There is an old saying and song that goes, “I’ve got a tiger by the tail.” This expression means that a person is in a difficult situation that’s hard to shake. Some believe that the saying originates from an ancient Chinese proverb: “He who rides a tiger is afraid to dismount.” This is often how people feel when it comes to getting help for their addiction. The problem has become so powerful and entrenched that letting go of it feels scarier than holding on. (This is true even though this “tiger” has become meaner and more dangerous than ever.) Moreover, this metaphorical tiger is strengthened over time by what is known as the four C’s of addiction. These four C’s are compulsion, craving, consequences, and control.
Understanding the Prevalence of Teen Addiction
Substance abuse is highly prevalent among teenagers. According to the most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “8.2% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 drank alcohol in the past month, and 13.8% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 used illicit drugs in the past year.” Correlated to the total teen population, those numbers are roughly 3.5 million kids using alcohol and six million kids using drugs.
Now, while these stats are staggering and sad on their own, when considering the number of those kids who will acquire an addiction based on these behaviors, they are even more heartbreaking. Addiction will become cemented in many of these young people based on what is known as the four C’s of addiction.
What Are the Four C’s of Addiction?
The four C’s of addiction exist as a way of understanding and breaking down addiction into its most basic parts: compulsion, craving, consequences, and control. When addiction is seen through the lens of these characteristics, one can better understand the behaviors of people struggling with addiction. One can also understand why addiction is such a difficult “tiger” to let go of.
Essentially, the four C’s of addiction can be divided into two groups. The first two C’s (compulsion and craving) are what keep a person from stopping alcohol and/or drugs. Then the second two C’s (consequences and control) show how and why addiction continues.
The Four C’s of Addiction: Compulsion
Now, the first C is “compulsion.” Compulsion in addiction is all about what is known in 12-Step recovery as “the obsession of the mind.” This means that a person who is struggling with addiction cannot stop thinking about and seeking their substance of choice. Addiction tends to hijack one’s entire value system because the only thing that matters is getting that next drink or drug. Everything else becomes secondary as a person compulsively seeks their substance of choice.
The Four C’s of Addiction: Craving
That second C is craving. Craving is related to the concept of “the allergy” in 12-Step recovery. The allergy is the idea that someone who struggles with addiction is and always will be allergic to drugs and alcohol.
However, this allergy only kicks in when the first drink or drug is taken. At that time, the phenomenon of craving kicks in. That first drink or drug represents the concept of “one is too many, and a thousand will never be enough.”
One interesting way to think about the allergy and the phenomenon of craving is to compare it to an allergy to shellfish. When someone is allergic to shellfish and they discover this by getting sick after ingesting it, they will rarely go back for more. This is not the case with addiction because cravings are so powerful. When the brain changes and adapts to the addictive substance, cravings can become intense and relentless. Eventually, those cravings cause the individual to go back to the substance no matter the consequences. These consequences comprise the next C of addiction.
The Four C’s of Addiction: Consequences
Addiction is such a strong force that even the most severe consequences will often not stop a person from using substances. People who have not experienced addiction often have a hard time understanding this.
Consequences are usually not enough to bring someone to sobriety. Ultimately, the only thing that will bring sobriety is one’s willingness to become sober. Of course, skilled addiction specialists can also help a person reach this state of willingness.
The Four C’s of Addiction: Control
Lastly, the final of the four C’s of addiction is “control.” This is not about how one tries to control their addiction. Rather, it is how someone has lost all control and is unable to stop.
It is important to remember that addiction is a chronic disease. Just like any other chronic disease, such as diabetes or cancer, it will usually get worse without outside intervention. This is where we at Clearview can help.
Recovering From Addiction at Clearview
Here at Clearview Horizon Girls Academy, we understand how devastating it can feel to see a child struggle with the four C’s of addiction. That is why we have made it our primary purpose to fight those C’s with some of our own.
We show our students that we care by connecting with them. Then we create a relationship that will carry them away from addiction and into long-term recovery. Our aim is to remove that tiger from their lives. At Clearview Horizon Girls Academy, we help girls achieve sustained recovery.
There is a model of addiction that is broken down into four C’s. These four C’s of addiction are “compulsion, craving, consequences, and control.” Better understanding these factors can help us better understand a child who is struggling and needs help. These C’s can also help us know when it is time to seek professional help. If you feel like your daughter may be struggling with issues of addiction, mental health, or both, please know that we can help. We can assist you, your daughter, and your entire family in recovering from this issue. For more information about the four C’s of addiction and how addiction can best be treated, reach out to Clearview Horizon today at 866-584-4788.
