Addiction is all about emotions. Feeling a bit stressed after work, a couple of glasses of wine will help you unwind. Feeling bored and lethargic? Meth will give you an boost of energy that will last for hours. Feeling a bit awkward in a social gathering and don’t know what to say? A few beers and you’ll be the life and soul of the party.
Millions of people use alcohol and drugs to change the way they feel and, in the short term, substance use can serve as an effective emotional regulation system. The problem arises when you depend completely on substances to fix the way you feel.
