Frequently Asked Questions

I've tried several times to quit smoking without success. Why is it so hard to kick this habit?

A two-pack-a-day person will inhale cigarette smoke over three million times in ten years, and each of these puffs represents the injection of nicotine, an addictive drug. Every activity in life, both positive and negative, becomes associated with this chemical. Multiple failed attempts to quit, called relapses, signal an individual's genuine attempt to stop using tobacco. While a few people can simply put down their cigarettes and declare "I quit," most people need help. At the Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery, we help people quit through a variety of programs. The health problems associated with smoking are many, and well documented. It is not important how you quit. It is only important that you do quit.

My 22-year old son claims marijuana is a natural ''herb'' and causes no harm when used on an infrequent basis. How does marijuana affect the body?

Some immediate physical effects of marijuana include faster heartbeat, bloodshot eyes, and a dry mouth and throat. Studies of marijuana's mental effects show that the drug can impair short term memory, alter one's sense of time and reduce the ability to do things which require concentration or swift reactions, such as driving. Long-term marijuana use can cause both physical and psychological dependence. And users may need more of the drug to experience the same effects. In some cases the drug can become the most important thing in the user's life. There are also the health problems associated with smoking, which can be worse with marijuana than tobacco because users inhale deeply and hold the smoke in their lungs longer.

Is a gambling addicition similar to a chemical dependency?

There are some similarities, such as an inability to stop or control the behavior, denial, depression, and mood swings. Both pathological gamblers and chemical addicts are preoccupied with their addiction and seek immediate gratification. Where they differ is that a pathological gambler does not have obvious physical signs of their problem and cannot overdose in the conventional sense. But the tremendous financial problems and high suicide rate associated with pathological gambling make it a problem that needs immediate treatment that includes crisis stabilization.

I think my grandmother spends too much on bingo and the lottery. Is it possible she is addicted to them?

Yes, it is possible. Our center has treated numerous adults from across the country experiencing severe negative consequences as a result of their inability to stop playing bingo, lottery, pull tabs, sports betting, etc. In some cases, people on a fixed or low income hoping to reach the "American Dream," which in reality is outside their grasp. No matter what the game of chance, an untreated pathological gambler may risk everything in order to find the "high" associated with the action or the numbness associated with escape.

I caught something the other day on a talk show where they mentioned ''Internet Addiction.'' Is this for real?

Obviously, since you are using it here, you know the internet is an incredible way to gather information and communicate with people worldwide. For most people, it is simply a means of communication. But for some, the internet can become a substitute for real life relationships and a threat to financial and emotional stability. Signs of internet addiction include personal, family, academic, money, and job problems that are characteristic of other addictions. An addict may be drawn to virtual communities to fulfill some un-met emotional and psychological need, in a more intimate and less threatening environment. The internet can also be a convenient means for people to participate in other addictive activities, such as pathological gambling, sexual addiction, and compulsive spending.

One of my teenage daughters has always been overweight. The other is rail thin and wants to look like her pop-star idols. How do I know if they have eating disorders?

When eating too much or too little becomes a problem, we call it food addiction. Food addiction falls into three categories: Compulsive Overeaters use food inappropriately, eventually losing control over the amount of food they eat and binging, often on junk food and in secret. Anorexia Nervosa is characterized by intense fear of gaining weight. A person with this condition is obsessed with their body shape and weight, and shows the physical signs of starvation like thinning hair and disruption of menstrual cycle. Bulimia Nervosa is a condition where the person binges, then uses vomiting, laxatives, or intense exercise to prevent weight gain. Evidence often shows up in poor dental health and obsessive behaviors. A list of questions on our web site can help determine if your daughters' eating habits fall into these problem areas.