Chemical addiction is a universal problem, and yet so many individuals may be unaware that they have a problem. What might start-off as an innocent social activity can become a gradual habitual behavior, which may cause great destruction in the lives of those that use and to those that care for the user. There are individuals who are called, “functioning addicts,” and there are individuals who present with more obvious signs.
According to Dr. Richard Kelly (2006)
“The individuals dying with drug-related causes are not, for the most part, down and out, drugged out, low-lifes. And that surprises a lot of people. Many of these individuals hold jobs; attend school, live with what appears to be pretty normal lives. However, after work and/or on weekends these individuals go to dealers. They return home and consume (inhale, ingest, and inject) their substance looking for the effects they expect. They are still addicts. They continue their drug use and abuse for the effect or self-medication or because of an inner drive to use and abuse, but many are functioning members of society.”