Trauma and Addiction: What's the Connection?

Addiction is a complex condition manifesting itself from compulsive substance use or conformity to a behavior regardless of harmful consequences. Based on Garbor Mate and Johann Harri, addition is mainly associated with the environment. The paper will address the talks of the two authors and observations and lessons about addition. 

Garbor and Johann denote that through the influence of the environment that one is associated with, that is how addiction is mainly manifested. Garbor views that trauma that one experiences pushes them to addictive activities, and thus, there is a need to treat the trauma rather than worsening the situation. Similarly, Johann views that addiction is associated with a lack of connections between people in society. The author emphasizes that a well-connected society cannot be tempted to addition—the above summary of the two speakers, one view that addiction is associated with our environment. People are addicted to certain activities because of traumatic experiences or lack of help, and thus, the addiction either to alcohol or any other thing is meant to offer comfort. From personal observation, people who are addicted, especially to drugs, exhibit withdrawal symptoms from the community. Addiction leads to a reduction in self-control, and in some cases, it can take over one's ability to resist addictive concerns. 

Learning about the cause of addiction to a particular individual helps in the development of ways that can help in addressing the problem. The root cause of addition helps in the development of fact-based and logical rationale that can be used in addressing on addition issues. For example, teenagers are addicted to alcohol and immoral behavior due to the need to embrace the environment of their peers. As such, if they are separated, one may adapt to a drug-free or moral environment. Therefore, addiction is mainly associated with a particular attachment, and its treatment can only be achieved by addressing the causative issue. 

Reference 

Hari, J. (2015).  Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong . TED: Ideas worth spreading. Retrieved July 6, 2020, from  https://www.ted.com/talks/johann_hari_everything_you_think_you_know_about_addiction_is_wrong