UCLA Student Psychological Services

While all students realize underage drinking is unlawful, alcohol remains the most abused drug on campus. Of more concern however, is the high risk use of alcohol and other drugs—especially when the behavior borders addictive levels. This is a significant problem for students—whether they are experiencing difficulty controlling their own use, or whether alcohol or drugs are adversely affecting their relationship with family, friends or a significant other.

However, there has been increasing interest in the addiction process and how it is manifest. Research findings indicate major similarities between drug dependence and other potentially compulsive behaviors such as eating binges, compulsive work (workaholism), sexuality, or even overvaluing relationships (e.g., the person who always needs to be in love, or who seems to dedicate his or her life to rescuing significant others at their own expense). Codependency is the popularized term for this latter concept, and is considered by many professionals to be a form of addiction—an addiction to certain (often destructive) relationships or relationship behaviors.

In fact, more recently accepted definitions of addiction do not focus upon drug abuse, but rather a complex pattern of behavior that includes psychological, sociological, behavioral, and biological components. The National Institute of Drug Abuse defines addiction as a chronic, progressive, and relapsing psycho-bio-socio-spiritual disease with life damaging consequences. For example, when a person is in love, their body goes through physiological changes, similar to the changes the body experiences when they are under the influence of a drug. Most of us who believe that we have ever been in love can relate to such changes in our level of arousal. Similarly, if that relationship breaks up, their body will experience physiological changes—including sadness and other emotional changes. Some self-destructive relationships (such as domestic violence) tend to be chronic with frequent relapse. Friends and relatives are frequently dismayed when a loved one continues to return to a destructive relationship. The repetitive pattern of breaking up is complicated by these emotional changes that accompany the end of a relationship. Such "withdrawal symptoms" may be different in degree from those of certain drugs such as alcohol or heroin, but the addictive pattern has many similarities.

Another feature of addiction is its progressive nature—if something is good, more of it must be better. A bowl of ice cream can certainly be a satisfying end to a nutritious
meal (or a great excuse to visit Kerkhoff Hall), but this is considerably different than finishing off a quart or half gallon of ice cream when upset because of a recent disappointment. The pattern is the same when one considers how refreshing a cold beer can be on a hot summer day, whether at a picnic or sporting event; compare this to the individual who drinks a twelve pack, bottle of wine, or pint of scotch when feeling down or upset.

Another common compulsive behavior is that of working long hours. Everyone should be engaged in some productive behavior for self-satisfaction as well as financial support and contributing to the welfare of the community. However, productive endeavors can also be pursued to the extreme. Single parents who are working a full time job while taking a full time academic load are clearly at risk. What should be considered is the fact that his or her children are also at risk. Such a life style may develop compulsive qualities that help the person maintain such a heavy workload. Yet, these over-workers would have less time for taking care of their own (in addition to the child's) emotional needs. So, they might develop a habit of going without—not getting their emotional needs met. This can undermine the individual’s self-esteem and that of his or her children—for the child’s needs will also go unmet. Someone with this workload will frequently begin to feel unappreciated and needy. This will in turn affect the quality of relationships they develop, which then may be fertile ground for the continuation of a destructive cycle.

The addiction process has predictable stages regardless of the behavior. Initially, the person indulges in the behavior in an experimental or naturally occurring fashion. Usually the behavior in question has naturally rewarding consequences. During certain periods, however, a person may engage in the behavior in a maladaptive manner. Examples of situational maladaptive behavior might include: getting high the night before a major exam; stuffing oneself at a meal following a major exam; devoting long hours to study or work in order to avoid thinking about conflict in a relationship; talking on the telephone all night long after meeting a new friend and missing class the next day; or going out for the purpose of a having a "sexual fling" with someone new—just to express anger or get back at a significant other. This period of situational misuse should serve as a warning not to let this behavior get out of hand. If ignored, such situational misuse can go unchallenged and lead to another stage of the addiction process.

Situational misuse can continue and evolve into habitual abuse, where the individual begins to engage in the maladaptive behavior with some regularity. It can be healthy to occasionally reward oneself by having an ice cream cone for exercising self-discipline and completing a paper. But if ice cream is identified as the way to soothe emotional pain, it becomes maladaptive and often habitual. This is especially true during periods of stress (e.g. during midterms or finals) or frequent disappointment (e.g. a long distance or dysfunctional relationship).

As this habitual use becomes compulsive and begins to result in such negative consequences as sleeping through a midterm because of a hangover, the abuse develops into addiction or dependency. At this level, a person becomes preoccupied with the behavior, relationship or drug and continues the use despite aversive consequences. A person may become confused about whether they are having an ice cream cone as a refreshing break or because they are feeling lonely and depressed. This pattern can be further complicated by an over-concern about weight, feeling guilty, and a need to vomit, purge or get rid of the calories. This cycle or preoccupation can become sufficiently destructive, that the individual begins to neglect their health. Their perception of body image may become distorted, and their food intake may nosedive and weight fluctuate to pathological levels (too high or too low). At this point, the individual has lost control and eating binges have developed into a serious eating disorder, which clearly requires professional attention.

Other compulsive disorders, such as gambling or sexuality tend to share many of these elements, including the importance of denial. Frequently, the individual is unable to control their behavior because of absolute denial, minimizing, avoiding the subject, blaming others, and rationalizing and intellectualizing. These defense mechanisms greatly impair the individual’s ability to accurately monitor and control their behavior.

If you believe that you, or someone close to you, is behaving in a potentially addictive manner, there are several resources on campus that are available without charge. The Counseling Center, Ashe Center, Student Health Advocates and The Center of Women and Men are available to currently registered students to answer questions about addiction. In addition, there are a variety of self help groups, including 12-step groups such as overeaters anonymous, sexual compulsives anonymous, marijuana anonymous and alcoholics anonymous, both on and off campus.

Links to 12-step groups off campus:

AA (Alcoholics Anonymous-national)
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

AA - Los Angeles County (local website)
www.lacoaa.org

Alanon (for families of alcoholics)
www.al-anon.alateen.org

Alanonla (Los Angeles website)
www.alanonla.org

CA (Cocaine Anonymous)
www.ca.org

CA (Los Angeles website)
www.ca4la.org

Co-Anon (for families of coke addicts)
www.co-anon.org

Crystal Meth Anonymouns
www.crystalmeth.org

GA (Gamblers Anonymous)
www.gamblersanonymous.org

Gam-Anon (families of gambling addicts)
www.gam-anon.org

MA (Marijuana Anonymous)
www.marijuana-anonymous.org