Social, biological factors might play a role in addiction: Expert
KUWAIT: Social and biological factors might contribute to addiction of narcotics and alcohol, said a Kuwaiti specialist on Tuesday. Speaking to KUNA, head of the team to support addicts at the Najahat psychiatric and social consultancy center Ghanima Karam affirmed that addiction could be beaten by various methods including the 12-stepprogram.
Developed in the 1930s, the classic 12-step program was aimed at riding individuals from addiction, namely alcohol. It is a lifestyle based on spiritual principles simply written in a digital mode from one to 12. Some alcohol addicts have begun to use this program in addiction treatment and have even formed a group of addicts using it, she said. The 12-step program is a set of self-supporting people who share the same type of addiction and meet with Society specialists from twice to thrice weekly to reveal how they became addicted and why they sought help for treatment, she elaborated.
Karam revealed that hundreds of millions around the world suffered from narcotics addiction, which could be attributed to several factors including chemical imbalances in the brain according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Some claim that genetics play a part in addiction with a number of scientific research alluding to this factor, noted Karam, adding that social experiences would surely play a factor in leading one to addiction.
There are various schools focusing on addiction treatment, she affirmed, saying that the 12-step program was one of them. The 12-step focuses on the individual acknowledging the problem of addiction within themselves and seeking proper support from the circle of family and those on the road to battle addiction.
Karam said that treatment programs mixing the 12-step and psychiatric consultancy had rate of success equal to 65 percent. Treatment of an addict mostly runs through several phases including a stay at a medical or psychiatric center to aid a person in the initial treatment followed by battling withdrawal symptoms and finally continued support from everyone involved, she said. – KUNA
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