The Behaviors of Addiction

by Phil Rich, Ed.D., MSW, DCSW

Addiction treatment involves more than identifying addiction symptoms and handling withdrawal symptoms. Knowing and understanding the behaviors that are common to ALL addictions is one of the most important keys to preventing relapse, otherwise known as relapse prevention.

This article will describe each of those symptoms and briefly describe some of the other issues that often surface along with addiction symptoms. There are a number of "side" behaviors that often accompany addiction which are not actually part of the addiction. It's simply that addiction is so inherently anti-social that many of these behaviors go hand-in-hand with it, required because they're needed to maintain the addiction.

The Side Behaviors

• Denial. Addicts often deny that there is an addiction. Denial is a way to ignore or dismiss the idea of addiction and avoid seeing a problem. Sometimes, addicts will acknowledge being addicted, but nevertheless dismiss the significance of the addiction. Cigarette smoking is a good example of an addiction that people readily acknowledge, but frequently do nothing about. They deny the reality of the addiction. Overcoming denial is always the first step in treatment of addictions.
• Selfishness. Addictions make people selfish and blind them. Nothing is more important than the addiction itself. Everything is geared towards getting the dependence met, and the deeper into addiction the greater the selfishness.
• Covert Behavior. Addictive behaviors eventually become a source of concern for others. Consequently, in order to meet the needs of the addiction, addicts often hide their behaviors from others. Addicts are often sneaky, running the gamut from hidden drug use and illicit sex, to drinkers who hide their alcohol, smokers who sneak cigarettes, and people who hide their eating.
• Irresponsible and Undependable. In the throes of addiction, addicts must pay far more attention to the needs of their addiction than the needs of anyone or anything else. Accordingly, addicts often become unable to meet social expectations and responsibilities, whether in school, work, relationships, or social roles.
• Illegal and Criminal Behaviors. Of course, many addictions are against the law in the first place. In addition, in the case of certain addictions the addict has to commit criminal acts in order to get the substance or engage in the activity. Much street, computer, and white collar crime is directed toward meeting the needs of addiction.
• Dangerous and Risky Behaviors. Because of the antisocial, and sometimes illegal, nature of many addictions, addicts often have to engage in dangerous behaviors to satisfy their needs. This may mean using a dirty needle, getting street drugs, going to an unsafe part of town, interacting with dangerous people, or engaging in some other activity that is inherently dangerous in order to support the addiction. And this also means using substances like nicotine which are carcinogenic and have a major impact on respiration and the cardiovascular system, and eating in a way that paves the way for, and directly causes, multiple physical problems. These too are dangerous and risky behaviors.

Paying the Price

Although these sort of behaviors or consequences often accompany addiction, they are neither always present or inevitable. Some addicts, in fact, are quite open about their addiction and are not in denial at all. Neither are they in denial about the possible consequences of their addiction. They have chosen to pay the price, although they may not realize what their use will really cost them or others. Perhaps more to the point, they don't care about the price. Perhaps this is a different form of denial.

Living with Addiction

In some cases, addicts learn to live with their addiction and find ways to met the needs of the addiction without having to give it up and enter treatment. Others form and live in a society composed of other addicts, and thus choose an entire life style that supports their addiction. It is also quite possible to be addicted and have access to the desired object without having to sneak around or engage in illegal or dangerous activities. It depends on the addiction itself and the circumstances of the addict.

But addicts who successfully live with their dependency represent only a small percentage of addicts. For most addicts, the addiction eventually requires some form of underground behavior in which keeping the addiction secret is paramount, second in importance only to the addiction itself. Denial of the addiction is an important tool in the arsenal that keeps addiction alive.

Hiding Addiction

Some addictions can be hidden -- you'll find secret drinkers, heroin addicts with needle marks between their toes, and sex addicts who live in a secret world of lovers and prostitutes. In the case of addictions like these, many addicts try to have it both ways. They want to keep their addiction, but have everyone think they've quit. They think just because something is a well kept secret they won't have to pay a price. This is just another form of denial.

Beyond Denial

The first step in recovery is getting beyond denial -- recognizing that addiction makes life unmanageable for addicts, and keeps them powerless. It is not possible to overcome a problem unless one first acknowledges there is a problem!

References:

Ellis, A., McInerney, J. F., DiGuiseppe, R., & Yeager, R. J. (1988). "Rational-Emotive Therapy with Alcoholics and Substance Abusers." Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Carnes, P. (1992). "Don't Call It Love: Recovery from Sexual Addiction." New York, Bantam.

Goldstein, A. (1994). "Addiction: From Biology to Drug Policy." New York, W. H. Freeman.

Miller, W. R. Rollnick, S. (2002). "Motivational Interviewing. Second Edition: Preparing People to Change." The Guilford Press.

Rich, P., & Copans, S. A. (2000). "The Healing Journey through Addiction: Your Journal for Recovery and Self Renewal." New York: John Wiley.

About the Author:

Phil Rich, Ed.D., MSW, DCSW [1] is the author of "Understanding, Assessing, and Rehabilitating Juvenile Sexual Offenders," the eight books in "The Healing Journey" series of self help journaling books, and two books in the "Therapy Homework Planner," series, all of which are published by John Wiley & Sons. He is the Clinical Director of the Stetson School, a long-term residential treatment program for sexually reactive children and juvenile sexual offenders.