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! For more info visit my Site, Addiction: Why Me? @ www.mydavecarroll.com
David R Carroll, CADCA is a certified drug counselor. He has served as a Program Director & worked in California prisons recruiting inmates for Aftercare Treatment. He is primarily a Certified Counselor & consultant. Dave is also a recovering addict of 12 yrs & a Vietnam Vet. He was a practicing addict for over 25 years, attaining sobriety at the VA Hospital, Fresno CA, at age 45. He's now 58, & is the WebMaster of, Addiction: Why Me? @ www.mydavecarroll.com. His goal for his Recovery site is to support itself & become an Online Counseling Service. Dave is an internet contributing author of articles on Society's Drug Problem, education regarding Addiction as a treatable disease & self help concepts for Addicts & their Families. David R Carroll is also a Motivational Spearker for the addiction, treatment & Recovery field. Contact him through his Web Site; Above!
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» left by Robert Mellinkoff(0) (328 days 4 hours ago.)
Thank you for the infomative post. I am a recovering alcoholic and addict and for me and I speak only for me, nothing but a divine intervention worked for me to stop. I was a addict of the educational variety, and read all the self help books, theories on where addiction came from, and there are many theories. I tried rehabs, religion, antidepressants, even institutions, and nothing worked for long. I was always able to stop, it was not starting again that was the problem. I do not know if I was born a addict or if it really matters. I know that when you put anything that gives me instant gratification in front of me there is never enough. What worked for me was staying clean and sober with others who were clean and sober and working on getting rid of the obsession one day at a time. Once the obesssion was gone I was able to put more than a few words together, which became sentences, and I was able to hear more than one out of 20 words. Once I was cleared minded I worked 12 step program and was eventually able to love myself enough not to want to put anything in my body to hurt myself.
My life up until then was fear driven, and if I had low self esteem that would have been a step up, I had no self esteem. It is just my opinion but many addicts will agree, addicts feel things a lot more intense than non addicts do.
We have to learn to live in this world on its terms, and take each day sometimes minute by minute, as we cannot cope without a buffer. So with that said of course we had to find a buffer something greater than that drink, fix or pill. For myself that was a Higher Power. Not a religious power but a spiritual Higher Power. I was a total atheist when I got sober, and today I know that there is something greater than myself out there as I could not stop on my own. I did the footwork, as faith without works is dead and I found out that it was there all the time. IT is not something anyone can give anyone. We can help by example, but each addict must be willing to do the footwork or nothing will change for the better, but it sure will change for the worse.
It is also lonely life. We can be around a lot of people and still feel like we were dropped off on the wrong planet. There is nothing more successful thatn two addicts helping each other in sobriety. Something magical happens where two or more are gathered. So if you are truly tired of living the way you are, the giggle is out of the bottle, and your not having fun anymore, I urge you to seek help with someone who has been there. All over the world people have practiced the 12 Steps, and there are over 200 different 12 step programs out there. The 12 Steps however does not have a monlopoly on recovery there are many other ways, for problem drinkers. But for the real alcoholic and or addict, I have never seen it fail that when someone tries they make it. Respond to this comment
» left by David Carroll(99) David Carroll (327 days 23 hours ago.)
Robert,
Thank you for your comment. Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in God's world without a reason. Acceptance of a Higher Power is the one thing that guarantees that you'll never have to do this alone, again. I am a Certified Counselor 2nd after a Recovering Addict of 12 years. It sounds like you have been granted the "gift" of "removing the desire" to use! Here again, I will say, "It's all about Acceptance!" You sound like you are quite capable of "giving back" what has been so freely granted you. Giving back becomes the Soul of Recovery, at some point. We Counselors can give aid to those who desire help, through our education. We can plant seeds in those not ready, Yet! We cannot though, substitute for Spiritualiy. We cannot make someone ready to "Accept" help. We only get to, fortunately, be a part of the quest for change, in those ready for it. Don't forget where you came from. Keep a piece of that close to your heart, so the newcommer can look at you and say, "I want what He's got". You just become part of another miracle, and are rewarded 10-fold. One more time, one more dayat-a-time, God Bless You!
CounselorDave Respond to this comment
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(328 days 4 hours ago.)