Tarhan: "The purpose of life is of great importance in the fight against addiction"

Noting that the person is a prisoner of the substance to which one is addicted, and the substance controls the person in addiction, Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized that addiction is a disease with the potential for recurrence. Noting that the easiest way for the brain to learn is to take a substance that is at hand and turn to it, Tarhan said that "If the person learns stress management after treatment, one knows what to do when the substance craving comes back. The person needs to be able to manage the moment of crisis. Since the person is unable to manage the crisis, one starts the substance again. That is why substance abuse is considered a chronic disease." Noting that the search for the wrong meaning is also effective in the development of addiction, Tarhan said that "The person's philosophy of life is important in addiction. We can observe that there is a lack of search for meaning in some of the addicted patients" and emphasized the importance of a meaningful philosophy of life.

President of Üsküdar University, Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan evaluated addiction and its treatment.

In addiction, the substance controls you

Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that "The Turkish equivalent of bağımlılık is not addiction, but 'captivity'. You become a prisoner of matter. Not of your own free will, matter comes to the fore in your life. Matter governs you. This means that you have become addicted and imprisoned. Captivity is the most severe. Then there is 'dependence', that is, 'commitment'. This is a little weaker dependence. Physiological addiction is in the form of psychological dependence."

Addiction, a disease with the potential for recurrence

Noting that addiction is a brain disease that can usually be cured, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that "It does not heal completely, but it improves. After the disease has passed, the person may never relapse if one makes their living conditions suitable. However, it is a disease that always has the potential for recurrence. The attack improves, the person gets rid of addiction. For example, once a person gets rid of addiction. Their parents are leaving and they are sad. One stays with their father. Their father makes guilt-inducing, judgmental speeches and emotional exploitation remarks for them. The child is upset about this. They think of their father. They pick up the substance They have quitted there. Why? Because our brain produces serotonin under stress. Serotonin decreases, and when it decreases, it comes to a search that increases serotonin with self-relaxation and self-treatment behavior, which we call self-medication."

Crisis management should be taught in addiction treatment

Noting that the easiest way for the brain to learn is to take a substance that is at hand and turn to it, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that "If the person learns stress management after treatment, one knows what to do when they want to eat in such cases. For this reason, a person should have received psycho training in addiction treatment. The person needs to be able to manage the moment of crisis, which is what we do in the hospital. Since the person is unable to manage the crisis, one starts the substance again. Therefore, substance abuse is considered a chronic disease. The person becomes diabetic. After finding out that they have diabetes, and they pay attention to what they eat and drink. Sugar is no longer a problem in their life. Smart people adjust their lives accordingly. Those who quit the substance are also treated in hospitals."

Post-treatment follow-up is important

Noting that substance cessation treatment is easy with various methods, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized that post-treatment follow-up is important. Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that "Today, there are digital tracking systems. When the patient does not come for control, a message is sent to their phone. The patient is also ready. There is a kind of interference. Expert help is immediately sought. We have patented the hospital management system. We are going to implement it. At the moment, we are doing this tracking without an application on smartphones."

There are uncontrollable attempts to quit...

Noting that addiction treatment is a team work, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that "The physician and psychologist are members of the team. Addiction negatively affects a person's whole life. Tolerance is developing. There is a desire to overuse that cannot be stopped. When the person does not take the substance, withdrawal symptoms begin. It turns out dangerous and harmful use. The person is driving even though one knows that drunk driving is dangerous. Most argue that they are not alcoholic. The person has had a stomach bleed but continues to drink alcohol. There are uncontrollable attempts to quit. It happens at the center of life. One goes to bed with it and starts waking up with it. Stops all normal life activities and social activities. The person has problems because of this."

Addiction is a family disease

Noting that not only the person but also one’s family is affected in addiction and therefore addiction is called a 'family disease', Prof. Nevzat Tarhan expressed that “In addiction, not only the person is sick, but all their close relationships are disrupted. Their spouse and children and their close circle are affected."

It is very common in those with childhood trauma...

Noting that addiction is common in those with childhood trauma, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that "We now routinely apply the childhood trauma scale in every addiction case. Certainly, all of them have physical neglect and physical abuse, emotional neglect and abuse, and sexual traumas. If the person puts the trauma in a logical framework and resolves it, the substance-seeking behavior decreases. Traumas disrupt the network in the brain, and they look like extinct volcanoes. A person acts under stress. Whatever the weakness of the person is, one turns to the substance. For this reason, childhood traumas are very important."

In chronic depression, the substance can be seen as a refuge

Noting that those with chronic depression after childhood traumas are prone to substance use, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that "They are unhappy and pessimistic people who have moderate depression and fail to be happy. Since these people are in a constant state of stress, they see the substance as a refuge. They deceive themselves with matter. Fake is a relaxant. One gives a fake bribe to the brain, and they are relieved in that moment. Of course, the effect of the substance is worse."

It is necessary to have a purpose in life

Noting that the search for wrong meaning is also effective in the development of addiction, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that "It is important for the person to have a purpose in life. We can observe that there is a lack of search for meaning in some of the addicted patients. Not having a reason to live means having no meaning to live in life. It means that their goal for the future is not planned. Anomie, that is, normlessness, is the disease of this age. After all, the person's philosophy of life is important in addiction."

Addiction damages the brain

Reminding that addiction damages many organs, including the liver, heart, stomach and intestines, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that "The most damage is in the brain. There are memory disorders in the brain. According to the deteriorated areas in the brain, people who have been using substances for a long time have early dementia because the brain shrinks. Alcohol, all toxic substances that lead to addiction, are cell poisons. They poison brain cells. They pump all the chemicals necessary in the brain into the blood, it is relieved like a temporary doping. The person is bad for three weeks after using the substance. They cannot raise their hand."

If the person loses control, addiction can be diagnosed

Noting that the biggest symptom of addiction is loss of control, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that "If the person has a loss of control, the diagnosis is made. If the person loses control over their life and with the substance, addiction has begun. It should be considered that the person uses a substance for longer than planned, neglects their family, and their life spirals out of control. The frontal region of the brain is the region of decision-making and control. It is the wheelhouse of the brain. In addicted people, the chemistry of this region deteriorates."

Neuromodulation therapies are applied in the population

Noting that many methods are applied in the treatment of addiction, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that "Clinical treatments lasting two or three weeks can be applied. Sometimes drug treatment is not enough, and in some people, we apply deep brain stimulation therapy called deep TMU related to addiction. In deep brain stimulation treatment, stimulation is made to the area of the person's brain that awakens the desire for substances. In these people, only drug therapy and detox are not sufficient in the treatment. Treatments that modulate the brain, called neuromodulation therapy, are applied.”

Internal control deteriorates in addiction

Noting that the internal control of the person is impaired in addiction, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that "There are two types of control in the person: Internal and external control. Internal control is the ability to be a captain on one's own ship. If a person cannot be their own captain, they are given a vice-captain title. There is also this approach in addiction treatment. The wheel is not suddenly taken away from them but is given to the assistant captain first. Therapy and treatments are applied to the patient. The patient is purified. After the treatment, one becomes self-controlled. In this process, the patient is told about the possible consequences they will experience if they start the substance again. Awareness is created in the person."

Pointing out the importance of family support in addiction treatment, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that "Here, the approach of families and social support is very important. There are social workers in the clinics. A social worker follows up after the treatment. They call the patient. If this is not done, the addiction may recur."

Loose and inconsistent discipline hurts

Noting that the parenting style of the mother and father is also important in the development of addiction, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that "There are especially maternal and paternal attitude errors. There is a lot of love, there is loose discipline or there is inconsistent discipline. The child has not learned the rule of life, he has not learned the sense of responsibility. The child learned freedom, but not responsibility. And when he lives irresponsibly, he does not know where to stop. It creates a risk group in addiction to attention deficit and hyperactivity."

Addiction is on the rise in Türkiye

Drawing attention to the importance of protection studies to be taken in the prevention of addiction, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan concluded his remarks as follows: "To work for primary prevention, to take measures to eliminate secondary protection risks, and to prevent recurrence in tertiary prevention. Tertiary protection is unfortunately weak in Türkiye. Unless you do these, the addiction increases rapidly graphically. It is increasing in Türkiye, it is increasing in the world; however, it is increasing more than the average of the world in Türkiye.”

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)