Are you genetically predisposed to addiction?

Just about everyone today has heard about or knows of someone who is into drugs or alcohol. Addiction, being a disease, begins innocuously through experimentation and social use. Unfortunately not everyone is able to stop there.

In about 15 percent of the population, there is a genetic predisposition to addiction. These people carry the gene which has recently been found to represent the segment of the population that is most likely to continue to use drugs and drink despite adverse consequences.

How do you know if you carry the gene or not? You don’t need to get dissected or go through an expensive laboratory procedure to find out. Below is a self-diagnostic questionnaire from John Hopkins Hospital to determine if you might have a problem. Check it out:

1. Do you lose time from work due to drinking/drugging?

2. Is drinking/drugging making your home life unhappy?

3. Do you drink/or use drugs because you are shy with people?

4. Is drinking/drugging affecting your reputation?

5. Have you ever felt remorse after drinking/drugging?

6. Have you gotten into financial difficulties as a result of drinking/drugging?

7. Do you turn to lower companions and an inferior environment when drinking/drugging?

8. Does your drinking/drugging make you careless of your family’s welfare?

9. Has your ambition decreased as a result of drinking/drugging?

10. Do you crave for a drink/or use drugs at a definite time daily?

11. Do you want a drink/or use drugs the next morning?

12. Does drinking /drugging cause you to have difficulty sleeping?

13. Has your efficiency decreased since drinking/drugging?

14. Is drinking jeopardizing your job or business?

15. Do you drink/or use drugs to escape from troubles or worries?

16. Do you drink/or use drugs alone?

17. Have you ever had a complete loss of memory as a result of drinking?

18. Has your physician ever treated you for drinking?

19. Do you drink/or use drugs to build up your self-confidence?

20. Have you ever been to a hospital or institution on account of drinking?

If you answered yes to any one of the above questions, there is a definite signal that you may be an addict. If you answered yes to any two questions, chances are that you are an addict. If you answered yes to any three questions, then you are definitely an addict – not necessarily pointing only to drugs, but also to alcohol, shabu, sex, gambling, the Internet, and other behavioral addictions.

It could be someone you know of or a loved one you are concerned about, but in any case a simple diagnosis on the life areas of the person – family, health, social life, finances, work/school and legal – could be an indicator of a problem and a possible need for intervention.

For more information, contact the Life Management Foundation Inc. (LMFI) at 812-1267, 892-9720 or 0920-2260647. Facilities are located at the Yupangco bldg., 2320 Pasong Tamo Ext., Makati City.