The Road to Addiction

Drug addiction is a complex disorder characterized by compulsive drug use. Contrary to belief, drug abuse is not a habit; it's a life ending illness. The difference is that a habit is an option, but an addiction is not (Nordqvist). In formal terms, drug addiction is also called substance abuse disorder. People with this illness do not have control over their own minds. They are addicts, and they are lost. Their addiction takes control over their lives and their whole world revolves around it. Eminem became an addict in 2001 due to his high pressure schedule. He became addicted to many painkillers like Vicodin, Valium, Seroquel, and Ambien because he felt lonely and scared. Drug addiction is becoming an epidemic; an epidemic that can be treated before it’s too late.

How and why people become addicted to certain drugs is hard to understand. It is known that addiction can be caused and influenced by the individual's biology, social environment, and age or stage of development. If the person has a lot of risk factors, the chance of becoming an addict is greater. For example, a person’s vulnerability to addiction could be based on the genes they are born with. Gender, ethnicity, and the fact that the person might have other mental illnesses could increase the risk of drug abuse. Also, the environment is one of the biggest influence, everything from family to pressure can contribute to the problem. On the other hand, although taking drugs at any age can lead to addiction, the earlier the drug use begins, the more likely it is for the person to suffer from this illness. Adolescents are at higher risk since they tend to be more reckless and their brains are still in development. Drugs contain chemicals that affects the brain’s communication system and changes the way cells normally process information. There are two ways of how a person becomes addicted: imitation and overstimulation. For example, marijuana and heroin “fool” the brain by acting similar to neurotransmitters, which are produced by the brain naturally. This activates the nerve cells to send abnormal messages. Also, drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine that releases an enormous amount of dopamine which is known to cause pleasure. This usually “teaches” the person to repeat the behavior of using drugs. However, no single factor can predict whether a person will become addicted to drugs. Drug addiction does not only affect the brain, it also affects the emotional aspects of a person (DrugFacts). While drug addicts may not have control over their thoughts, they are well aware of what is happening to them. It is really hard for an addict to reach out to others and tell them the struggles they are facing because they are afraid that the their family or friends could stop loving and be ashamed of them (Redmond). This leads addicts to lie and hide their addictions, and try day-by-day to hide it all. Eventually, their lives become a routine where all they can think of is hiding the truth.

The article “Eminem” by Bio, describes how Marshall Mathers III, also known as Eminem, had a very tormented childhood and career that eventually lead him to drug addiction and alcoholism. The fact that he was abandoned by his father when he was just a child really affected him. As a result, he was raised by his mother who would frequently abuse him physically and emotionally. His mother is one of the biggest influence in Marshall’s addiction. In his songs, he would often complain about the way she raised him. Friends and family remember Eminem as a happy child, but a bit of a loner who was often bullied. Marshall got introduced to Vicodin in 2001 when he was filming "8 Mile" and had a very exhausting schedule. Throughout his day, he took around ninety prescription pills (Vasey). Eminem became an alcoholic and an addict for sleeping pills and prescription painkillers. When the first six songs of his album Encore got leaked, he had to come up with some more songs in order for the album to be replaced. He told himself, “ ‘Oh well. Songs leaked. Screw it. I’m just going to take a bunch of pills and go in there and have a party with myself.’ I’m sure the more pills I took, the goofier I got (Welch).” Marshall joined rehab in 2007, but he could never be comfortable and the other patients would often steal from him and focus more on his rehab process because he is Eminem - it was chaos. At the time, he wasn’t ready to get sober. He says that people often told him that if he wasn’t ready then nothing would make him stop. Eminem was only there because his family wanted him to get help. He lasted two weeks in rehab and a week after being home, he overdosed and nearly died (Welch). "If I would have got to the hospital two hours later, that would've been it" he said. This was a huge turning point for Marshall and he realized that he needed help. He finally got rid of his addictions in 2008, and he returned to recording music again. Marshall writes about his experiences in his rhymes. He released his new album Recovery in 2010, an album that talks about his attempt to overcome his addiction and experiences with rehab. This album had a softer tone to it compared with his previous albums. Eminem said, "I don't want to go overboard with it but I do feel like that if I can help people that have been through a similar situation, then, you know, why not?"  He says that even though he doesn’t pop pills anymore, he feels that at any moment he could be back at it. He doesn’t believe that there is a cure for it. When I listen to his music, I can see how mad he was and how he felt at the moment, which is not something everyone can communicate. He is doubtlessly one of the most acclaimed rappers in history. Marshall Mathers is an extraordinary example of how drug addiction can be treated, yet not completely cured.

There are various treatments that are being offered daily. The article of “DrugFacts: Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction” proves how scientific research explains that treatment can help patients discontinue the use of drugs, avoid relapse, and successfully get their lives back together. Some of the treatments include detoxification, medications, behavioral treatment, psychotherapy, and self-help groups. The goal of a detox is to enable the person to stop abusing drugs as quickly and safely as possible; however, this is not an actual treatment, but it is just the first step in the treatment process (MayoClinic). Not everyone is able to complete the detox, therefore, some may need to be admitted to a hospital or residential treatment center. Normally, what they do in a detox is reduce the dose of the drug that the patient consumed, or they simply substitute it with other substances that do not risk a person becoming addicted. There is also the option of medication, that often helps the patient’s brain functions go back to normal and it helps prevent a relapse. Currently, they have different types of medications for: opioids, nicotine, stimulants, and cannabis addiction. Most patients are addicted to more than just one drug; therefore, they require treatment for all the different substances that they abused. “Medication and counseling, especially when combined, are important elements of an overall therapeutic process that often begins with detoxification, followed by treatment and relapse prevention (MayoClinic).” Another effective treatment is “AA” and “NA” meetings, also known as, Alcoholic Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. This are known to be self-help groups. This types of groups are known to be efficient since the patients are surrounded by people that are going through the same situation. They feel better because they know that they do not have to go through all the detoxification alone. “The self-help support group message is that addiction is a chronic disorder with a danger of relapse.” Self-help groups can decrease the sense of shame and isolation that could lead to relapse (MayoClinic). One treatment may not be effective to someone, but other could. Just because a treatment didn’t work in the first time, it doesn’t mean that there is no hope for recovery.

Drug addiction is an illness that affects many people around the world. Some addicts are able to recover and live a normal life, while others have a life of torment and deception. In a recent interview with the GQ magazine, Eminem spoke about the extent that his drug addiction reached while recording Encore. He claims that what he learned most about his drug addiction is the way he is wired. He has realized that his thought process is so different from others. Eminem said, “I’ve realized that the way I am helps with the music. Sporadic thoughts will pop into my head and I’ll have to write something down, and the next thing you know I’ve written a whole song in less than an hour. But sometimes it sucks, and I wish I was wired like a regular person and could go have a drink. But that’s the biggest thing about addiction: When you realize that you cannot mess around with nothing ever again. I never understood when people would say it’s a disease. Like, ‘Stop it. It’s not a disease!’ But I finally realized, damn, man - it really is.” I truly believe that society labels this illness as such a bad thing that no one could recover from. We become prejudice when a person tells us that they were drug addicts and went to rehab. What I mainly believe is that instead of judging them and turning against them, we should try to help them out and help them win a war against their demons. Instead of criticising them and making feel like less, we should lend them a helping hand and stand beside them with their struggles.  

Resources

Nordqvist, Christian. “What is Addiction? What Causes Addiction?”  Medical News
Today. 1 Mar. 2009. Web. 11 July 2015.

Vasey, Mark. “Eminem Opens Up More About His Drug Addiction.” Mental Health
Realities. Blogger, 23 Oct. 2011. Web. 9 July 2015.

“DrugFacts: Understanding Drug Abuse and Addiction.” National Institute on Drug
Abuse. 1 Nov. 2012. Web. 15 July 2015.

Redmond, Jodee. “Five Ways to Tell if Someone Is an Addict.” Love to Know. Web. 15
July 2015.

“Eminem.” Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 15 July 2015.

“DrugFacts: Treatment Approaches for Drug Addiction.” National Institute on Drug
Abuse. Sept. 2009. Web. 13 July 2015.

“Drug Addiction Symptoms.” Mayo Clinic. (n.d.).

Welch, Will. “The Survivors: Eminem.” GQ 2011. Print.