These pages provide information, resources and links on a range of addictive and compulsive behavious. They are still being developed, so if you don't find the information you need, please contact us and we will endeavour to help.
Are you worried that you or someone close to you may be addicted? Addictions come in many forms – we may be addicted to substances (legal or illegal), food, certain behaviours and even certain emotions.
Some of the common addictions are those involving substances (drugs, alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, tranquilizers, etc). There are important differences between substance dependency (addiction) and substance abuse. The points below may help you decide whether you or someone close to you suffer from either.
The following information has been adapted from DSM-IV (Diagnostic & Statistical Manual) published by the American Psychiatric Association. If you can tick at least 3 of the symptoms below as true AND present in the last 12 months, this may indicate substance dependency:
Evidence of tolerance, i.e. the need to take larger quantities of the substance to achieve the same effect
Evidence of withdrawal, i.e. unpleasant physical or psychological symptoms when trying to stop or cut down on the use of the substance
Using more or longer than planned
Having a persistent desire or unsuccessful attempts to reduce or control use
Spending a great deal of time obtaining, using, or recovering from the
effects of the substance
Reducing or not attending important social, occupational or recreational
activities because of substance use
Continuing to use after identifying that social, psychological, or physical
problems are being caused or exacerbated by the substance
If you can tick “true” for even just one of the following 4 symptoms, this may indicate substance abuse (“a maladaptive pattern of substance use”), but without the additional symptoms as above the individual may not be necessarily dependent/addicted.
Using has resulted in absences, poor performance or other problems with major role obligations
Repeated use in dangerous situations
Repeated substance-related legal, or financial problems
Continuing to use after identifying that social, psychological or physical problems are being caused by the substance.
Click on the relevant links below for more details on specific types of addictions and the sources of help and information.
If you are affected by someone else's addictive or compulsive behaviour, see the page on Family Support.