DEALING WITH INNER DEMONS

Everyone feels a need that they try to indulge with something that
makes them feel fulfilled, if only temporarily. Some are adrenalin
junkies who push themselves in sports, while others choose to help
those in need because helping others makes them feel good, too.

There can be many positive means, but there are also many destructive
ones. Addictions to vices such as drugs, alcohol and gambling are at
the opposite end of the spectrum. At best, they can affect a person's
ability to function to their full potential at work and in their home.
At their worst, they can lead a person into a life of crime and even
death.

Drug and gambling addictions can cause a person to steal, rob and
embezzle money to support his or her habit. There are regular examples
of that in the newspaper. Just this week, a man has been charged with
robbing a corner grocery store and breaking into a person's home with
the homeowner still inside and robbing them of their money. This isn't
some Robin Hood stealing from the rich to give to the poor; this could
easily have been a drug addict looking for a way to buy his next fix.

Alcohol has a different effect. It makes a person act out violently.
It could lead him to destroy property or to physically attack someone.
It is unusual to see in the court news when men charged with spousal
assault are not sent for counselling, either of the family violence or
addictions variety or both.

According to a Statistics Canada report from 2005, called Exploring Crime
Patterns in Canada: "An established body of research consistently points to
the co-occurrence of alcohol or drugs and crime in a substantial proportion
of cases." The report refers to a 2002 Canadian study that found 40-50 per
cent of crimes were related to alcohol or drugs. Either people were
intoxicated at the time of the crime or committed the crime to obtain drugs
or alcohol. A 2001 study the report refers to found rates of spousal
violence are higher and injuries more severe in relationships with heavy
drinkers. The report also refers to similar statistics in Great Britain,
Australia and the United States.

Still, researchers say there is no direct cause-and-effect link
between drugs and crime. It could be the effects of the drugs on a
person's mind and body that lead to crime, the need to acquire money
to pay for the drugs or the violence associated with the drug trade.
According to the Statistics Canada report, other common factors
leading to drug use could be childhood abuse, early school failure,
family characteristics or neighbourhood disorganization.

But before and while addictions turn a person to life of crime, they
are also tearing apart families, affecting a person's ability to work,
relationships with others, and even respect for oneself. To escape,
the person turns more and more to the drugs and alcohol as a means of
escape or taking control. It's a situation on a downward spiral.

So is there any way to fight those addictions? Yes, but it involves
battling the current, seeking counselling and support as attempts are
made to get clean and eventually root out the psychological and/or
physical issues that led to the addiction. Can a person ever stay
clean and sober? It's possible, if the will and the support are there.
But it is just as possible a person will fall back into old patterns
many times, if he lets his guard down. Alcoholism is called a disease
and, like cancer, it can reappear. There is hope, but there is also a
long road to recovery.

Addictions Awareness Week is one week a year, but some people live
with addictions every day -- either their own, a spouse's, family
member's or friend's.

Even if a person doesn't have a direct link to someone with addiction
issues, that person can still be victimized by crimes committed by
people with addictions. Take the man who was robbed in his own home
this week, or the fights that start outside a bar at closing time.

Addictions are something society needs to actively address because
society as a whole feels the impact.