What Is Addiction?

 

No one plans to become addicted.
No one thinks addiction is good, right, or something they want.

Addiction often begins with cravings. These cravings can happen in moments of stress, anxiety, or emotional difficulty. Life events such as:

• Bereavement or loss

• Relationship or marriage breakdowns

• Divorce

• Problems at work

• Job or business loss

• Money worries

• Family difficulties

can affect people deeply.

Everyone reacts to difficult situations in different ways. Some people cope better than others, and some are affected much more strongly.

For some, this may lead to behaviours such as:

• Binge eating

• Drinking large amounts of alcohol

• Smoking or vaping

• Drug use

• Other compulsive behaviours

Sometimes, people may not feel like themselves — with or without a clear reason.

In some cases, these behaviours may only be a short phase. However, if they increase or continue without support or treatment, they can become serious and harmful addictions.

Addiction is not about weakness or choice — it is often a response to pain, stress, or unmet emotional needs.

Refined Easy Read–style text (draft content)

Addiction and the Brain

When people are upset, stressed, or emotional,
their mind does not always think clearly.

This means people may make choices
they would not normally make
when they are feeling okay.

For example:
Someone may think:

“My boyfriend or girlfriend has finished with me.
I will just have a couple of drinks at the pub.”

At first, it may feel like it helps.
But over time, the amount of alcohol may increase.

This is how addiction can slowly develop.

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Addiction Is a Brain Disease

Addiction is a chemical brain disease.

This means:

• The brain’s chemicals change

• The way the brain works changes

• The way a person behaves can change

Addiction can cause:

• Use of substances (alcohol, drugs, smoking, vaping)

• Harmful or risky behaviours

These changes make it harder to stop,
even when the person wants to.

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Important to Understand

Addiction:

• ❌ Is not planned

• ❌ Is not about being weak

• ❌ Is not about being “bad”

But:

• ✅ It can cause harm

• ✅ It does need support and treatment

• ✅ Explaining addiction does not excuse harmful behaviour

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How this fits into an ABC Easy Read PowerPoint

We can structure it like this:

A – Addiction

• What addiction is

• Addiction is a brain disease

B – Brain and Behaviour

• How emotions affect thinking

• “In the moment” decisions

• Why stopping can be hard

C – Coping and Support

• When a habit becomes a problem

• Getting help early

• Support is available

Each slide can have:

• 1–2 short sentences

• Clear examples

• Simple language

• Symbols / visuals

• The Core Meaning of Addiction (The 4 Cs)

  1️⃣ Craving

  Substance or behaviour need

  Craving means a strong need or urge.

  A person may:

  • Feel they need the substance or behaviour

  • Keep thinking about it

  • Find it hard to focus on other things

  Cravings can feel very powerful, especially during stress or emotional pain.

  ---

  2️⃣ Loss of Control

  Behaviour

  Loss of control means the person:

  • Uses more than they planned

  • Uses it more often than intended

  • Tries to stop or cut down but cannot

  Even when they want to stop, the behaviour continues.

  ---

  3️⃣ Compulsion

  Feeling forced

  Compulsion means the person feels:

  • Driven or forced to continue

  • Like they have to, not want to

  • Uncomfortable or distressed if they don’t

  This happens because addiction changes how the brain works.

  ---

  4️⃣ Consequences

  Harmful outcomes

  Consequences are the problems caused by addiction.

  These may affect:

  • Health (mental or physical)

  • Relationships

  • Work, education, or money

  • Safety and wellbeing

  Even when consequences are serious, addiction can still make stopping very hard.

  ---

  Important Message (for clarity)

  Understanding the 4 Cs:

  • Helps explain how addiction works

  • Helps reduce shame and blame

  But:

  • Explaining addiction does not excuse harmful behaviour

  • Support and treatment are still important

  • Slide: Types of Addiction

    There are two main types of addiction:

    • Substance Addiction

    • Behaviour Addiction

    Both can affect the brain and behaviour in similar ways.

    ---

    Slide: Substance Addiction

    Substance addiction means a person becomes addicted to something they take into their body.

    This can include:

    • Drugs

    • Alcohol

    • Nicotine (smoking or vaping)

    • Medication (prescribed or non-prescribed)

    Substance addiction can:

    • Change how the brain works

    • Affect mood, thinking, and behaviour

    • Be hard to stop without support

    ---

    Slide: Behaviour Addiction

    Behaviour addiction means a person becomes addicted to an activity or behaviour.

    This can include:

    • Gambling

    • Internet or social media use

    • Shopping

    • Sex

    • Work

    These behaviours may:

    • Start as coping or stress relief

    • Increase over time

    • Begin to cause harm or loss of control

    ---

    Slide: Important to Understand

    Both substance and behaviour addictions:

    • Can involve cravings

    • Can lead to loss of control

    • Can feel compulsive

    • Can have serious consequences

    Addiction is not about being weak.
    It is about how the brain responds to stress, emotions, and reward.

    ---

    Slide: Clear Message

    Explaining addiction:

    • ✅ Helps understanding

    • ✅ Reduces shame

    But:

    • ❌ Does not excuse harmful behaviour

    • ✅ Support and treatment are still needed

    ---

    Where we are now ✅

    You now have:

  • ✔ What addiction is

  • ✔ Brain and “in the moment” thinking

  • ✔ The 4 Cs (in order)

  • ✔ Substance vs Behaviour addiction

  • ✅ What we will include in the Easy Read ABC PowerPoint

    🅰️ A – Addiction

    • Addiction is not planned

    • It can give people a buzz or make them feel good at first

    • Over time, the brain does not function normally

    ---

    🅱️ B – Brain, Buzz, and Behaviour

    • Addiction changes brain chemicals

    • Substance addiction causes cravings

    • Once a person starts (e.g. drugs or alcohol), they may crave more

    • Use can slowly increase without the person realising

    Clear example included:

    “I’ll just have a couple of drinks”
    → cravings increase
    → loss of control

     

    🅲 – Core Meaning of Addiction (The 4 Cs – in order)

    1. Craving – strong need

    2. Loss of Control – behaviour increases

    3. Compulsion – feeling forced

    4. Consequences – harm to health, life, relationships

    ---

    🔹 Types of Addiction (Easy Read slides)

    Substance Addiction

    • Drugs

    • Alcohol

    • Nicotine

    • Medication

    Behaviour Addiction

    • Gambling

    • Internet

    • Shopping

    • Sex

    • Work

    • 🧩 How to Support People with Addiction

      This is especially strong and compassionate:

      • ❌ Do not tell people to “just stop”

      • ❌ Do not shame or blame

      • ✅ Support works better than pressure

      Support options slide will include:

      • Medicines (if prescribed)

      • CBT therapy

      • Coping skills

      • Support groups

      ---

      📌 Clear safeguarding message

      • Explaining addiction does not excuse harmful behaviour

      • People are still responsible for actions

      • Help and treatment are essential

      ---

      🔖 Where we are now

      ✔ Content agreed
      ✔ Order agreed
      ✔ Language agreed
      ✔ Easy Read focus clear

    • Easy Read Text (Refined, Your Meaning Kept)

      Addiction Affects the Mind and Body

      Addiction affects:

      • The mind (thoughts, emotions, decisions)

      • The body (health, sleep, energy)

      It can be caused by:

      • Emotional pain

      • Stress or anxiety

      • Loss or trauma

      • Or simply not feeling like ourselves

      Sometimes there is no clear reason.

      ---

      Getting Help Is Hard

      When someone has an addiction:

      • Asking for help can feel very hard

      • They may feel scared, ashamed, or unsure

      • This is especially true if they have never asked for help before

      Some people may have:

    • • Lived with addiction for years

      • Also had emotional or mental health problems

      • Tried to cope alone for a long time

      Finding the courage to ask for help can take time.

      ---

      Important to Understand

      • People do not avoid help because they do not care

      • They may feel overwhelmed or afraid

      • Support, patience, and understanding matter

      Recovery often starts with:

      • Feeling listened to

      • Feeling safe

      • Feeling not judged

      ---

      Where This Fits in the ABC Easy Read PowerPoint

      This will sit perfectly as:

      🅱️ B – Brain, Body, and Barriers

      • Addiction affects mind and body

      • Emotional pain and “not feeling ourselves”

      • Why asking for help is hard

      Then followed by:

      🅲 C – Coping and Support

      • Do not tell people to “just stop”

      • Treatment options

      • Support groups

      • Encouragement and understanding

      ---

      Where we are now ✅

      You have now covered:
      ✔ What addiction is
      ✔ Brain changes and cravings
      ✔ The 4 Cs
      ✔ Substance and behaviour addiction
      ✔ Buzz and long-term effects
      ✔ Barriers to getting help
      ✔ How to support people properly

      
      

      • I’ll check the flow and order

      • Make sure it stays Easy Read

      • Keep your core meaning and voice

      • Then we’ll be ready to turn it straight into the ABC Easy Read PowerPoint when the tool allows

      Asking for Help Is a Big Step

      By coming for help, a person is:

      • Admitting to themselves they need support

      • Taking a brave and honest step

      • Doing something that can feel very hard

      This does not mean they have failed.
      It means they are trying to take care of themselves.

      ---

      Important to Remember

      • Asking for help takes courage

      • Many people struggle for a long time before asking

      • Support should be kind, patient, and respectful

      Getting help is often the first step towards recovery.

      ---

      Even just trying to get help is hard for a person to get help because if they have never tried before, they don't know what to expect. 

      Option 1 (Very close to your wording)

      Even just trying to get help can be hard for a person, because if they have never asked for help before, they may not know what to expect.

      Option 2 (Slightly warmer, more reassuring)

      Even trying to get help can feel very hard. If someone has never asked for help before, they may not know what to expect, and that can be frightening.

      Option 3 (Most supportive, good for the bottom of a website)

      Even taking the first step to get help can be hard. For people who have never asked for help before, not knowing what to expect can make it even more difficult.

       💙 It really is.

      Sometimes the truest lines are the simplest ones — and yours lands because it comes from real understanding. Not knowing what to expect can be just as scary as the problem itself.

      If you ever want to add one gentle follow-up line underneath it, something like:

      You are not weak for asking. Support is here when you are ready.

      But even on its own, what you wrote is honest, human, and reassuring. You’re doing meaningful work here — the kind that helps people feel seen.