ADDICTION IS A CHRONIC DISEASE, NEVER A CHOICE

After more than two decades as SunHealth continues chat with Advanced Psychiatric Nurse and Addiction an optometrist, Boago Modiisane discusses how he got into the field, Professional, David Mangwegape as he unpacks addiction in all its facests as well ho

What is it that can make an addiction be considered unhealthy. Is you know, any kind of base-level addiction considered unhealthy, or is there a certain criteria for determining that?

Addiction is dependent on individual characteristics, but no addiction is healthy! There is criterion for diagnosing addiction disorders by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 developed by the World Health Organisation experts. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders also have a criterion for addiction disorders.

What are some of the common ways that addiction starts?

Before one can be addicted to a substance, they may go through various steps of progression of use. Some start substance use through recreational or experimental means mainly driven by peer pressure or curiosity in case of adolescents. Some may use a substance to cope with demands of an occasional event like drinking at a baby shower. Experimental and occasional use may grow into intensified use and ultimately addictive or compulsive use. Alcohol has been documented as the drug that facilitates use of other substances because of its legal nature.

Talk a little bit more in detail about the treatments for addictions. What are some ways addictions are treated?

Treatment for addiction starts from screening for substance use that leads to brief intervention. An assessment follows suit and individual may be given individual counselling or pharmacotherapy when psychiatric symptoms are prominent. Different counselling approaches are employed depending on the problems identified. Other clients may benefit from group therapy within an inpatient and outpatient set up. Substance use affects families in many ways; family therapy may be necessary.

In addition to conventional treatment options, self-help programs like those offered through Alcohol Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous may be used as an enhancement to professional counselling.

Aside from stigma, what are other reasons preventing patients from seeking mental health and addiction treatment? from Lobatse and Gaborone c to do outreach in Hukuntsi Pr Hospital and I told myself th day I will have to be counted of eye care professionals in Bots

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based on a person’s genes. However, environmental factors like community perceptions to substance use, cultural customs and parenting styles do play a role. Another factor that may increase the addictive potential is how a substance is used. As an example, smoking or injecting a substance enhances the addictive potential.

What does it look like when someone is using healthy coping mechanisms?

When someone is using healthy coping mechanism is through adoption of behaviours that do not lead to adverse consequences in reducing the likelihood of negative emotions arising from relationship problems and other situations; and ability to deal with stressors. Healthy coping mechanisms include exercise, meditation, good sleep hygiene and good nutrition habits; their use is dependent on particular challenges experienced.

Continues next week .....