijuana, and hashish) is also an addiction with the capability of addiction transfer (although mainstream may not always believe this
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