Addiction in Canada

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Addiction in Canada
The use of and addiction to narcotic substances are not new to humankind, and Canada is not immune. The cost of drug addictions in Canada is estimated at 40 billion dollars, and this does not take into account the emotional human suffering aspect regarding their families and individual lives ruined by its grasp. Everyone can agree that addiction is harmful, yet there are two opposing views on how to curtail it. On one side, there are those who see addiction as a disease, much like cancer or type 1 diabetes, and use harm reduction approaches, which may require acceptance of the problem, and can be disempowering to those addicted. On the other side are those who believe addicts are weak and lack self-control, and that it is a simple choice to be or not to be addicted. Neither approach to addiction is effective, because both fail to address the issues surrounding what causes addiction, and cause a polarizing effect when confronted with the problem of how to address addiction. The best approach to dealing with addiction is confronting the societal issues that accompany addiction in conjunction with both medical and psychological help.
Addiction or dependence is a concept that originated from the field of drug abuse, including alcohol, smoking, and hard drugs such as cocaine. Addiction is often perceived as the loss of personal control where an individual upholds behaviors that are detrimental to their self-esteem, as well as health (Firth 1). The substance or the psychological desire can cause the effects of addiction. Studies have shown that the process of addiction can apply to other aspects where there are repeated dysfunctional behaviors without involving ingestion of any addictive substances such as drugs (Chaim 3). People in Canada face addiction in the form of gambling, sex, exercise, video games, work, shopping, drugs, and other habits that include repetitive crime (Firth 3). There are no physical limits to many types of addictions compared to how it would be if there was a substance being consumed. Suggestively, some addictions have more psychological harm than bodily harm experienced in the case of drug abuse. The fact that an individual is experiencing a loss of control over a particular behavior provides the basis for how the problem works, and a basis for treatment. Some of the additions are closely linked with one leading to the emergence of another. For instance, sex addiction is likely to be because of drug abuse, which can be associated with gambling. Researchers have found that tolerance for one form of addiction is likely to lead to increase in other dependencies. It is important for individuals offering support to the addicts need to understand the factors that determine addictions.
A societal approach to solving addiction involves assessing the full extent of the problem. The survey of addiction should address whether there are other problems that correlate closely and may limit the subsequent treatment process. Such insights also judge how the client is motivated to be treated. A complete assessment should include factors such as the current capacity to function, relationships at home and work, legal situations, physical and mental well-being, past...