| Addiction begins with a problem, discomfort, or some | | | | the problem. That relief is valuable, and so the drug |
| form of emotional or physical pain for a person. | | | | or alcohol becomes valuable. This value is the only |
| This person is, like most people in our society, | | | | reason the person uses drugs or alcohol again. |
| basically good. But he encounters a problem that is | | | | There are two key factors that determine who |
| causing him physical or emotional pain and discomfort | | | | becomes an addict and who does not: |
| and for which he does not have an immediate | | | | 1. The first factor is peer pressure. |
| answer. | | | | If, at the time of the discomfort, a person is |
| Perhaps, as a child or teenager, he had difficulty | | | | exposed to peer pressure in favor of drug or alcohol |
| "fitting in" or he lacked communication or academic | | | | use, that pressure can make him favor drugs or |
| skills. Or maybe there are physical injuries such as a | | | | alcohol as a solution to life's difficulties. Peer pressure |
| broken bone, a bad back, or some other chronic | | | | may come from friends or family or through |
| physical condition. The loss of a job, career setback, | | | | advertising, television, movies, or music videos. |
| divorce, accident, loss of a loved one, or simply | | | | 2. The second factor is the valuable relief the person |
| chronic boredom and dissatisfaction can be enough to | | | | felt when he used the drugs or alcohol. |
| make a person reach for drugs or alcohol. | | | | The bigger the problem, the greater the discomfort, |
| Whatever the origin of the difficulty, the discomfort | | | | and the greater the value he assigns to that which |
| associated with it presents the individual with a real | | | | brings about the relief. |
| problem. He feels that his problem is major, | | | | When peer pressure combines with relief of the |
| persistent, and unsolvable. Most of us have | | | | discomfort or problem, drug use becomes acceptable |
| experienced this type of problem to a greater or | | | | and even desirable. |
| lesser degree. | | | | To learn more about addiction and recovery, order |
| For any of these reasons, some people begin to use | | | | your My World E-book, "The Barriers to a Successful |
| alcohol or addictive drugs. Once the person takes the | | | | Recovery," and receive 3 bonuses: "Solving Addiction" |
| drug, the discomfort is relieved. Even though the | | | | E-Book, "The Way to Happiness" E-Book, and the My |
| relief is only temporary, the drug appears to solve | | | | World Recovery Starter Workbook. |