Drug Addiction in the Philippines: How to Spot an Addiction

Addiction can destroy you. It will definitely affect your life if you are addicted to drug or even alcohol. It consumes your resources and it will even consume you. Your relationships can even suffer. Even though you are not an addict yourself, if one of your family members is caught by an addiction, sooner or later, you will also be affected.

Ria Tirazona, a psychologist contributor of Philippine Online Chronicles mentioned four D’s with regards to computer addiction. These four D’s are Dysfunction, Danger, Distress and Deviance. I believe that Tirazona hit the mark of spotting an addiction. These signs and symptoms are not only symptoms to spot computer addiction but these can also identifiers for other addictions as well.

Dysfunction. Thisis a state when a person jeopardizes his/her responsibilities. Because a certain addiction consumes valuable time, a person can easily forget his duties and functions improperly. A person becomes careless and there is always a risk to compromise deadlines. There is also the problem of overspending to meet the demands of the addiction. In drug addiction, we know that the cost of narcotics is not cheap.

Danger. The issue in this symptom is the health of the person. Too much alcohol and drugs is very dangerous to health. In this case, I believe that any addiction can be dangerous to the person. In most cases, an addicted person neglects proper eating habit and sleeping habit which can eventually cause illness. There is also the risk of having an altered behavior especially with drug or alcohol addiction. In this case, there is a risk that the addicted person may inflict harm to the people around him/her.

Distress. This is one sure indicator if a person is already addicted by a substance, drink or anything. If the person is agitated or feels anxiety in the absence of the substance or drink, that person is already an addict. Check this out for yourself. If the absence of Internet can cause you stress and anxiety, there is a big possibility that you are already an internet addict.

Deviance. The last symptom is related with the person’s behavior. In most cases, a person who exhibits peculiar behavior usually has an addiction. One of the most common behaviors that a person who has addiction to something exhibits is secrecy. That person usually doesn’t want other people to know about his/her activities.

Addiction is a social problem. Usually, the addicted person does not want help. However, if you are related with the person, in one way or the other, you will be affected. If you are a parent and your child is addicted with drug or alcohol, you have a big problem. Seek help. Learn how to help your child. Most of the time, they do not realize that they are destroying themselves. If you feel you have an addiction yourself, there is much information on how to help yourself.

Lulong (A Drug Addiction Documentary) – GREATWK S15 – Members: Mampusti, Ella Marcelo, Neil Francis

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