When an individual begins addiction treatment, they should understand that it is not a one-step solution; it is a long process with ups and downs, obstacles, and complexity. The real challenge lies in continuing to move toward the goal despite everything.
When a person feels unable to solve their problems with the methods they know, or believes that these methods are no longer effective, they may turn to substance use—such as drugs or alcohol—hoping that an unknown alternative path might provide relief. This tendency is often not a conscious choice but rather a search for temporary relief and escape.
Over time, substance use becomes a new problem-solving mechanism for the individual. Once learned, the person begins to rely on the same path whenever faced with problems, emotional distress, or difficulties, because there develops a belief that this path will bring at least short-term relief.
At this stage, the individual’s main aim is not to truly resolve their issues, but to feel good, experience pleasure, temporarily suppress negative emotions, and momentarily eliminate problems they cannot solve. As the process continues, substance use occupies an increasing place in the person’s life. Even when aware of the harm, the individual finds it difficult to stop; use continues not for pleasure, but as a habit and compulsion.
This affects the brain’s reward system, reducing sensitivity to natural stimuli. Moreover, the negative consequences of substance use often do not appear immediately or clearly, which leads the person to continue using.
Consequently, the individual loses confidence in themselves, feels unable to exist through their own efforts, and begins to define their existence through the substance they are addicted to. They start to believe that their character, abilities, and self-concept can only be expressed through the substance.
Gradually, the person loses control over their substance use, and consumption reaches a dangerous level. During this process, the substance begins to harm the individual, their environment, and the overall functioning of their life. Many functional areas of life deteriorate; if they are in education, they cannot continue; if they are working, they struggle to attend their job and fail to meet basic responsibilities.
This leads to a cycle in which the person tries to cope with repeated failures, while new failures continue to emerge. At the same time, the addicted individual neglects family relationships and social bonds; as the process progresses, various physical and psychological deteriorations are observed.
Tolerance And Withdrawal In Addiction
Over time, the individual develops desensitization to the substance, both physically and mentally. This desensitization leads to increased consumption in order to achieve the effects that were initially produced. As consumption increases, the cycle repeats, and desensitization reoccurs. Thus, the level of substance that was sufficient in the initial use gradually becomes inadequate for the body and brain.
When the individual enters a withdrawal period, numerous physical symptoms may appear. This withdrawal process develops when the substance is reduced or completely stopped after prolonged and intensive use. As the body fails to access the substance it is accustomed to, various withdrawal symptoms emerge.
From An Individual Behavior To A Multi-Dimensional Process
Thus, the early stage of addiction, characterized by drowsiness or mild pleasure, gradually disappears. Over time, the situation becomes so severe that use serves no purpose other than causing pain. Even when the individual no longer experiences pleasure, when their problems remain unsolved, and even as these problems worsen, they continue to use the substance to which they are addicted.
Therefore, addiction is not merely an individual habit; it becomes a multi-dimensional process that increasingly affects the individual’s life, relationships, and social functioning, requiring intervention.
References
Prof. Dr. Kültegin Ögel – Addiction And Its Treatment: A Basic Textbook