It has been estimated that up to 20% of our nation's population suffers from one of the following five addictions:
WORK
FOOD
SEX
GAMBLING
CHEMICAL (substance, including alcohol)
Substance abuse represents the largest number of addictive problems. The total cost in terms of family breakdown, loss of productivity, injury and death is staggering. Over 80% of all crime is traceable to addictions and substance abuse. Traffic fatalities, assaults, murders, suicides, rapes, spousal and child abuse, lung cancer and heart disease can all be linked to substance abuse.
The disease of addiction is multi-factorial having genetic, metabolic, environmental, psychological and spiritual components. Addictions are our way to compensate for not feeling good about who we are. We seek temporary feelings of being satisfied and peaceful through substances or activities. With the intense pressure we feel in this society to succeed, many individuals seek temporary sensation of feeling good in order to suppress the pressure placed upon us in everyday life.