Medications

The classical use of medications for alcoholism is to encourage abstinence. Antabuse (also known as disulfiram), for instance, prevents the elimination of chemicals which cause severe discomfort when alcohol is ingested, effectively preventing the alcoholic from drinking in significant amounts while they take the medicine. Heavy drinking while on antabuse can result in severe illness and death.

Naltrexone has also been used because it helps curb cravings for alcohol while the person is on it. Both of these, however, have been demonstrated to cause a rebound effect when the user stops taking them. These do allow a person to overcome psychological addictions to alcohol, but they do not treat the neurochemical addiction.

In more recent studies it has been demonstrated that the use of naltrexone while the alcoholic continues to drink can result in extinction of the neurochemical addiction. Referred to as the “Sinclair Method”, this technique is used with good results some US states and in Finland but has failed to penetrate much of the world because of the long-standing bias against any treatment that doesn’t involve detoxification and abstinence.

Rationing

Rationing or other attempts to control use are increasingly ineffective as pathological attachment to the drug develops. Use often continues despite serious adverse health, personal, legal, work-related, and financial consequences.

Detoxification

Detoxification programs run by medical institutions often involve stays for a number of weeks in specialized hospital wards, where drugs may be used to avoid withdrawal symptoms. In severe cases, detoxification may lead to death. To that point, even a simple “de-tox” can involve seizures, if not properly monitored.

Post Detox Therapy

After detoxification, various forms of group therapy or psychotherapy are recommended to deal with underlying psychological issues leading to alcohol dependence. It is also used to provide the recovering addict with relapse prevention skills.

Aversion therapies may be supported by drugs like Disulfiram, which causes a strong and prompt sensitivity reaction whenever alcohol is consumed. Naltrexone or Acamprosate may improve compliance with abstinence planning by treating the physical aspects of cravings to drink. The standard pharmocopoeia of antidepressants, anxiolytics, and other psychotropic drugs treat underlying mood disorders, neuroses, and psychoses associated with alcoholic symptoms.

Group Counseling

In the mid-1930s, the mutual-help group-counseling approach to treatment began and has become very popular. Alcoholics Anonymous is the best-known example of this movement. Various branches are available for family members of the alcoholic or commonly referred to as the co-dependents. Other groups include LifeRing Secular Recovery and SMART Recovery.

Prevention

Some programs attempt to help problem drinkers before they become dependents. These programs focus on harm-reduction and reducing alcohol intake as opposed to cold-turkey approaches. One such program is called Moderation Management.

Nutritional therapy

Another treatment program is based on nutritional therapy. Many alcohol dependents have insulin resistance syndrome, a metabolic disorder where the body’s difficulty in processing sugars causes an unsteady supply to the blood stream. While the disorder can be treated by a hypoglycemic diet, this can affect behavior and emotions, side-effects often seen among alcohol dependents in treatment. The metabolic aspects of such dependence are often overlooked, resulting in poor results.

Return to normal drinking

Although it has long been argued that alcoholic dependents cannot learn to drink in moderation, research by the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) indicates a small percentage of individuals in the US whose dependence began more than one year earlier are now drinking in moderation. In contrast, a high percentage who undergo naltrexone use-reduction therapy are capable of normal drinking habits. Use of Naltrexone involves taking the medication an hour before any drinking occurs in order to maintain this.

Societal Impact

Today, alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence are major public health problems in North America, costing the region’s inhabitants, by some estimates, as much as US$170 billion annually. Alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence sometimes cause death, particularly through liver, pancreatic, or kidney disease, internal bleeding, brain deterioration, alcohol poisoning, and suicide. Heavy alcohol consumption by a pregnant mother can also lead to fetal alcohol syndrome, an incurable and damaging condition.

Additionally, alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence are major contributing factors for head injuries, motor vehicle accidents, violence and assaults, neurological, and other medical problems.

Alcohol addiction is a treatable disease. If you are an alcoholic or are a family member of an alcoholic, contact your physician for the most current treatments available.

This article is Copyright © 2006, Heather Colman. Permission is granted to reprint this article as long as no changes are made, and the entire resource box is included.

Edgar

Most addicted people deny that they are addicts and it becomes difficult for their friends and family members to bring them for proper treatment programs. According to statistics, the rate of denial among addicts is quite high; about 90% of the addicts refuse to believe that they are addicts. It is observed in the addiction treatment program in New Hampshire that getting the patient into the treatment process is much more difficult than actually going through the actual treatment procedure.

Motivating the person to get into a rehab center for treatment becomes very important. There is a lot of focus on this in the addiction treatment program in New Hampshire. If there is an addicted person in your family for whom you are looking at treatment options, you will find the various intervention programs helping you in this regard. However, you will need to approach a professional here and plan out the treatment.

You need to plan and organize an intervention program that is customized to the needs of the patient. In case you are organizing such a program, it is advisable to call an intervention specialist to guide you. The intervention program allows you to give moral support to the addicts and encourages them to enter a suitable mode of treatment. You can plan this program with the help of other members of the person’s family and friends.

A good idea is to enlist the help of an expert on providing intervention who is known as the interventionist. This intervention specialist will guide you properly about the steps involved in the addiction treatment. This specialist will also encourage the group by providing examples of people who have successfully undergone these treatments. The intervention specialists will make your intervention program more effective.

Let us understand in detail how a typical intervention included in an addiction treatment program in New Hampshire will help the group of people planning a recovery process for someone.

The first step is to form a group. The intervention specialist will ask you to form a group of people, especially the family, who are willing to help the patient join addiction treatment. You may also include the close friends and neighbors of the addicted person into this group. Also if you can involve the employer of the addicted person in case he or she is working under someone. They can also help the affected person to come out of their addiction. Sometimes religious leaders are included so that the person feels comfortable. However, it is not advisable to include more than three to seven people because too many people can befuddle the patient.

Before forming the group, it is better to note down the role of each person from the group. Once the group is formed, you will need to inform the interventionist about it. It is better to decide the goal of this group beforehand. Your group can either have a goal of just motivating the addict to join the addiction treatment center or helping him or her until complete recovery. Each group member should take this program seriously and dedicate themselves to it.

It is a fact that the addiction treatment program in New Hampshire not difficult. The interventionist will guide you about the various ways in which you all can motivate the addict. The next step of the intervention program is to prepare a speech with the help of interventionist. The interventionist will guide you about the various ways in which you all can motivate the addict. On an appointed day, you will read out this speech in front of the addict to motivate him or her. In this speech you will need to tell the addict about your love for them, also about the fact that the addiction treatment program is not difficult. They have to be told about the various incentives they will get, including an improved and healthy lifestyle.

The intervention will want to go through these speeches to make sure that they will have the right kind of impact on the patient. These will need to be rehearsed so that they carry the meaning when they are spoken out to the addicted person.

A day for meeting the patient is then appointed and on that day, the group members will speak with him or her either individually or in a group. If this is done well, there is a great chance that the addict will join the addiction treatment program.

There are chances that the addict will not get motivated and join an addiction treatment program in New Hampshire. The first attempt might go wasted. Be ready for the next meeting too. With help of group efforts and a strong determination, the patient can be motivated to get into treatment.

Christopher

The number of addicts who are into methamphetamine addiction is increasing rapidly. In last ten years itself the methamphetamine addiction has bloomed like never before. Earlier the methamphetamine drug was not freely available in America but now due to illegal transport from the neighboring countries, this drug is all over the states in America.

The various laboratories that are working illegally in America, are also manufacturing methamphetamine due to heavy demands. That is the reason why the methamphetamine addiction in Nebraska has gone sky high. The government has already taken action against all such laboratories that are producing methamphetamine but still there are various laboratories, which are working hidden and making methamphetamine easily available for the addicts.

The treatment of methamphetamine addiction in Nebraska is a difficult treatment procedure as there are several issues that play as hurdles in the treatment program. Therefore the treatment centers in Nebraska are still unable to judge a single treatment program for methamphetamine addiction. The treatment for meth addiction is not as simple as treatment for any other drug addiction because of the strong addictive nature of the substance that makes a person’s brain quickly succumb to the addiction and stay within it. Hence, one can see many numbers of meth rehab centers opened in each state of America.

The meth rehab centers have a different procedure to deal with the methamphetamine addiction. Hence it is always advised to the meth addict to take treatment in meth rehab centers only. The various problems that are related with methamphetamine addiction are discussed below.

Most of the methamphetamine addicts in Nebraska are among the youth. The teenagers and those who are in their early twenties are the people who are into meth addiction. The laboratories that make methamphetamine distribute this drug in places where mostly young people are, like nightclubs and discos. The youth enjoying in such places easily fall prey to such substance in order to get pleasure and have some fun.

The methamphetamine and crystal meth both these drugs are used in groups. Hence under the peer pressure many youth start consuming these drugs and slowly find it difficult to manage without these drugs. Thus the agents distributing the methamphetamine drugs try to make this drug available in places where people will be in groups.

Methamphetamine is an arousing drug, in that it makes the addict sexually aroused. When it is taken in group the chances are the group will indulge in some sexual activity and thus risk of the addicts getting some or the infection like HIV. This makes the meth addiction treatment program in Nebraska makes it even more difficult. The injection and addiction together increase the chance of addict getting into bigger troubles.

The trend in many states of America is that the gay population is more into methamphetamine addiction. After consuming methamphetamine and indulging in sexual relations the addict and their partners can get major infection like HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. This is the major concern faced by the methamphetamine treatment in Nebraska.

The methamphetamine drug has brought various other such problems into Nebraska. The overall situation has gone haywire in Nebraska but still the state authorities are trying their level best to handle the situation. The major task done by the state authorities is to give counseling programs in various locations throughout the state. With the help of all these counseling programs the general awareness is being spread among the youth and all other age group people.

By making the youth and other age group people aware about the sever effects of methamphetamine and also by controlling the laboratories producing the methamphetamine drug, the state has managed to control the situation. But it goes without saying that unless everyone decides to stay away from methamphetamine addiction the situation will not become like it was ten years before.

The addicts should also join a meth rehab center for treatment of methamphetamine addiction in Nebraska and get the proper treatment before it becomes too late. The timely treatment will help the addict to give up their addiction and live an addiction free life. The treatment program will be quite tough compared to the other drug treatment programs. The patient will be given counseling throughout the treatment program as many addicts leave the treatment program midway due to the difficulties come in the treatment.

If anyone in your family is into methamphetamine addiction then help them to understand that they need treatment and also try to convince them to take proper medical help in meth rehab center in Nebraska.

Leigh

Help for Parents with Addicted Children

Are you enabling your Child to continue in the Addiction Process?

Addiction to drugs and alcohol among our children covers the entire social and economic spectrum in our society. Many ascribe addiction to poor parenting, however while poor parenting can contribute to the addiction problem, good parenting does not prevent it. Some families have one addicted child while their other children, living in the same environment, do not become addicts. So whether you are certain your son or daughter is not addicted, suspect they may be addicted or know that they are addicted, you may want to read more of this article. You will find help on recognizing addiction, learning what you may be doing to enable it and what you can do to help your son or daughter and to help yourself deal with it.

Recognizing Addiction in Your Son or Daughter

Parents are often the last to recognize addiction in their children. Studies have shown that about 4% of parents of 9 to 11 year olds believe their child may have used drugs while about 25% of these children admit to doing so. There are several reasons for this. The children get very good at hiding alcohol and drug use from their parents while parents do not want to believe it to be possible. In addition, there is a judgmental attitude that drug and alcohol use is the result of poor parenting so parents deny the problem even in the face of strong evidence to the contrary. Here are some questions to help you determine if your son or daughter has the disease of addiction.

1. Do you have relatives on either or both sides of your family who are addicted? Genetics plays a large role and sometimes the disease skips a generation or two.

2. Have you found evidence of drug use in your home such as marijuana joints, empty liquor containers (either theirs or yours) or drug paraphernalia? Children will go to great lengths to hide alcohol and drug use from parents, so if they are leaving evidence this is an indication they have lost control of their use.

3. Have you seen a major change in behavior such as grooming habits, loss of interest in family activities, studying habits, withdrawing, depression, new friends, belligerence, extreme defensiveness, etc.?

4. Has your son or daughter gotten a MIP or DUI, been charged with shoplifting or theft?

5. Do they tell you that they are not affected by drinking alcohol or can drink more than their peers? This usually is perceived as good thing by an addict but actually indicates they have developed a high tolerance because of excessive use.

6. Have you seen burns on their fingers or lips, needle marks, or sores on their nose and face?

7. Has your son or daughter lost weight or developed a poor appetite?

8. Do they have money problems and refuse to explain how it is being spent?

Hopefully these questions will help you decide whether there is a problem or not. If you believe there is, you must begin by understanding what is and is not enabling behavior and how to avoid it.

Are You Enabling Your Child in the Addiction Process?

If you are like most parents, your initial response to addiction in a child is “We are going to fix this problem?” The common initial thoughts of parents faced with an addicted child will include, I’m going to punish my child, or I’ll lecture him about the problems with doing drugs or alcohol, or I’ll ground him until he is 30!! However, these attitudes probably will do little to alleviate the problem. Instead they probably increase the desire in your child to abuse substances. This approach, among many others that keep the addiction process going, is called “Enabling Behavior”. After attending Al Anon meetings for a while, it becomes easier to make the distinction between what is enabling behavior and what is helping behavior. You will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle you. The following story illustrates the point.

As fathers, when our kids…even our adult kids, get into life threatening situations, sometimes it is just not possible to say “detach with love” and walk away…at least it wasn’t for me.

My alcoholic ex-wife actually schooled our oldest son with her addiction to wine. She created her own “drinking buddy,” and, because he was 17 and in the midst of those rebellious “dad’s an idiot” times, she won real favor with him by encouraging this “adult behavior.”

By the time he was 18, his mother and I had separated, so, with me out of the house, this boy really “took over the house.”

One night after work I received a panicky call from our youngest son. His older brother had beaten him up and threatened to kill him in a drunken rage. The boy was sobbing.

I had to do something. But before I did, I called my sponsor, who also had a son about my son’s age, and had successfully gotten him into treatment. My sponsor added a compassionate but detached good sound mind to my panic. Together we worked out a plan where I called the DA’s office first, found out that the older son could be charged with a misdemeanor and arrested. Then, when I confronted the boy I had a strong arrow in my quiver.

I used what we call in the program the “broken record” technique. I just repeated over and over the same message to him in the face of his bluster. It went something like this:

“I understand, but I want you to know that I have this option, and if there is any harm done, or even another threat of harm, I will have you arrested.”

Guess what? After I drove over and picked up his brother and got him to safety I called the older brother back. He was looking through the newspaper trying to find a job so that he could leave the house. But we never had another threat of violence against his younger brother. So how did this all end?

Well, my oldest son went through his various adventures, hit a bottom, came into AA, and started his recovery. He married a talented woman who became a nurse, went back to school, received his GED, then went on to a state-operated college and graduated Summa Cum Laude. He has made me a Grandfather twice over, and at this moment serving as a phenomenal teacher.

After my divorce from his mother, his younger brother moved in with my new Al-Anon wife and me. After a difficult period with counseling for four years, and some tragedy, he graduated from a state-operated college, and then found Al-Anon. That led to a great sponsor, professional counseling, his finding his own church and his deciding that he wanted to enter the ministry. He graduated went back to school, graduated from divinity school, and now, after a long stint as an associate pastor, has his own church.

A huge thank you to Al-Anon, Darrell my Al Anon sponsor, my new life with this incredible wife, my fantastic sons, and God.

What you can do to help yourself and to help your son or daughter

Prior to making any hasty decisions after learning your child is addicted, it would be beneficial to remember that we are ill equipped to deal with numerous issues that are involved in addiction. You need to get your child help either through a 12 step support group, professional addiction counselor or both. Along with your child’s recovery, you need to seek assistance in dealing with the pain, uncertainty, fear and insanity that are normal for parents of addicted children. The first healthy thought you should engage is that you did not cause the addiction, you can’t cure the addiction and you can’t control the addiction.

Some specific things you can do:

1. Focus on creating a healthy emotional atmosphere in your home. Resist the urge to yell by focusing on saying what you mean, mean what you say but don’t say it mean.

2. Focus on you and not your child. Your and his recovery will be better. Only seek to control yourself rather than your child.

3. It is important for both parents to work together by setting boundaries that define what will and will not be allowed in your home along with the consequences of behavior that is not allowed.

4. Be patient and don’t resent the method of recovery. Recovery of the addict may or may not materialize and chances are that if recovery does occur it will not be a result of what you did rather it will be the result of another addict doing 12 step work in carrying the message of experience, strength and hope to fellow addicts.

5. Keep a sense of humor and gratitude. These help when dealing with crisis.

6. Remember that your child has a higher power. Fortunately, you are not it because you are powerless over the disease of addiction. This frees you up to focus on you and your recovery.

7. Maintain hope that things can get better. This hope will keep you sane and help you with your responsibilities.

8. Do attend a 12 step recovery program for co-dependents and do get a sponsor. You will find out that you are not alone and that there is help.

Okay, so this is not the way you thought the family history would unfold when your child was born. Resentment, shame and anger are probably consuming your thoughts when you see your child. By following the steps outlined above, however, and making a commitment to the recovery process for yourself, you will find serenity, joy and freedom whether your child’s addiction continues or not. Often, the child also gets into recovery after they see the changes in your behavior. Addiction resulting in recovery may be the impetus to get your life restarted and refocused on the things that truly matter such as service to others, compassion, acceptance and honesty.

Taylor

PARENTS!

If you love your kids, choose not to drink alcohol By Eva Fry

CHOOSE NOT TO DRINK ALCOHOL FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF YOUR KIDS!

AN INTELLIGENT CHOICE! A WISE DECISION!

Why would a parent, who may enjoy drinking alcohol, choose not to drink?

They know tragic consequences may be in their children’s future, if they drink alcohol and their children follow their example.

Good parents refuse to encourage, enable or model alcohol that could potentially kill their child. They know a double standard does not work! Telling your child not to drink alcohol, when you are drinking, doesn’t work! Responsible parents are aware that drunk driving, alcoholism, future drug use, are a small part of what can happen after a child takes it’s first drink. Parents who really love their children are willing to give up something they may enjoy themselves for the health and safety of their children.

I believe mothers have the greatest responsibility to their children in this area, because they set the tone of the home! For responsible parents, it is not a big sacrifice to make the choice not to drink alcohol.

A study was done on the brains of young people and the finding was that young brains do not fully develop until they are age twenty-five. Young people need the adults in their life to be good examples. They need parents to direct them and help them make good decisions. The sad fact is that many parents are bad examples and by the time a young person figures life out, they are following the same path as their parents.

If you are questioning this idea of parents abstaining, think of this! How would you feel if your child died in an alcoholic stupor because they just wanted to be like you? If you don’t want them to drink alcohol, you must not drink yourself!!!!!!!

There is a movement gaining great popularity today, similar to the anti smoking campaign, which had great success. This movement is called “Reducing Underage Drinking”. It is the result of Congress requesting the National Research Council and the Institute of Medicine to review the evidence on various programs aimed at underage drinking and to recommend a strategy to reduce and prevent it.

The conclusion of the study is simply: Alcohol use by young people is dangerous, not only because of the risks associated with acute impairment, but also because of the threat to their long-term development and well-being.

I recently attended a national conference for this movement and was impressed with all the enthusiasm and excitement generated in teaching our young people not to drink alcohol, until they are twenty-one years old. Organizations from all over the United States gathered to share what they know and their successes. Great strides are being made and young people are really being educated in the dangers of drinking alcohol.

I am very thankful for all that is being done and commend all involved for their dedication and desire to save our young people.

Unfortunately, my only complaint is the lack of an abstinence message in their campaign. They are not making it loud and clear, to young people, that they have the choice not to drink alcohol at all, whatever their age. They are not being taught, “Abstinence is the better choice!” They are only teaching young people not to drink alcohol until they are twenty-one years old. They must believe something magical happens when they attain the age of twenty-one. If they only choose to drink then, there will be no consequences.

Why do I believe abstinence a better choice?

Once again from the study: 1/3 of youth traffic fatalities involve alcohol. Underage alcohol use is also associated with violence, suicide, educational failure, and other problem behaviors. All of these problems are magnified by early onset of teen drinking: the younger the drinker, the worse the problem. Moreover, frequent heavy drinking by young adolescents can lead to mild brain damage. A young person who begins drinking as a young teen is four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than some one who waits until adulthood to use alcohol. Almost 14 million Americans abuse alcohol or have developed alcoholism.

My argument for encouraging parents to choose not to drink alcohol is personal, but is backed up by the study. It says that the patterns and consequences of youthful drinking are closely related to the overall extent and patterns of drinking in the society, and they are affected by the same factors that affect the patterns of adult consumption. From this standpoint, it is possible that the most effective way to reduce the extent and adverse consequences of youthful drinking would be to reduce the extent and consequences of adult drinking. It is clear, however that Congress intended for the committee to focus on youth drinking, rather than developing a strategy targeting adult drinking. This is what the committee has done.

The study can be read at www.national-academies.org (Reducing Underage Drinking)

The study recognizes that the best way to help our young people to choose not to drink alcohol is to teach adults not to drink alcohol! It worked with tobacco and I believe it can work with alcohol too! Unfortunately that is not yet their focus.

Why do I think parents should choose not to drink alcohol?

1. Modeling or example is the best teacher.

2. A double standard doesn’t work.

3. Telling a child they should not drink until they are twenty-one is a temporary and potentially devastating solution which teaches them that drinking alcohol is ok. What happens, when they become twenty-one, and they choose to drink and end up destroying their life anyway? The first drink can be the beginning of alcoholism. Fifty percent of those who have alcoholics in their family can become alcoholic. It can also lead to a DUI, at any age, as well as all of the other violent crimes committed while people are drunk.

4. Why teaching our kids to only drink in moderation is a bad choice! Because moderation teaches, “It’s ok to drink alcohol.” There is no safety in teaching moderation. The only safety is in teaching abstinence. Besides, if you are trying to save your kids from the damage alcohol can do and you drink in moderation you are supporting the alcohol industry by giving them money for their products. Aren’t you enabling the alcohol industry to continue their mission to make money, so they can continue to destroy our kids, and families?

There is also another common argument. It is thought; if children are taught to drink at home they will be more responsible. This may be true in some cases but in European countries where this is done, the study reports that these countries are no better off than the United States in terms of the harmful consequences of youth’s drinking. Besides underage drinking is a crime and if you encourage your child to drink alcohol you are breaking the law!

Many churches have taught moderation and are now paying a price. They have alcohol problems in their congregations. Some of them have an anti drinking campaign, themselves.

5. As parents, we need to teach our children to naturally and fully use the abilities, gifts and talents they have been blessed with and encourage them to reach their life’s purpose and potential. How can they do that if they use a temporary substance to handle their life or avoid growth? If they think they need a drink of alcohol to have fun, handle a problem or escape from a situation, they will never discover their own capabilities. They will never develop the skills needed to enjoy life to the fullest. Kids need to see adults who do fully live their lives without the crutch of alcohol. They need to understand that life is fulfilling, enjoyable and successful without alcohol.

We love our children and we want to provide for them a healthy life style, which they can enjoy, their whole life. We want to do everything we can, as parents; to be sure they have the opportunity to fully live their lives. We want to keep them safe and in good health. ****Good parents set good examples for their kids****

Travis

ddiction is a journey, not an event. Any recovering alcoholic or addict will tell you that overcoming addiction is a process that unfolds before you for the rest of your life. But what exactly does this process entail, and how can we go about pursuing it successfully?

Surrender

Before you can even attempt to beat any form of drug or alcohol addiction, you have to surrender fully to the disease. What exactly does this mean?

It means you have to stop fighting with yourself in terms of trying to control your use. You have to give up the idea that you might one day be able to drink or use drugs like a normal person can. If you are hanging on to the idea that one day you might be able to control your drinking or drugging and thus use successfully, then you are setting yourself up for failure.

Surrender is a process. It just happens; I?m not sure that you can really initiate it if you are truly not ready to give up. Most people would say you have to ?hit bottom? first. If you are still having fun with drinking and drugging, then chances are not good that you can surrender to the disease. It is only after addiction has caused you a lot of misery that surrender becomes possible. It is only after the fun times are long gone that a person might consider the idea of recovery.

Beating addiction is a tough road and it takes a monumental effort. The alternative is to continue to self medicate and that is so much easier, even in the face of grave consequences.

Supercharge your recovery with a holistic approach Because addiction attacks a person?s mind, body, and spirit, the solution must also address each of these areas of your life. That is what makes a holistic approach so useful in recovery. So often in recovery I have seen people focus heavily in one area and neglect the others. This always leads to relapse.

A holistic approach addresses these problems. You physically abstain from chemicals and start treating your physical body much better. At the same time a successful recovery program will push you to grow spiritually. You?ll also mature emotionally as you repair relationships, and also socially as you develop a sober network of friends in recovery.

Don?t just eliminate?.create a new life

Beating addiction requires you to replace an entire lifestyle. It?s not just the drugs and the alcohol that was ruining our lives; it was the lifestyle that went along with it all.

When we get clean and sober, there are a number of different holes in our life. One of the main holes is the time and activities associated with actually using the drugs and the alcohol. Maybe we went to certain bars, hung out with certain people and used drugs, or whatever the case may be. We all had our ?watering holes.? And we spent a lot of time at them.

So really what we are faced with in order to beat addiction is to fill those holes. We can?t just sit around and expect to stay entertained?this is a recipe for relapse. Instead we need to create a new life in recovery. This is a whole topic in and of itself that can be expanded on a great deal.

Find a passionate replacement strategy

Another one of the ?holes? in early recovery is the spiritual void that is left when we remove the drugs and the alcohol. Beating addiction requires you to fill that hole?be it through spiritual, religious, or natural means. But there is definitely a need for purposeful and passionate living to replace the fervor with which we pursed chemicals in our addiction.

There are a number of creative replacement strategies that can be used to grow spiritually, and there are a number of ways to start exploring the creative life in recovery. Beating addiction can be purposeful and exciting.

Lawrence

Every day of every year, families in every state grapple with the drug problems of one or more of their members. Distraught parents, children or siblings appeal to the drug or alcohol user to please cease their excessive substance abuse without understanding that when substance abuse has progressed to addiction, most addicts need rehabilitation before they can quit. That is true no matter how much they promise they will end their drug or alcohol use. When a person is addicted, the addiction controls them rather than their controlling the addiction.

The slide into addiction very often has a consistent pattern, person to person. Problems at work, problems paying bills, unexplained loss of money; if the person has taken to dealing drugs to support their habit, unexplained cash. Missed family events, falling grades in school, secretive or accusative behavior are all common symptoms of the descent into addiction.

But these events are mild in comparison to what lies ahead when a person completes his or her full descent into addiction.

Drug or alcohol addiction commonly results in manipulative, abusive or criminal behavior; suicide; homelessness; overdoses leading to hospitalization or death. Addiction is frequently accompanied by serious or incurable health conditions: HIV, Hepatitis C, herpes, heart disorders, loss of teeth, abscesses, staph infections, liver disease and much more. Then there’s the constant threat of incarceration. The average sentence for drug felonies in 2004 was 51 months.

“Families often call or email us wondering what they should do to help someone they love who is addicted,” stated said Derry Hallmark, Director of Admissions and Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor at Narconon Arrowhead. Narconon Arrowhead is one of the country’s leading drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, located in Canadian, Oklahoma. “Unfortunately, many families try to help the addict by bailing them out of jail, helping them pay their bills or find a new job. The right thing to do is to help the addict learn to live completely drug-free by getting them into an effective rehabilitation program.”

Rather than substitute an addictive medication for an illicit drug problem, the Narconon drug and alcohol rehabilitation program uses nutrition, one-on-one counseling and life skills training to help a person resolve the real reasons they started using drugs in the first place. The result is that 70 percent of Narconon graduates remain drug-free after graduation.

“Not every drug addict is ready to ask for help with the family wants them to,” added Mr. Hallmark. “That’s why Narconon works with experienced interventionists around the country. These people are experienced at helping addicted people make their own decision to stop the pain and loss by getting help. That decision is really the first step in rehabilitation.”

Beth

An Issue of Mixed Messages

How can something as prevalent, accepted, and accessible in our society as drinking alcohol be so harmful, unhealthy, AND illegal when consumed at or slightly above moderate intake levels? The simple asking of this question immediately uncovers a number of issues, one of which is the mixed messages that exist in our society about drinking alcohol.

The Accessibility and Acceptability of Alcohol

On the one hand, consider the thousands upon thousands of bars and taverns in the United States. Now add to this list the restaurants, night clubs, sporting events, festivals, state fairs, hotels, casinos, carnivals, etc. where alcoholic beverages are regularly served. Moreover, add the grocery stores, liquor stores, beverage stores, the Convenient Food Marts, the 7/11 stores, and the state stores where an adult can legally purchase as many bottles, cans, and/or cases of alcoholic beverages as he or she desires.

Is Drinking Alcohol Cool?

Not only is alcohol extremely accessible in our society but there are also a number of factors that reinforce the idea that drinking alcohol is “cool.” For instance, consider beer advertisements and commercials on TV. Indeed, it can be argued that some of the most memorable, funniest, and “best” commercials and advertisements on TV have been those that were associated with drinking beer. To push the point further, why would beer manufacturers spend millions of dollars for a commercial during the Super Bowl if this expenditure did not lead to more sales? From a slightly different perspective, consider professional athletes and movie stars who, by their actions and advertisements, reinforce the idea that drinking alcohol is “cool.”

Religious Rituals and Cultural Traditions

When religious rituals that make use of alcohol, cultural traditions that encourage drinking alcohol, special events and holidays that are associated with drinking alcohol, and the increasing popularity of adding alcohol to food for enhanced flavor–when all of these are factored into the equation, it becomes obvious that alcohol is deeply ingrained in our society. The point: when people are surrounded with alcohol and bombarded by events, traditions, holidays, and advertisements that are alcohol-related, it becomes part of their socialization process that in turn makes it easier to simply accept that they should drink alcohol if they are to “fit in” and become members of our society.

Alcohol Abuse and Drinking While Driving

If the prevalence, acceptability, and accessibility of alcohol represent the one side of the coin regarding the mixed messages in our society, then the dangerousness, unhealthiness, and illegality represents the other. Indeed, consider the numerous negative and harmful messages and statistics associated with alcohol abuse and drinking while driving that we have heard from the medical community, federal government, police, politicians, organizations such as MADD, and school and college administrators.

Mixed Messages and Their Consequences

When something like alcohol use is so intimately ingrained in the fabric of our society, it becomes extremely difficult to significantly alter its use and abuse in a comprehensive and beneficial manner. I assert that one of the consequences of the mixed messages about alcohol use and abuse in our society it that it becomes extremely difficult for many individuals, especially our youth, to realistically see the destructive, unhealthy, and sometimes fatal aspects of alcohol abuse.

The Influence of the Judicial System

Unfortunately, the judicial system and the ways in which it has dealt with alcohol-related offenses is another example of the mixed messages in our society about alcohol. For instance, until very recently, people who have received multiple DUIs have, in many instances, simply received a “slap on the wrist” for their alcohol-related behavior.

Fortunately, some states are becoming more reality and accountability-based and are making it a felony when a person receives his or her 4th DUI within a ten-year period. In Minnesota, for instance, this sentence includes three years in prison and a fine of not less than $14,000.00.

Incarceration AND Treatment

Sending people to jail for alcohol-related offenses, however, is not a viable “solution” unless the person receives help for his or her alcohol problem while incarcerated. True, the offending person is “off the streets” while incarcerated. When the jail or prison sentence is completed, however, a person who has received alcoholism treatment while incarcerated is more likely to become a responsible person who doesn’t continue to drink while driving and less likely to become a repeat offender.

Responsible Behavior

I am not necessarily disagreeing with those who preach “responsible behavior” regarding drinking. The bottom line, however, is one’s definition of “responsible behavior.” Let me explain. Let’s say I have a lake that is used for swimming and that for whatever reason, hundreds of snapping turtles have populated this lake. Some may say that it is “responsible behavior” to warn all swimmers about the turtles and to tell them to “be careful” while swimming. Others with a different point of view, however, might say that “responsible behavior’ in this instance would be to warn the swimmers about the turtles while at the same time significantly reducing the turtle population so that there is less chance that the swimmers will get bit.

What Can Be Done?

If our society is more enlightened and more aware of the health hazards, fatalities, and destructive consequences of alcohol abuse and alcoholism, then why don’t we practice “responsible behavior” and make alcohol less available, less advertised, less glamorized, and less “cool” while at the same time increasing the advertisements, commercials, and public service messages that emphasize healthy and safe alcohol-free activities and lifestyles?

Copyright 2007 - Denny Soinski. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, and give the author credit.

Tom

Addiction recovery requires accomplishing a number of tasks, including:

build and maintain motivation

connect with others

identify and develop alternative coping methods

reduce resentment about changing

identify, understand and cope with craving

build a new, balanced life

lead a life that is purposeful, meaningful and reasonably happy

stay alert for problems and follow through all the way

To accomplish these tasks, you will need to make MANY decisions along the way. However, your judgment about your addictive behavior(s) has not been good. How could you trust yourself to make decisions about recovery?

You could put yourself in the hands of others (AA, a therapist, your higher power, etc.). However, many are not willing to do this, yet still want recovery.

For these individuals, recovery is a process of discovery. You will need to think about new ways of being and behaving. You will try them out, first in imagination, and possibly in practice. Like a scientific researcher, you will need to determine which ideas are most promising and need to be tested first. If these early ideas are successful, you may not even need to try more! The whole process, however, will need to be guided by your own judgment.

Your self-doubt may be strong, especially if you think you are “out of control.” However, you still have capabilities and can still make good decisions (even if you also make some bad ones). You are able to identify these words and understand them. You have decided to continue reading, which keeps open the possibility you will learn something new and helpful. You are searching for information, and you realize you need it. Half of solving any problem is recognizing it. You are not completely without judgment, resources or capabilities!

One of the common thinking errors is all-or-none thinking. If you have made some less-than-great decisions (and who hasn’t!) then it may seem sensible to conclude that your judgment is completely gone. However, your judgment in many (if not most) areas of life is fine. Your take this competence for granted, but it is nevertheless real. If your judgment is adequate in these areas, you can develop it in other areas also.

If my judgment is so good, why haven’t I overcome addiction already? Probably because you haven’t focused on it sufficiently. To overcome addiction involves facing up to the conflict of wanting the addiction but not wanting the consequences. Faced with this conflict, we often just hope it will go away. There are always other problems you can pay attention to! Even individuals with superlative judgment have difficulty prioritizing problems. You could wait, because your conflict might go away on its own, just as you wished. Changing jobs or neighborhoods, developing new relationships, or other life changes are often associated with addiction changes.

However, you can decide it’s time to face addiction problems, and stay focused on them until they are solved. You will need to follow that good decision with a few more good decisions. But you make decisions all day long, and must be fairly good at it or you wouldn’t still be here. Stay focused on the recovery decisions you need to make, learn from your mistakes, and make recovery happen!

Paddy

Over the past several decades the phrase “Chemical Imbalance” has become a household term that has evolved into the preconceived concept of a brain disease that is directly responsible for depression and psychological disorders. Obviously, no one would come to this conclusion without a little persuasion from the psychiatric community, pharmaceutical companies, or the media! But, what exactly is a chemical imbalance and how does it play a role in addictive behavior? First let’s clarify the fact that there isn’t a pathological test to diagnose a chemical imbalance. So, if you can’t test for it, how does one confirm that it even exists? Well, to be honest it’s purely hypothetical in nature! That’s right! There is absolutely NO clinical evidence that supports this theory let alone that it is responsible for depression or addiction. The chemical imbalance theory was created in the early sixties when a group of prominent psychiatrists conducted a research study using various psychoactive and hallucinogenic drugs including the likes of LSD. There conclusion is as follows: The study confirmed that the drugs tested do in fact alter the chemical balance and structure of the brain. Therefore, any abnormality in psychological and emotional behavior must be contributed to a chemical brain imbalance!!!! To most onlookers this conclusion flies in the face of basic common sense and questions the very intention of the researchers. Ironically, anti-depressant usage has more than tripled over the past two decades. Coincidence?? You decide!!!

So, how does chemical brain imbalance play a role in addiction? Well, most inpatient and outpatient addiction treatments employ cognitive behavioral therapy which exposes the addicted person to psychotherapy, and quite frequently a chemical imbalance diagnosis. When a clinician diagnoses a patient with a chemical imbalance, in my opinion, he/or she arrives at that conclusion purely by speculation which is based on the above-mentioned hypothesis. None the less, many people including those that suffer from addiction are immediately tagged with a chemical imbalance diagnosis!!! It is no secret that the majority of all addicted people do suffer from depression; however, it is preposterous to claim it is caused by a chemical imbalance. The National Institute on Drug Abuse continues to push the addiction brain disease theory to the tune of billions of dollars, and they present hundreds of CT Scans demonstrating the effects of drugs on brain chemistry. No one can dispute the fact that drugs are mind altering drugs, but the (NIDA) has failed to present one single shred of evidence to demonstrate that a chemical imbalance is the root cause of a person’s addictive behavior.

In my opinion, depression and addiction are directly related to self-esteem issues. These issues are propagated by the family dysfunctions control, abuse, alcoholism, and part-time parenting. Experience has taught me that these dysfunctions are generally at the root of the emotional pain that is responsible for addiction and depression. Therefore, the key to beating addiction and depression is to liberate oneself from the dysfunction that caused it and to restore self esteem through empowerment. 

Best wishes,

David Roppo

The Addiction Freedom Coach 

If you would like more information on how to beat addiction or how to stop drinking subscribe to my free e-guide below…..

overcoming addiction

stop drinking alcohol

how to stop drinking

Christopher