Denial is the "ego defense mechanism" that allows most casual or recreational users or drinkers to progress from there to Addiction or Alcoholism. Denial is, very early in Addiction, accompanied by justification and rationalization. This whole ego defense concept was developed by Sigmund Freud, and is about all that's left of his work that is still commonly used in treatment of mental disorders these days. Ego defense mechanisms are a normal part of the human psyche. They are the part of our mind that protects us from shock when some one that we love dies. They are the thing that helps us work through failures and disappointment. Ego defense mechanism have names like rationalization, justification, minimization, compensation, and intellectualization. These defense mechanisms are our way of distancing ourselves from a full awareness of unpleasant thoughts, feelings and desires. They are a normal function for most, but for Addicts, including Alcoholics, they are taken out of proportion and used in a primary mode of thinking. Most Addicts, if not in the beginning, certainly as time goes on, are riddled with fear, guilt and shame. To continue their obsessive, compulsive, uncontrollable desire to use their drug-of-choice, and satisfy their abnormally strong craving, they will do or say most anything. I think that most people are aware of this, but it's what's going on inside that baffles people.

One of the first telltale signs of a developing Addiction, is anger toward anyone who so much as hints at their being a problem with alcohol and or other drugs. There is often a total rejection of any discussion of the subject. If the Addict has substantially progressed into their Addiction before they are ever confronted, they will be a little more adept at manipulating any conversation about the problem. This is because they have a well developed "ego defense" in place. They have battled with their own conscience enough to have rationalized and justified a defense for their drug based on denial of its being a problem. Most often, the drug is actually, in their mind, a helpful thing that makes them more able to cope with some person, place or thing. The chemically dependent "brain" has changed into a highly efficient "Agent" of protection for the drug-of-choice.

The flood of, or lack of, brain chemicals, called "neurotransmitters" transforms the drug-of-choice into a supplier of "Euphoric Experience". The euphoria experienced by an Addict is comparable only to that of sexual orgasm or true love! In fact, in my experience Addiction is, a love affair with a "Drug"! Separating an Addict from their chosen drug is very similar to breaking up a childhood love affair. When a late stage Addict begins a treatment episode, or a self help attempt at sobriety, they often become filled with a remorse that is psychologically as traumatic as the death of a loved one. For many reasons, one being an imbalance of neurotransmitters (brain chemical), the Addict will be sullen with a flat affect, and constantly unhappy, when separated from their drug. This is a very critical stage when reinforced motivation to remain drug free is needed, and usually has to come from an outside source like a sponsor, counselor or therapist. If you can relate to what I've just said or you can see this in someone close to you, there is a problem that could be life threatening. The disease of Addiction is a chronic, progressive, and fatal illness. It is in the same category as cancer or un-addressed diabetes.

Help is mandatory! We, as humans, are not innately equipped to resolve problems as complicated as chemical dependency. Primarily, the psychological aspect of Addiction persists long after the physiological problem has been resolved.

I want to recommend two Internet Sites, as a starting place for anyone directly relating to what I am saying. They are:

www.DrugScreening.org
&
www.AlcoholScreening.org

Self help Recovery is absolutely possible. I recommend that anyone who can acknowledge a possible problem regarding their dependency to a chemical, seek help as soon as is at all possible. This is not something that you do by yourself, though you must be primarily doing it for "Yourself"! Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous have success records as good as, or better than, any treatment program. Yet, the winning combination is treatment accompanied by self help and followed up with self help. AA and NA have many sites but their primary Internet addresses are:

www.alcoholics-anonymous.org
&
www.na.org

If you want some good background on treatment and self help, and access to many good resources for Addiction help, I suggest:

www.MyDaveCarroll.com

the home of Addiction: Why Me?
The sooner a potential Addict addresses the "Denial" issue and seeks help, the better chance that the cycle-of-addiction will not destroy so many lives. "Sooner" is so important because like many other serious diseases, Addiction most often takes more than one episode of addressing the problem. Some success is almost always accompanied by relapse, and requires restored effort and further attempts at overcoming the disease. A good way to look at this is to compare Addiction to another disease of epidemic proportions in our society, Diabetes. It is commonly accepted that the first attempt at controlling blood-sugar levels often works for a while and then a regression occurs. This "relapse" is analyzed and new efforts are initiated. Maybe a different drug than the first one prescribed is introduced in place of or along with the first. This may work for some time and another elevated level occurs. A serious look at the new diet that was introduced with the original diagnosis, is taken. The point is, that regardless of why the relapse occurred, we don't give up on the diabetic, even though it may very well be that their failure to be able to accept all of the required changes, is at the root of faltering Recovery. We must learn to look at Addiction from this viewpoint.

If you even think, in your most remote thoughts, that it is possible that you or someone close to you, may have a developing substance abuse problem, Seek Help! The effects of this disease are so far reaching and can affect so many people in so many ways, that it is not something to risk passing off as "no big deal"! Remember that our society often deals with this problem with heavy fines and considerably long terms of incarceration. The disease of Addiction, including Alcoholism, also often has costs that may include death, for the Addict and often even innocent bystanders (drunk driving)! All of these costs seem very far away to the average person until casual use turns into abuse. Don't take this risk. Seek help, sooner rather than later!

When, as a Counselor, I speak about Addiction, I can't help but include the fact that I am an Addict. There's no doubt about the fact that I'm an Addict in Recovery, but none-the-less, I am an Addict! I've been clean and sober for over twelve years, and I am working on 13 years, One-Day-at-a-Time! I am a CAADAC Certified Counselor, in California. I am a member of both the California and National Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors. More importantly, I am a member of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. I've served as a treatment program Director, and have been a part of the Startup of two new, successful treatment programs. Again, all of this does not change the fact that I am an Addict. Once an Addict, always an Addict... This is a good thing, though some may not want to acknowledge what I'm saying. In my mind there is no such word as "Recovered".

I believe that Addiction is very much initially, and later on becomes chronic and progressive, as a result of "FEAR"! There are all kinds of fears that can integrate into personality development. An insecure child can develop many fears. One thing in particular stands out as a cause of this insecurity, and that is poor parenting. I heard someone say one time that 96% of all American families can be classified as dysfunctional! This was based on the definition of dysfunctional as being; When one or more persons needs are not being met, in the family structure. An example would be; if dad has made up his mind that his son is going to be what dad never had the opportunity to be, when the son is inclined and possibly destined to be something else. In this situation, the son will likely never be able to please dad. This conflict then often puts mom in the middle, feeling like she should be able to "fix this" issue. If there are siblings, out of proportion sibling rivalry may grow from the conflict that can become constantly present. As a result of one family member's distorted expectations, directed at only one family member, the entire family structure has become unstable. What's worst in this particular situation is that dad is absolutely convinced that he is doing what's best for his son, and is so blinded by his own belief and desire that he has no clue that he is the source of most of the problems that develop in this family! Two of the options that the son has, are neither healthy for him or the family. He can just, suck-it-up and try to please dad, or he can absolutely reject the pressure, which will in either case, most likely, have negative results for him and the rest of the family. This is just one relatively common case of what seems to be trivial, turning out to be disastrous. This also very often brings "Drugs" into the equation. Every single family member, except "maybe" the instigator, will be living with unacceptable fear in their lives.

Examples like the one above are commonly overlooked and well hidden problems in very many families. Fears of one kind or another are generally the cause of anxiety. In turn, anxiety usually can be temporarily quelled by the use of mood altering substances or psychoactive drugs. Psychoactive is the category that all, commonly abused drugs, fall in to. Anxiety is most often related to fear in some way or another. Just being inherently shy generates numerous fears that most abused drugs can temporarily overcome. That is, they can, until the drug begins generating new problems. Stop, and reflect on how many fears human beings can develop. Some dysfunctional personalities develop as a result of a fear as simple as being very uncomfortable around a lot of people. Many children that only have one gender of role model in their life can develop very unnecessary fear, that is hard to identify until it's already done the damage.

I've learned a lot through formal education, but I am still most familiar with my own case, and use it to understand those that I serve. I have always been fearful in many ways. I have always had a general fear of life itself. What I mean to say is that regardless of accomplishments I've made or how other people see me, I privately am insecure about myself and have to constantly use the skills I've gained as a Counselor, to address my own self-esteem issues. This gives me a substantially valuable quality of "Empathy" when serving as a care-giver to other Addicts. When working at treatment programs, in individual session with parolees who have just finished a prison term, I've had many admit to being afraid. They often are scared by the setting which is new to them. Very often they are afraid of failure in treatment and many repercussions that it might present. They are afraid they'll let someone down. They are afraid that no one will ever trust them again. They're afraid of life without the drug that they have often been using for most of their life. They are afraid that their wife will not love the person that they must become and may have never seen before. They're afraid that they'll never get a job that will be "gainful employment" because of their criminal record. They're afraid that they are going to have to be competitive in society without a Driver's License. The list just never stops, and I completely understand that many of these legitimate fears can cause a failed treatment episode. Thus, it becomes essential that addressing fear becomes a root component of treatment of drug Addiction.

The thing is, that it is usually not possible to overcome all of the fear. My experience has taught me that many "normal" people have developed the coping skill of living with their fear. I believe that this is what I have done, myself, and it's not easy for me, by any means! After 12 years of Sobriety I still have to go to AA and NA meetings kind of like one has to take vaccinations to prevent diseases other than Addiction, from returning. This brings up the subject of the nature of Addiction Recovery in that it is really a life-long process. Everyone has fears. But, not everyone knows, that somewhere in the back of their mind, they may be able to relieve this anxiety with a drug-of-choice. I'm telling you, first hand, that this is a fact for the Addict.

Group therapy has become a standard for addressing this confrontation of fear. It does not always work for every participant, though. Many people can only face this, often very personal, problem in individual session with a Therapist, Counselor or 12-Step Sponsor. This is also where the importance of knowledge of "self help" concepts is crucial. This is the truest strength of the 12-Step concept that originated with Alcoholics Anonymous. The Alcoholic or Addict draws strength from the group, in meetings, to hold him over one-day-at-a-time until the next meeting, while he is a "newcomer"! For some this goes on for months and even years. There are even some who have to use this method for the remainder of their life, if they are to remain in remission from this disease of Addiction! This amazing "program of life", AA, has been adapted to address most of the Addictions that people fall prey to. The 12-Step Program is more prevalent than most people could ever imagine. It has spread over the entire globe. I live in a town that has a population of over 250,000. It's not a big city or a small town. It is, I believe, representative of "Average America", and with just AA and NA there are over 350 meetings every week.

Somehow I always come back to the 12-Step Program when I speak about Recovery! Though I am a trained Counselor, I realize that when ever I am able to help an Addict, it is because they have decided that they are going to "help him or her self". We who suffer from the disease of Addiction, are so complicated that to remain truly "in Recovery" we must never forget the consequences of drug use. We, in my opinion, never stop having to address fear. Whether it looks like it from the outside, or not, some neurological characteristics that all Addicts have developed are always just below the surface and capable of causing relapse into the disease. Through the 12-Step Program we can never have to face this alone!

I am a Recovering Veteran and chemical dependency Counselor.

There is a "frame-of-mind" that is common to those that Recovery is more likely to work for. 12-Step programs have an identifying directive, of sorts. "Stick with the winners!" Working in the Addiction Recovery field, you learn to identify people whose chances seem to be greater than others, by observing attitudes.

It is sad but true that most Addicts have to have exhausted every option except discontinuing drug use, before they really have a chance at abstinence or sobriety. Many people working in this field of Addiction treatment, claim that they can swing a person "over-the-fence" to the Recovery side. That may be true but that percentage is small, almost to the point of insignificance, in my opinion. Do I believe that we should strive to do that? Of course I do, but expectations based on the ability to have that happen are misplaced.

Expectations are an issue for the Addict in Recovery, and also for those providing care for them. Unreal expectations on the part of Professionals in this field can form a subconscious attitude that is detrimental to their effectiveness with those they intend to help. The point being, that they can end up making judgments regarding who does and does not have chance, thus disregarding others. It is really impossible to make those kinds of predictions accurately. So what do we do about being dealt a hand that says the odds are against success, most of the time? Being human beings, we can't help but try to make assessments directed at our usefulness in this World. A strong desire to "Help" is inherent in the type of people who decide to work in the Recovery field. Most of those counseling now, are Recovering Addicts themselves.

To be effective, we have to accept the facts and figures that say that the average addict or alcoholic(most of them), is going to require multiple episodes of treatment. We have to understand that when looking at a single episode of treatment there are a lot of major obstacles to be overcome. In a controlled environment, most addicts do far better than they do outside of that environment (alcoholics are addicts, because alcohol is a drug). Rather than directing too much focus on some and too little on others, we need to learn to use what we have at hand. When a potential success is identified, we need to use that individual as part of the treatment "team", so to speak. It builds their self esteem, while instituting the well proven success philosophy of "Addicts helping Addicts" can achieve miracles.

Group education and group counseling have proven to be effective beyond one-on-one counseling, in the Addiction Treatment field. Fear and lack of trust are embedded in the personalities that develop in Addicts. Commonly though, Addicts will put trust in fellow Addicts before anyone else. Enlisting those who seem to have surrendered to the problem and are "seeking" help and guidance is essential to forming a group situation that is therapeutic. Thus, the Therapeutic Community concept has also proven itself to be a preferred modality for many, many in-patient programs.

Even in the out-patient mode, the group is central. Thus the counselor becomes more of a guide than a therapist as Psychiatrists and Psychologists are. This is a distinction that is of some controversy at this time. In California, The Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors Law, AB 1367, an attempt to create specific treatment standards, has encountered some resistance from psychiatrists and psychologists, and their respective Associations, as it will License trained counselors much like Registered Nurses are. I'm sure this resistance is rooted in rates or finance. Even a highly trained CAADAC (California Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors) counselor, is paid at a rate at least 50% lower than the psychiatrist or psychologist. Topping that off is the fact that the treatment provided by trained counselors in treatment programs is generally considered to be the more successful form of treatment. CAADAC is spear-heading efforts to raise the standards originally proposed in AB 1367, as I write.

Not only the Therapeutic Community model of treatment, employs the group treatment model. 12-Step programs are founders of the "Group" concept for addressing Alcoholism and Addiction problems. Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith, originally discovered the effectiveness of one Alcoholic helping another Alcoholic, and thus formed the group, Alcoholics Anonymous. Alcoholics Anonymous or AA, started in the 1930's, spurred the formation of Narcotics Anonymous or NA, in the 1970's and is now responsible for hundreds of different group organizations, addressing many problems that evolve into an Addiction. In these groups no single individual has a "Lead" position that gives them "Authority" over others. Individuals do moderate meetings but ultimately they have no authority to demand anything from, or preside over others in a meeting. Only a group consensus can anyway rule over or make rules for a 12-Step Group. This again evolved, as a result of fear and lack of trust on the part of those suffering from Addictions. This is provided for in the 12-Step Traditions. Early on Bill W. and Dr. Bob recognized this as being necessary to retain members of AA long enough for the Group to effective.

Thus, an effective substance abuse Counselor, while being in a position of authority, cannot depend on authority as a primary characteristic of his position. Drug and Alcohol treatment counselors become guides down-playing demands and advice. Their ultimate goal becomes helping Addicts learn to come to better decisions on their own. Criticism needs to be used very sparingly and mostly as a product of group thinking. Confrontation becomes a group responsibility, even though the group may need guidance to properly confront a group member. The group should evolve under the assumption that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Thus, the individual having the hardest time becomes the most important person, rather than an outcast. This is often the time at which a Counselor may have to exert authority. If an individual in the group absolutely cannot become "part of the group" a decision may have to be made, for the good of the group. Another mode of treatment may need to be found or that individual may just not be ready to change. At any rate, the welfare of the group is primary. This may require only some one-on-one time between that person and his Counselor, or an intervention by the group. Often, it does mean rejection from the group and quite possibly a return to the drug sub-culture. Hope that the individual survives for another try, is eternal. Cold, but a truth that is part of Addiction and Addiction Recovery.

In conclusion, these are just some thoughts I pondered over today, and thought might be good to share with others. If you have anything to say in regard to todays thoughts, please comment or visit my Web Site, Addiction: Why Me? @
www.mydavecarroll.com
and use my EMail-Me form for direct contact comments or suggestions.

What is the essence of addiction from a scientific standpoint? What facts support the foundation that supposes that an “addict” has no control and that free will has nothing to do with their ability to stop?

What indicates that without help, they have little or no hope of recovering, from this “state of addiction” that has occurred in their brain?

The overwhelming, compulsive, uncontrollable use of drugs is a central factor in the life of an addict. Their need to satisfy the cravings becomes dominant in all behavior.

It does not matter what drug they choose. Nothing will satisfy the overwhelming craving except their drug-of-choice.

Meth users will not settle for heroin. Heroin users will not be satisfied with marijuana. Crack users have no desire for downers (sedatives, painkillers, etc).

It is not about coming down, fearing dramatic withdrawal symptoms, or anything like that, that produces continued cravings (though an addict will use these to justify and rationalize illegal, immoral things that they do to obtain the drug).

In fact, there are few withdrawal symptoms associated with crack and methamphetamines, two of the most addictive substances known. It is not the physical part that matters. It is truly the psychological aspect of addiction that produces cravings that result in continued use of and progressively, using more and more of the chosen drug.

It’s actually more like “the drug chose them”, for the addict. Free will and the ability to turn away from drugs is no longer an option. An addict cannot do this for his job, his health or, sadly, even his mother or his wife; not even for his own children.

Physical harm, jails and prisons, and often even the possibility of death are just obstacles to be overcome in the insatiable need for, and quest to obtain, the addicts' drug-of-choice! Having lost the ability to choose not to use the drug, the addicts' life progressively centers more and more on the drug. Drugs become the reason to get up and get out of bed.

Drugs become the excuse not to do things that discourage their use. They are “thee pleasure” in the addicts' life. Addicts in later stages of addiction will even choose that, drug-of-choice, over the euphoric pleasure of sex! Use of money is prioritized with, obtaining drugs, as number one.

You see, the addict has to have that drug! Unless his craving is appeased nothing can be all right for the addict. When they are compulsively obsessing over the need to satisfy the cravings few barriers exist.

Principles, rules and morality become non-existent. This is the truth regarding the disease of addiction that changes a user into the fiend that addicts eventually become.

How can this be?
I can’t imagine anyone being that weak!
Don’t they care about anything?
I just can’t understand what is wrong with him!
Doesn’t she see what is happening to her life?

ADDICTION IS A DISEASE OF THE BRAIN,, RESULTING IN FUNDAMENTAL, LONG LASTING CHANGES!

You are going to need to remind yourself that addiction is a chronic, progressive, fatal disease… At the same time, seeing it as a disease cannot be an excuse… its being a disease is the “reason” for many things, but not an excuse.

Addiction is a “treatable” disease even though it is chronic and subject to relapses. As with most potentially fatal diseases, addiction often requires more than one episode of treatment.

Understand this; you are an addict because drugs have changed your brain. Your state of being has been totally taken over by the drug. Learn to equate this disease with diabetes. It is not cured. It is held back by multiple ongoing episodes of treatment. As with most diseases, often a crisis occurs that requires more than the daily maintenance that suffices most often. This is most often a relapse into using.

Though addiction is a disease of the brain, it is also much more than that. It is far more complicated because of the fact that the human brain is the most complicated organ in any living organism. The brain controls every system in the body. Every characteristic unique to the human being is a result of our uniquely complicated brain. The human brain produces things that are mostly exclusive to humans.

Conscience, remorse, morality, philosophy, religious beliefs, science, mechanics, and the list goes on… drugs have fundamentally caused long lasting changes in the addict, in the thing responsible for all of this… the Brain. Is it any wonder that you have trouble understanding the problems that result from addiction?

NEUROTRANSMITTERS: chemicals in the brain that are responsible for communication between the nerve cells of which the brain and all of the nervous system are composed… The cells themselves and a few very unique organs in the body produce these type of chemicals.

Don’t worry, this chemistry lesson is about as complicated as we’ll get!

“DOPAMINE”

The changes in levels and availability of this neurotransmitter or brain chemical, somehow cause changes at a cellular level that translate into compulsive, uncontrollable drug use on the behavioral level! This means that these brain changes, over time, get translated into behavior changes. this is why you are bewildered at what you observe.

ABOUT DOPAMINE:

Initially, people take drugs because they like what they do to their brain. Amid a whole series of brain changes, one is a surge of Dopamine, that occurs when the drugs we commonly classify as addictive, are taken. When a drug produces a really sharp spike in Dopamine it is extremely pleasurable. The odds are very high that one will experience extreme euphoria with this drug, and it will be addictive!

It’s no surprise that Dopamine is the brain chemical involved in signaling all of our normal pleasurable experiences, such as… Sex, eating, laughter, love, smoking, and surely, getting high. Here the problem arises! After taking drugs for a lengthy amount of time, this includes all addictive substances we know of, the addict’s Dopamine levels are generally lowered.

This in itself will cause a nearly complete personality change. Some people experience chronic dysphoria and/or depression as a result. Major behavioral changes become apparent at this point. This then is no longer the person that you once knew. They now have a basically different brain, as if the mad scientist accidentally transplanted the “wrong” or “bad” brain. This is hard to accept if you don’t know the things that you are now learning.

I spent most of my life addicted to drugs, one or another. Actually I had three periods of addiction that each centered on a different drug-or-choice.

For a long time I was just a user and anything that altered my mind was OK! My first period of use exclusive to one drug featured “Cocaine”.

Second on center stage was “Alcohol”. Finally, the absolute destroyer was “Methamphetamines”! The whole scenario covered life from ages 11 to 45!

I was a full-blown addict for nearly 30 of these years. Mind you, I was for various substantial lengths of time, what is termed as a “functional addict”! This is actually a misconception because I only “appeared” to be functional.

A lot was going on that I was able to hide from the casual observer, and even most relatively close family and friends. This is a story of it’s own!

The point to be made is this… the most tragic commonality over this period of three decades in addiction was… the pain, fear and grief that I brought on those who loved me, were part of my life, or inadvertently got in the way of my using! The Victims…

Addiction is such an annihilator of a user’s life that they, users, are almost always the predominant “focus of their own attention”! Not only that, but society’s focus is directed at them because they wreak so much havoc on it’s structure and the safety of the citizens and their property.

True enough, it’s high time that this problem be addressed through an educated, open-minded method of problem solving. Treating addicts as criminals has failed for long enough. The disease concept is really the only hope for a solution that has a positive outcome for everyone involved, which is, quite frankly… everyone!

Treatment programs understand the importance of who it is that is around an addict on a regular basis. The problem is that these people are being subjected to that addict for years, sometimes decades, before the first treatment episode begins.

With some education, advice and concern these victims can help themselves while the addicts' addiction and life circumstances are still only leading up to treatment. In fact, helping you, if you are reading this, I think I can safely say “you”… you will probably be helping the addict as much as you do yourself. With nothing but the best of intentions, the one’s who love an addict the most, are usually their greatest enablers. That’s because you are the easiest to use!

Though it’s often subconscious, not always but often… they can count on being able to get away with abusing your love. It’s not meanness, heartlessness or carelessness… it’s just addiction changing the brain into a sick one. This is how you are going to learn to protect yourself and shield yourself from much of the harm that you can inflict on yourself, or allow to be inflicted upon you!

Addiction is like a beast you have encountered by surprise and you have to figure out how to fight back with what you have available, at the time. If you don’t do this, you’ll suffer nearly as much as the addict does!

The one thing you have that they do not, is your own mind, but it will suffer too if you can’t become open-minded and teachable. It’s not rocket science, though. It’s really more about being “willing” to learn, and ”willing” to change, than it is about being “able” to do these things. We have to learn to be, objective, in our dealings with the addict that we love, or care about, and love and concern make objectivity a very difficult proposition.

Believe me, when you come to know what makes an addict an addict, a lot of the your difficulties becomes less ominous because of one reason; you can most often stop blaming yourself. You’ll learn that blame” doesn’t need to be assigned.

It doesn’t matter where the fault lies, so you can even stop blaming them,too. Nobody needs to be the “scapegoat".

Confrontation only works well if you know how to do it well, and with an addict, confrontation not done well is usually a disaster for both parties. Pleading to love, and to common sense, never works, at least, it doesn’t work until denial has been properly addressed.

Until you know “the disease” your "take" on things is… well… kind of… just… OFF!  That's why helping an addict with their problem is so frustrating and defeating.

I have an EBook on my Site, Addiction: Why Me? @ www.mydavecarroll.com, that is a plain language explanation of the physiological and psychological nature of addiction.  It is based on the disease concept that virtually all treatment centers now use. 

It is designed to help both the Addict and their Victims.

If you are having life problem because of your own or someone elses addiction to alcohol or drugs, I suggest educating yourself about how to address this problem.  Dealing with addiction does not come naturally, as it is a very complicated disease. 

For victims, there is a splinter group from Alcoholics Anonymous call Al-Anon.  This is a good place for support and help whether the problem is alcoholism or drug addiction.  For the addict and alcoholic, Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous have the best results of any other form of addressing the diseases of addiction.

It is not absolutely required that one enter a "treatment program" to recover, but if you have the financial means, it is almost a "must do".

The anti-social nature of drug addiction results in a "Life-Style". The addict becomes out-of-synch with the social structure in which he must live. Addicts begin to associate only with other addicts or drug dealers and then transcend into the subculture of drug use. Paranoia triggered by many different things, and at many different levels, causes the addict to become less and less comfortable around anyone who is not doing the same as they are, partially because they are becoming criminals as well as addicts. Over a period of time, addiction requires particular justification, and rationalization to live with the results that it is producing. Gradually, these ego-defense mechanisms morph into an Anti Society philosophy created from "distorted thinking". As the addict becomes more dysfunctional they inevitably go so far outside of the laws of society that they assume a profile that is easily identifiable, and as a result they get arrested. Usually, the crime factor progresses as the addiction progresses and the distorted thinking progresses. A completely changed set of principles, morals and beliefs is adopted. Unfortunately, this is usually gradual to the point of becoming a long-term, overall behavioral change.

The addiction progresses as the "Brain Chemistry" changes. As the brain chemistry changes the behavior changes. As the behavior changes the entire personality changes. Much of the change in brain chemistry has far reaching effects that are not easily overcome or reversed. The chemistry changes are in "Neurotransmitters", which are at the heart of the relationship between the brain and the rest of the "Central Nervous System". Specifically, lowered Dopamine levels are personality changers. Dopamine affects hunger, sleep, emotions and even the "body clock". In their search for "Euphoria" craving for the drug-of-choice becomes incessant.

Sadly, this craving becomes less easily satisfied. As the brain changes, the drug is less capable of producing the same effects that it had on the brain before the changes. The addict literally has a "different brain". The addict then is "chasing" the feeling that they originally derived from use of the drug. The problem is that the drug can no longer produce the feeling that the addicts' memory has branded. Eventually the addict loses the "high" and is now just trying to get "well" or feel "normal". Without a specific level of the drug in their system, the addict begins to feel generally "sick". Tolerance for the drug increases incrementally with the length of the period of time that the addict has been using. As time progresses it takes more and more of the drug, that can no longer satisfy, to fulfill the needs or desires of the user. As the addict becomes more dysfunctional and the amount of the drug needed increases, the ability to obtain it becomes harder and requires methods that are almost alway illegal. More serious criminal behavior is adopted to obtain the amount of money needed to get the increasingly greater amount of the needed drug. The "Circle of Addiction" becomes "Life". Need for the drug is followed by obtaining the money for the drug. This in-turn, is followed by obtaining the drug, and using the drug. Satisfaction decreases and the need increases. More drugs inspire more crime, and more crime results in more "time"... Life has become the drug-of-choice! Detoxification from the drug usually only happens after being arrested for a crime and being forcefully removed from the environment where the drug is accessible. Detoxification is most often the easy part for an addict. The chemistry changes in the brain that have been paralleled by behavior and personality changes, are not easily reversible. The drug is removed from the scenario but the distorted thinking has been "hardwired" into the addicts' brain in the form of an anti-social belief system. Incarceration only adds to the dysfunction because jails and prisons also have an anti-social belief system in place, of their own, developed by criminals of all kinds. This sick addict, whose ability to think is very poor, easily succumbs to the belief system in place wherever he is incarcerated, only too easily. As the length of terms of incarceration increases with the severity of crimes committed, the length of time outside of incarceration decreases, and criminal behavior becomes as strong and as much of a problem as addictive behavior. Combined, they are a very difficult state of being to change. Very few people, if any, have the ability to make the needed changes on their own, if they are truly an addict.

Some form of structured and rehabilitative "Help" becomes a necessity if the addict is ever to return to being able to function in society. Strict rules and routines are needed. Acceptance of the need for help is important. It's important because the nature of addiction is that it produces "denial" of the "problem". Coming out from under the distorted thinking is nearly impossible because the "brain" is the most severely affected part of the person that has become an "Addict"! 12-Step programs and a limited number of Christian based programs are the only source of help that is not expensive beyond the financial capability of most addicts and their families. Acceptance becomes the "key" factor for Recovery from this dread disease. Frequently multiple episodes of formal treatment are the only solution or answer. Yes, multiple episodes, because "Relapse" into addiction is usually inevitable as a result of how complicated this problem is. Physiology, psychology and even pharmacology may all factor into treatment of this chronic, progressive, and fatal disease. The 12-step program's fundamental requirement of "Acceptance" has produced "Miracles", but should we rely on miracles to solve our country's greatest problem? Treatment in a controlled environment enables the addict to more easily discover and realize the need to identify and "accept" that they need to change their primary way of thinking, and behavior. In treatment, this reality is also reinforced by "peers" who share a common problem. This "acceptance" must be complete and must be constantly reinforced over a long period of time. Its much easier to do when those around you have to do the same thing. You don't become an addict overnight and you can't Recover overnight. Before an addiction is properly addressed, it has usually developed over a period of many years, sometimes even decades. It is hard for a human being to accept that a great portion of life has been thrown away. Shame, guilt and fear that come with sobriety and the restoration of the thinking process, are common complications for the addict. These feelings are so difficult to deal with, that they are often regarded as the primary cause of relapse into using. Acceptance of defeat is also a stumbling block, because no one likes losing. Thus it becomes crucial to move past the defeat and focus on the accomplishment of becoming "Sober". "Sobriety" is a term commonly used in both AA and NA in regard to abstention from both alcohol and other drugs. Narcotics Anonymous declares regularly, in their meetings, that "Alcohol is a drug, period". Most alcoholics of the older generation resent this claim. Current knowledge supports the NA declaration and acknowledges that all are mood altering substances. Acceptance of this idea is crucial, because most "drug addicts" begin a relapse with the use of alcohol, often deceiving their selves into believing alcohol is not a drug so they'll be able control us of it.

Acceptance, acceptance, acceptance, it just runs through the philosophies of Recovery like a river. Before you can do this you have to accept that. Before you can do that you have to accept this. Accept it! Accept it! Accept that the Therapist or Counselor knows what they're talking about. Accept the fact that you are sick. Accept that you have become dysfunctional. Accept that things will only get better the longer you are clean and sober. Accept that this is wrong and that is right. Accept help! Accept the belief that Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are and will always be an integral part of long-term maintenance of "Sobriety"! An inescapable fact is accepting that not only your body has to recover from using the drugs, but that your mind will probably need even more time to recover from using them. Accept that people are not going to immediately accept your intention, ability or desire to change.

Quoting AA's Big Book, Third Edition, Page 449: "And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing, or situation - some fact of my life - unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing, or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in God's world, by mistake. Until I could accept my alcoholism, I could not stay sober; unless I accept life completely on life's terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be change in me and in my attitudes." The 12-Step program and the Recovery process are not just an excursion into learning how to stop drinking or using. These concepts are a "Journey" into a simple plan for learning how to live life on life's terms. End of Discussion!

We all wonder what it is to have real faith at times.  Or perhaps, we think we are trusting our faith, that God, or our higher power is going to do this or that for us. How often though, honestly...have we just stopped in our tracks and knew beyond a shadow of doubt that this is it!  This is our prayers being answered and everything is in perfect relation to all things in this very moment?

Faith is Not the thinking that it should be different than it is...it is the knowing that it is exactly as it should be right now.  

The problem with us thinking it should be something else, is that it takes us out of believing that there is a higher source, who knows all things and who doesn't make mistakes. It is really the exact the opposite of us having faith.  When we think something should be different then it is, we are Not walking in faith. Our thinking moves us away from what is, and the faith that what is-is how it needs to be.

Faith is trusting, deep sense of trusting that everything is perfect in this moment.  No matter what, no matter how it appears, no matter what it sounds like.

Our human brains want to drift off into thinking something is not going right, or should be different than it is, should not of happened, or could of happened in some other fashion.

Faith looks like what is…exactly as it is right now in this moment.  There are no mistakes.

So, how is your walk today?  Are you able to accept what is?  Are you able to trust that it is perfect?  Are you able to trust that every single aspect is perfect?  What do you need to do to be alright with everything as it is?

CherylFrei
Addiction Recovery Life Coach
http://cherylfreirecoverycoaching.com