DRINK AND DRUGS

The statements below are a chance for you to check out your opinions on certain questions arising from the video. Hold the mouse over the icons next to the text to view some in-depth information about the subject of the question.

You will receive points based on your answers. More points indicate a possibility for a higher level of maturity and responsibility.
1. People who are addicted to drugs simply have no will power. Addiction is an illness and has little to do with will power. The person needs help and support to recognise their condition and recover. Drugs may be used to dull the pain of emotional or physical hurt instead of finding a way to heal the spirit.


2. Getting drunk is just part of the social life of the average person. Having a drink can be a relaxing social event. Getting drunk however can be a way o f shirking responsibility for yourself and making it difficult for others to enjoy themselves in your company.


3. Teenagers are to young to have developed any real addictions. A teenager who doesn’t feel happy without drink or drugs may already have developed an addiction. The sooner that person recognises this and looks for help the better chance to recover and find a healthy and happy life-style.


4. Drinking and violence are not connected. Whatever a person does when they are sober is what they will do when ‘under the influence’. Alcohol and drug abuse can trigger some dark deceptive corners of the mind where suddenly the person only focuses on themselves, they may feel threatened, cheated, controlled or trapped and hits out at whoever is closest. They may verbally and physically abuse others unless others remove themselves from the situation.


5. When a teenager becomes addicted to alcohol or drugs there is plenty of hope for a better future provided they look for help sooner rather than later. A teenager who realises that he or she needs help with their addiction needs courage to look for help. There are support groups, counselling and drying out programmes which sooner or later will be available to them. Many do recover.


6. Women or men who are in relationship with an active alcoholic or drug addict are great for ‘sticking’ by their partner. Sticking with somebody who abuses their mind and body is not necessarily great unless one knows how to set boundaries and suggest ways for the other person to be honest and look for help. Co-dependency is when a partner nourishes the other person’s bad habit by accepting disrespectful abuse and bad behaviour.


7. Children / teenagers of active alcoholics are not necessarily affected by their parent’s addiction. Research shows that children/teenagers automatically model themselves on their parents, they might feel depressed and seek escape in drink or drugs, unless they get help to understand addiction and how not to get hooked into it themselves. Alanon is one very helpful organisation for children of alcoholics.