by Terry Catucci

Addiction is an illness which affects the individual who has a problem with alcohol or drugs. Compulsive overeating, overspending, gambling, may also result in addiction.

The illness is physical, emotional & spiritual in nature and the approach to treatment is also multi-faceted. It includes education, counseling, and support with an emphasis on abstinence and the effects of the disease on the individual.

Together, client and therapist identify triggers that often result in reactivating the addiction as well as methods for coping with the triggers. Often, the treatment includes identifying root causes of the addiction as well as supportive mechanisms that enable the individual to live without the substance.

Alcoholism

The starting place to find information, resources and the lastest news about alcohol, alcoholism and recovery issues on the Internet. http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/

Alcohol Treatment and Adolescents
http://www.health.org/govpubs/rpo996/

Alcohol MD
Comprehensive site for treatment and recovery from alcohol abuse and alcoholism. Contains treatment locator service, public and private forums, video interviews, multimedia presentations, questions and answers from AlcoholMD Consultants, online versions of J of Psychoactive Drugs and International Addictions Infoline, video interviews, clinical trials locator service, and monthly online conferences. http://www.alcoholmd.com

Web of Addictions
The Web of Addictions is an award winning web site dedicated to providing accurate information about alcohol and other drug addictions. Provides information about alcohol and other drug addictions. http://directory.google.com/Top/Health/Addictions/Substance_Abuse/Resources/

Overeaters Anonymous
Overeaters Anonymous offers a program of recovery from compulsive overeating using the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of OA. Worldwide meetings and other tools provide a fellowship of experience, strength and hope where members respect one another's anonymity. OA charges no dues or fees; it is self-supporting through member contributions. http://www.overeatersanonymous.org/

Gamblers Anonymous
Gamblers Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from a gambling problem.
http://gamblersanonymous.org.