Therapy Addiction India is a complex condition characterized by the inability to control the use of a substance or engagement in a behavior, despite harmful consequences. Understanding the available treatment for addictions is essential in helping individuals regain control over their lives.
Substance addiction occurs when a person loses control over the use of drugs, medications, alcohol, or tobacco, leading to significant harm to themselves or others. These substances stimulate the brain’s reward system, producing pleasurable sensations and intense cravings. Similarly, behavioral addictions—such as gambling or excessive internet use—also activate this system, reinforcing the compulsive behavior. Therapy Addiction in India addresses both substance and behavioral addictions, providing comprehensive treatment to help individuals regain control and break free from harmful patterns.
Addiction can affect individuals of any age, gender, background, or socioeconomic status. However, it is more likely to develop in those exposed to environmental, psychological, or genetic risk factors.
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Learn more about addiction, its symptoms, management, and treatment options.
Frequency of Addictions
According to the World Health Organisation, alcohol consumption causes three million deaths worldwide annually. Alcohol accounts for 5.1% of the global disease burden. It is the leading risk factor for premature death and disability in people aged 15-49, responsible for 10% of all deaths in this age group.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) also reports that around 270 million people (or about 5.5% of the world population aged 15 to 64) used psychoactive substances in the past year, with approximately 35 million people suffering from drug use disorders. It’s estimated that drug use causes about half a million deaths annually, including 350,000 male and 150,000 female deaths.
There are distinct forms of substance use disorders depending on the primary substance being abused.
Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol is one of the most commonly used intoxicating substances. When someone abuses alcohol (often called alcoholism), they lose control over how much they drink. Those affected may also experience withdrawal symptoms when not drinking. Alcoholism can cause severe health problems and damage organs like the liver, heart, or brain. Alcohol use disorder can also lead to destructive behaviours and unintended consequences, such as family disputes, violence, accidents, unprotected sex, loss of personal items (wallet, phone, money), drunk driving, and absenteeism from work or school.
Addictions to Drugs
Often called drug addiction, this is a chronic condition that’s hard to control. Drug addicts cannot resist the urge to use drugs, no matter the harm. Drug addiction can involve illegal drugs, prescription medications, or both. Highly addictive substances like cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, benzodiazepines, steroids, and inhalants can quickly lead to addiction. Drug addiction causes brain changes over time, making it very difficult to resist the intense craving for drugs. This is why addicts often relapse when trying to quit. Drug use disorder can devastate a person’s life, leading to relationship issues, poor work or school performance, neglect of personal care, increased impulsiveness, risk-taking, and loss of interest in hobbies or activities.
Tobacco Addiction
Smoking quickly leads to tobacco addiction, which manifests in various ways among smokers, such as:
- Feeling restless when running out of cigarettes
- Experiencing a strong urge to smoke
- Withdrawal symptoms after stopping smoking
- Smoking more before or after situations where smoking isn’t possible
- Ignoring health issues to continue smoking, even with noticeable breathing problems
Symptoms of Addictions
Symptoms of addiction vary by person and type of addiction. There are several common signs of addiction across different types, including:
Secretive or dishonest behavior
- Lack of motivation or apathy
- Changes in eating or sleeping habits
- Loss of interest in hobbies or activities
- Withdrawal from friends and family
- Poor work performance or absenteeism
- Substance use in dangerous situations (e.g., driving)
- Excuses for substance use (e.g., to relax or celebrate)
- Neglecting responsibilities at home or work
- Borrowing or stealing money
- Unpredictable behavior
Psychological changes:
- Sudden mood swings
- Personality changes, irritability, or anger
- Hyperactivity or agitation
- Anxiety, fear, or paranoia without clear cause
- Difficulty concentrating
- Defensiveness
- Poor judgment
- Low self-esteem
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Worsening of mental health issues like anxiety or depression
Physical changes:
- Sudden weight loss or gain
- Bloodshot eyes
- Dilated pupils
- Facial swelling
- Unusual skin color
- Bad breath
- Tremors or shaking
- Deterioration of physical appearance
- Injection marks (in cases of drug abuse)
Diagnostic Criteria of Substance Based Addictions
Although some people self-report when seeking help, a doctor’s assessment is typically the proper way to diagnose addiction and later treat addictions. A substance use disorder is diagnosed through a thorough examination, typically including an assessment by a mental health professional. Blood or urine tests may confirm substance use, but they don’t indicate addiction. Therapy Addiction in India often begins with a professional assessment to accurately diagnose and provide tailored treatment plans for recovery.
Peoples are considered addicted if three of the following six criteria apply:
- Tolerance: Increasing doses are needed for the same effect.
- Withdrawal Symptoms: Physical discomfort when the intake of the substance is reduced or stopped.
- Craving: A strong desire to continue using the drug.
- Loss of Control: Inability to regulate intake of the addictive substance.
- Neglect of Activities: Prioritizing drug use over other interests or responsibilities.
- Continued Use Despite Harm: Drug consumption persists despite knowing its harmful effects.
Tests for Diagnosing Substance Addictions
Various psychometric tests are used by mental health professionals to assess problematic alcohol and substance use. These assessments are often the first step in addiction treatment as they help identify the severity and type of substance use issue. They include the Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST), developed for the World Health Organisation to support early detection of addiction. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) helps detect harmful drinking patterns early, while the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test allows for self-assessment of drug problems. The CRAFFT Screening Test is designed specifically for adolescents to evaluate substance-related risks. After diagnosis, tailored addiction counseling sessions address the root causes and improve coping skills. Early intervention greatly increases the chances of long-term addiction recovery.
cravings, constantly seeking alcohol or drugs, and continuing use despite severe consequences. Addiction is progressive and worsens if left untreated.
Early Signs of Substance Use Disorder
Recognising early signs of addiction is crucial to getting help quickly.
Early signs of alcohol abuse
Blackouts during drinking episodes
- Repeated conflicts with family, friends, or coworkers
- Mood swings
- Using alcohol to relax, cope, sleep, or boost mood
- Headaches, stomach issues, anxiety, or insomnia when not drinking
- Trembling hands
- Reddish skin and broken capillaries on the face
- Bloodshot eyes
- Sudden weight loss or gain
- Neglect of personal grooming
- Slurred speech
Therapy Addiction in India helps identify these warning signs early, offering tailored treatment plans to support recovery and improve overall well-being.
Early signs of drug abuse
Neglecting family, work, or school responsibilities
- Relationship issues
- Using drugs in dangerous situations like driving or operating machinery
- Engaging in risky behaviour, like using dirty needles or unprotected sex
- Legal problems (e.g., theft to buy drugs or antisocial behaviour)
- Dilated pupils
- Nosebleeds
- Sudden weight loss or gain
- Neglect of personal hygiene
- Incoherent speech
- Shaking or trembling
Psychotherapy for Addictions
Various behavioural and talk therapies can help patients with addiction change their attitudes and behaviours towards substance use, build healthier lifestyles, and continue other treatments. These therapies include:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): CBT helps people cope with problems by changing their thinking and behaviour. It teaches individuals to recognise, avoid, or handle situations where they would typically use drugs.
- Motivational Interviewing or Incentives: Therapists use positive reinforcement to encourage behaviour changes by helping patients recognise their own desires for change, motivating them to make positive decisions.
- Counselling: Counselling can be offered in group or individual settings, focusing on finding new ways to cope with addiction and addressing underlying causes of drug use.
Inpatient treatment is also available for addiction, including short-term stays focused on detox in a community setting, longer-term therapeutic communities, or supervised housing to transition from inpatient care to independent living.
Substance users can also join support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, where peers support each other in recovery and maintaining sobriety.
Treatment with Medication for Substance Use Addictions
- Opioids: Some opioids, like methadone, are used to withdraw from opioids and later to substitute for those who are still not capable of staying clean. Others, like naltrexone, block opioid effects at brain receptor sites, reducing the cravings. Naltrexone can be used for opioid or alcohol addiction.
- Alcohol antagonists: medications like disulfiram discourage drinking by causing unpleasant effects, such as headaches, vomiting, chest pain, blurred vision, breathing difficulties, and anxiety, when even small amounts of alcohol are consumed.
- Sulfonic acids: Certain sulfonic acid medications are used to treat alcoholism by restoring the brain’s natural chemical balance. This helps prevent drinking and improves overall alcohol abstinence.
- Smoking cessation aids: These medications block nicotine’s pleasurable effects on the brain, preventing people from enjoying smoking.
Addiction Recovery and Relapse Prevention
The primary goal of addiction prevention is to delay the initial use of drugs or alcohol during adolescence. Early addiction diagnosis plays a key role in identifying at-risk teens and providing timely interventions. It’s essential to address risk factors in different areas of a teen’s life, such as peer pressure, while strengthening protective factors like school support to reduce the urge to experiment with substances. Consulting an experienced addiction psychiatrist India can ensure proper evaluation and treatment planning for each individual. With the right guidance and structured addiction therapy India, young people can build resilience, develop healthier coping strategies, and stay on the path to long-term recovery.
Prevention is also necessary to stop individuals already using some drugs from progressing to others, preventing occasional users from increasing their consumption. The international classification of prevention measures, used in the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime standards, includes the following strategies:
- Universal: Universal prevention targets large groups or the entire population (e.g., through TV ads or school programs) to prevent or delay substance use.
- Selective: Selective prevention is aimed at specific subpopulations known to have a higher-than-average risk of substance abuse, especially youth.
- Indicated: Indicated prevention targets people who already use substances and may show signs of future problematic use.
Relapse Prevention Road Map
Counselling is crucial in relapse recovery, showing patients how they will benefit from having a relapse road map. Here patients can apply cognitive-behavioural analysis to a situation. They will see available choices to cope with or avoid these situations and their consequences. This approach also assists in finding AIDs so that people can make choices and decisions from which they benefit (Larimer et al., 1999).
Relapse Treatment
Psychologists studied this relapse prevention model and found data show the effectiveness of treatment strategies. Psychologists have applied this RP model to various addictive behaviours. They found it was most successful with alcoholism. There is an idea that in the future modifications be made to this relapse prevention model, showing changes about the assessment of risky situations and the conceptualisation of covert and immediate antecedents of relapse. Significant research shows the effectiveness of relapse prevention for alcoholism and, to a lesser degree, nicotine or other chemical dependency. Psychologists also noted that people’s self-efficacy might not necessarily rise if they handle a high-risk situation well. Lastly, research findings show that relaps prevention plus medication treatment appears to have an enhanced effect on abstention rates.
Behavioral Addictions
That alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and certain medications carry addiction potential is well-known. In recent years, behavioral addictions have increasingly gained attention. These non-substance addictions include behaviors like excessive computer use, internet use, or gambling. Behavioural addiction is a relatively new term for excessive behaviours with dependency-like traits. Affected individuals are fixated on rewarding behaviours and feel a strong urge to engage. Over time, these addictions dominate daily life, affecting social and professional aspects.
Behavioral addictions include compulsive internet browsing, gaming, pornography, and online relationships. Today, the most common addictions are internet addiction and addiction to gaming, usually to computer gaming. Depending on the country, the prevalence of behavioural addiction varies between 1% and 5% and is notably higher among 12 to 17-year-olds, primarily males.
There are biological and psychosocial factors that combine to cause these disorders. Risk factors include low self-esteem, social exclusion, depression, anxiety, and impulsivity. Teens with few real achievements, academic struggles, and weak family support are vulnerable. Like substance abuse, behavioral addictions harm health and cause isolation and depression. Seeking professional help early can lead to recovery and reintegration.
Diagnosis of Behavioural Addictions
The transition from normal to harmful behavior is often gradual and hard to detect. For affected individuals and those around them, recognizing behavioral addiction can be challenging. Constant thoughts about a behavior and strong cravings may be early warning signs. In such cases, individuals should seek specialized clinics or therapists for addiction treatment.
The frequency of the behavior is less important than meeting key addiction criteria.
Criteria for Internet Addiction:
- Persistent preoccupation with the internet
- Increasing time online to achieve satisfaction
- Failed attempts to control or reduce internet use
- Irritability or restlessness when reducing usage
- Spending more time online than intended
- Risking relationships, work, or responsibilities due to internet use
- Lying about internet usage to family or therapists
- Using the internet to escape problems or improve mood
Meeting five or more of these symptoms indicates internet addiction.
Criteria for Gaming Addiction:
- Obsessive focus on gaming
- Loss of control
- Development of tolerance
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Loss of interest in other activities
- Gaming to reduce negative feelings
- Deceiving others about gaming habits
- Risking relationships, work, or education due to gaming
Criteria for Pathological Gambling:
- Two or more gambling episodes over at least one year
- Gambling continues despite distress and social/occupational impairment
- Strong urge to gamble, difficult to control
- Persistent thoughts about gambling or its environment
Treatment for Behavioural Addictions
Behavioral addiction treatment is a relatively new field. More therapists and clinics now offer help for behavioral addictions, including dedicated outpatient units. The treatment approach depends on addiction severity and is similar to substance addiction therapy.
Psychotherapy (Counselling) for Addictions
- Educating patients and families to promote self-responsibility
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify triggers and thoughts behind addictive behavior
- Motivating behavioral change by setting goals and developing daily strategies
- Highlighting and celebrating progress during therapy
- Involving the family, especially for children and adolescents
Stages of Addictions
People who develop dependence on substances like alcohol or drugs typically go through four stages of abuse. Understanding these phases can help individuals recognise if they have a problem and need help before addiction occurs. There are four main stages of addiction.
Experimentation
Substance abuse starts with experimentation or voluntary use. Teenagers and young adults often try substances with friends, usually due to peer pressure. Older adults may use substances for self-medication in response to life issues, like divorce, grief, or job loss. Substance use is rare in this phase.
Regular Use
This phase involves frequent use, which may follow a predictable pattern (e.g., every weekend) or specific situations (e.g., boredom, loneliness, or stress). Risky use occurs when consumption leads to emotional, physical, or social problems, such as work issues, accidents, or drunk driving.
Dependence
In the dependence phase, the person continues regular use despite physical, social, or emotional harm. Many dependent people can still maintain jobs and relationships, but they struggle to see the effects of their substance use on others. Signs of dependence include:
- Failing to meet responsibilities
- Repeated use in dangerous situations (e.g., driving)
- Tolerance, needing more to feel the same effects
- Withdrawal symptoms
Fully Established Addiction
When someone is addicted, their use is out of control. Addiction symptoms include uncontrollable cravings, constantly seeking alcohol or drugs, and continuing use despite severe consequences. Addiction is progressive and worsens if left untreated. Therapy Addiction in India helps individuals regain control, offering treatment options that address these symptoms and prevent further progression.
Causes of Addictions
Addiction arises from physical (biological, genetic), psychological, and social influences, often reinforcing one another.
Reward Effect and Conditioning
Addiction stems from learned behavior, driven by a “drug memory” in the brain. Substances increase dopamine in the brain’s limbic system, enhancing well-being and creating a reward effect. This reward creates a desire to sustain the feeling, reinforcing addictive behavior. Neutral stimuli linked to substance use can trigger cravings through unconscious conditioning. Cravings arise from either relieving withdrawal symptoms or experiencing pleasant effects of the substance. Some individuals may have a less responsive reward system, increasing addiction vulnerability.
Genetic Predisposition
Addictions often run in families, indicating genetic and environmental influences on dependency development. Twin studies show biological predisposition and specific genetic variations may heighten addiction risks.
Environmental Factors
Parental behavior and a negative home environment also increase addiction susceptibility. Children mimic behaviors of parents; frequent parental drug use often influences similar behaviors in offspring. Trauma, neglect, violence, or abuse in childhood can drive later substance use to suppress unresolved emotions. Therapy Addiction in India often addresses the impact of early life experiences, helping individuals heal from trauma and break the cycle of addiction.
Social Factors
Social influences also contribute to addiction development, impacting all socioeconomic groups. Children in less privileged schools are exposed to substances like tobacco earlier and more frequently. Accessibility of substances, especially in urban areas, increases initiation and continuation of use. Peer pressure is a significant factor for teenagers, who may use substances for social acceptance. Substance use can enhance group standing, reinforcing addiction and initiating dependency.
Ballancing Nutrition in People with Addiction
People with addiction often suffer from nutrient deficiencies, as they tend to consume nutrient-poor foods. Additionally, their bodies have a reduced capacity to absorb nutrients due to drug or alcohol use.
During recovery, substance users should increase nutrient intake to maintain organ health and prevent infections. They are advised to follow regular meal schedules, eat low-fat meals, and consume more protein, complex carbs, and fibre while reducing caffeine and quitting smoking if possible. Dehydration is common during recovery, so it’s important to drink plenty of fluids during and between meals. Therapy Addiction in India programs often emphasize the importance of proper nutrition and hydration for effective recovery.
Improving and maintaining healthy eating habits is crucial, as people in recovery may confuse hunger with cravings, increasing the risk of relapse.
Physical Activity as Stabilizing Factor
People with Therapy Addiction in India may find physical activity helpful as a distraction from cravings. Additionally, exercise can help those who use drugs by introducing healthier lifestyles and enhancing both physical and mental health.
Moderate to intense aerobic exercises like brisk walking, tennis, running, or jumping, along with mind-body exercises like yoga, can be an effective part of a combined treatment plan for addiction.
Exercise programs can also provide daily structure and help individuals build positive social connections, enhancing recovery and overall well-being.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Addictions
At CHMC, we are prepared to diagnose and provide currently available treatment options for addition to support you in your recovery. We will discuss the goals of dependency treatment, give you a definition of addiction, and explain why specialists speak of recovery and not a cure for dependency.
The following FAQ answers the most common question about dependencies and their treatment. Our German Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychology in Dubai is specialised in the treatment of distinct psychiatric disorders, among them therapy for dependencies.
What is Addiction?
Addiction is a disease. People who suffer from it temporarily lose control over how much alcohol they drink or how many drugs they take. And without help, they can’t stop on their own. When intoxicated, they also have less control over their actions. Therapy Addiction in India provides essential support to help individuals regain control and break free from the cycle of addiction.
How Does Addiction Start?
Addiction can begin in many different ways. For some, it starts with occasional alcohol consumption, which gradually turns into dependence. Others take pills or drugs to forget their problems or calm their nerves and end up needing the substance just to feel normal. Once someone has lost control over their drinking or drug use, they need professional help to stop.
If Someone Is Addicted, Why Don’t They Just Go to a Clinic?
That’s often because the person doesn’t realize they are sick. Even when things repeatedly go wrong, they might not see alcohol or drugs as the cause. Sometimes, people blame others or attribute their struggles to a stressful job or difficult life circumstances. But in truth, alcohol or drugs are usually the real problem.
Can Addiction Be Cured?
People with Therapy Addiction in India can bring the illness to a standstill by stopping their alcohol or drug use. To do this, they need help from professionals who are experienced in treating this condition. Not everyone manages to stop completely—but some succeed in reducing their use to the point that family life improves again. There are special treatment and training programs to support this.
Can Family Members Force a Loved One to Stop Drinking or Using Drugs?
No. A person with an addiction problem needs help to stop, but they cannot be forced. It’s also important to know that family members cannot provide the type of support the person truly needs—professional help is essential. Still, your presence and support are very important to your loved one.
My Partner Has an Addiction Problem. What Can I Do to Take Care of Myself?
Talk to someone you trust about the problem in your family. This could be a relative or a good friend. Don’t carry the burden alone.
My Child Smokes Too Much Cannabis. What Can I Do?
Try to talk with them and express your concern—without being accusatory. Ask what they like about using cannabis. Set clear rules and maintain regular contact.
If your child withdraws socially, loses interest in former hobbies, cuts off relationships, or begins to struggle at school or in training, professional support may be necessary. Contact us for a free parent coaching session.
My Child Is Always on the Phone or Computer—What Is Still Normal?
It’s not just about how much time they spend on screens. It becomes problematic when responsibilities at school, work, or home are neglected, when friendships or hobbies fall away, or when your child increasingly isolates themselves.
Would you like to talk to a professional about your situation? Contact us for a free parent coaching session.
When Is Drinking Alcohol Especially Dangerous?
There are certain situations where even small amounts of alcohol are too much—such as when driving, playing sports, before or during work, during pregnancy, when taking medications, or when you’re physically or emotionally unwell. In these cases, alcohol should be avoided entirely.
Why Do Women Get Drunk Faster Than Men?
Women have a lower percentage of body water than men (around 60% compared to 70%). As a result, alcohol is less diluted in the body, leading to higher blood alcohol levels. Additionally, women’s livers metabolize alcohol more slowly than men’s.
How Is Alcohol Broken Down in the Body?
Alcohol is primarily metabolized in the liver. To a lesser extent, the kidneys, lungs, and skin also play a role. Blood alcohol levels rise quickly and fall slowly. The liver can break down only about 0.1 to 0.15 per mille (‰) of alcohol per hour, depending on body size and gender. This process cannot be sped up by drinking water, coffee, or using so-called “tricks.”
For example, if someone goes to bed at midnight with a blood alcohol level of 1.4‰, they will still have between 0.35‰ and 0.7‰ in their blood at 7 a.m. the next morning.
Why Do You Feel Sick After Drinking Too Much Alcohol?
The breakdown of alcohol produces unpleasant side effects: headaches, upset stomach, and a general feeling of misery. These symptoms are not caused by alcohol itself but by its toxic breakdown product, acetaldehyde.
Alcohol is especially harmful to teenagers. Even small amounts can cause lasting changes in the still-developing brain. All organs in adolescents are more vulnerable to toxins like alcohol.
Does Alcohol Help with Sleep?
No. Although alcohol initially has a sedating effect and may make falling asleep easier, the rest is short-lived. Alcohol disrupts sleep cycles, resulting in restless sleep and frequent awakenings. This often leads to sleep maintenance problems and worsens snoring or causes breathing interruptions (sleep apnea).
How Dangerous Is Binge Drinking for Teenagers?
Teenagers’ bodies are much more sensitive to alcohol (and other drugs) than adults’. All organs—especially the developing brain—can suffer lasting damage. This is particularly true during binge drinking, which floods the body with a toxic dose it cannot easily process.
Does addictive personality exist?
A distinct ‘addictive personality’ remains scientifically unproven. However, antisocial personality disorder correlates with higher addiction risk. Such individuals display irresponsible, aggressive, and remorse-free behavior before age 15. Therapy Addiction in India often involves addressing underlying personality disorders like antisocial behavior to reduce addiction risk.
Antisocial traits are shaped by genetic predisposition and adverse social environments. The exact cause of addiction is unknown, but many factors may contribute, including:
- Environment: Family issues, conflicts about beliefs, values, or peer group influence can promote substance use.
- Mental health: Emotional distress, anxiety, depression, PTSD, low self-esteem, or other psychological problems can be contributing factors.
- Genetics: Addiction can sometimes run in families.
Are addictions hereditary?
Addiction heritability is moderate to high. If someone has a blood relative, like a parent or sibling, with alcohol or drug addiction, their risk of developing an addiction increases. Genetic traits can speed up or slow the disease’s progression.
How long can you live with an addiction?
Living with addiction is possible, but it increases the risk of premature death. These deaths can result from diseases and injuries, including suicide, liver disease, hepatitis, and cancer, caused by excessive substance use.
Globally, drug abuse is directly and indirectly responsible for over 585,000 premature deaths annually, with 42% occurring in people under 50.
It’s estimated that 2.84 million people die prematurely each year from alcohol consumption. Globally, nearly three-quarters of those who die prematurely from alcohol are under 70, and 28% are younger than 50. Therapy Addiction in India is a critical issue that needs to be addressed.