Understanding Addiction Archives - Page 113 of 115

Feb192015Apr252025

How the 12 Steps Help Manage Stress

Articles, Education, Understanding Addiction

How-the-12-Steps-Help-Manage-Stress Research shows that people often use alcohol and drugs for stress management. But most researchers also agree that these substances may actually induce stress rather than relieve it. So it’s important that individuals who have made the decision to stop drinking replace alcohol and drugs with more effective ways to manage stress. The 12 Steps, though not specifically designed as a stress management tool, use many of the techniques suggested by experts to deal with stress. For instance:

Numerous scientific studies have shown the positive effects of prayer and meditation on stress; as a result, health care practitioners often suggest prayer and meditation as a stress management strategy. The 12 Steps suggest the use of prayer and meditation as a means to sobriety. Though the writers of the 12 Steps weren’t aware of any science behind prayer and meditation at the time, they knew enough to include them at the heart of recovery.
Social support networks are known to relieve stress and promote mental health. While the 12 Steps do not explicitly mention group support as a way to stop drinking, they are written from a group perspective, using “we” and “our” in language, and they are recited at 12-Step meetings to provide common purpose, mutual understanding and a sense of community. The feeling of security that comes from group support can help manage the stress of being alone in the challenges of recovery.
Most individuals come to the 12 Steps with wreckage like financial debt, destroyed relationships and broken promises. The Steps help relieve the stress of a traumatic history by suggesting a complete inventory of one’s misbehavior, and amends to offended parties. By dealing with a troubled past, hope begins to take the place of stress, and individuals can start anew.

If you, or someone you care about, needs help for a drug or alcohol addiction,
contact us at 1-888-457-3518 US, 0-808-120-3633 UK or 1-800-990-523 AU.
We’re here to help you take that first important step.

Jan272015Apr252025

Is Marijuana a Global Addiction?

International, Understanding Addiction

A recent U.N. report on drug use revealed that cannabis is the world’s most widely consumed drug, indicating a possible global addiction may be culminating. Marijuana is produced or consumed in some fashion in most countries today. The World Health Organization reports About 147 million people, 2.5% of the world population, consume cannabis annually, compared with 0.2% consuming cocaine and 0.2% consuming opiates.

In 2010, marijuana use was most prevalent in Australia and New Zealand; the U.S. and Canada came in second, followed by Spain, France, Italy and the Czech Republic third, and Nigeria, Zambia, and Madagascar were tied for fourth). With the legalization of marijuana in some countries, and across some states in the US, many people are being conditioned by arguments that the drug is basically harmless. The potential risk of cannabis use may not be demonstrated by overt or sudden seizures and overdose, but marijuana dependency controls and impairs its users, like any substance of abuse, procuring it and smoking it will become the most important aspect of life.

Studies have found marijuana interferes with attention, motivation, memory, and learning. Statistically, students who use marijuana regularly receive lower grades, are more likely to drop out of school, and will show an overall IQ drop of up to 8 points. Generally people who use marijuana regularly report lower satisfaction with their life, are more likely to earn a lower income and more likely to be unemployed.

The global addiction trend shows 5.7 million persons aged 12 or older living in major cities used marijuana on a daily or almost daily basis in the past 12 months. However accessible and available marijuana continues to be, it can’t adequately substitute the benefits found in living a life free of addiction, discovering the potential to contribute to the world in a positive and dynamic way.

Jan062015Apr252025

A Recovery Roadmap to Discovering Your Value

Treatment, Understanding Addiction

Recovery is a life-long journey that fueled by understanding the root of an addiction problem. Recovery also helps you learn coping mechanisms to help enjoy life as a healthy and happy individual.

Many treatment facilities utilize a recovery “roadmap.” A recovery roadmap will have several stages that will help you reach key milestones.

Getting Started
This first phase can last from the first few days to the first few weeks. This phase involves completing a detoxification program and getting substance abuse treatment, as well as a recommendation for placement in a treatment facility. You will enroll in your chosen program and start your psychosocial therapy meetings.
Early Recovery
The second phase generally lasts anywhere from six weeks to three months. In phase two, participants learn to change their behaviors. You will begin working on your personal problems and learn how to control personal emotions. At this point, you will also become active in a self-help program, such as the 12 step program.
Recovery Maintenance
The third phase lasts anywhere from two months to one year. Phase 3 offers benefit from continued participation in outpatient substance abuse treatment sessions. You will be putting your prevention plan into action and learn new coping mechanisms. Phase 3 helps improve on personal issues, educational and career dreams, while you work alongside support groups.
Continued Recovery
This phase lasts for the rest of your life. If necessary, you will continue to participate in support groups and work on becoming more independent and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The goal in continued recovery is to maintain independence and develop positive interests and new hobbies.

A treatment facility also makes it a priority to personalize programs for each individual by being mindful of their strengths and interests so they are primed for success. Once on a path to successful recovery, you’re empowered to rebuild self-esteem and rediscover your value.

Sep102014Apr252025

Teen Drug Abuse

Education, Understanding Addiction

A parent’s worst nightmare came true for Rod Bridge, of Perth, Australia, when his son Preston died in a drug-related accident. In this particular case, the drug had been sold as LSD when in fact it was a counterfeit psychedelic called NBOM-e. The high-school student was killed in a fall from a hotel balcony while under the influence.

The substance, originally a research chemical, has been duplicated by underground chemists. It’s hard enough to enforce existing drug laws; authorities around the world are having difficulty stemming the tide of new drugs that evade being listed as illegal.

From a parent’s perspective, the fact of the drug world being as open and available as a candy store (Preston Bridge bought his alleged LSD online via “the Silk Road” for two dollars) is frightening. Parents are cautioned to watch for signs that may indicate experimentation with drugs, but adolescent behavior can have so many challenging aspects—rebellion, secrecy, recklessness, etc.—that it’s difficult to discern what is normal behavior and what might be incipient teenage drug abuse.

Until it becomes not so difficult. A young person’s drug problem can be chalked off to “typical teen behavior” for only so long before reality sets in—reality that has to be acknowledged, understood, coped with, and responded to.

The initially most agonizing thing for parents of drug-abusing children is that the parents will know something is going on, but the child will deny it. The parents, in the early stage, want so badly to believe that this problem hasn’t intruded into their lives that they will deny what common sense tells them. This is a setup for eventual disappointment, resentment, and alienation for the parents (the child is already experiencing alienation and resentment).

Here are a few signs that teenage drug abuse may be occurring:

School performance drops suddenly
Change of friends
Sleep patterns change (can’t get up in morning, sleeps in afternoon, or—conversely—is wide awake for inappropriately long times)
Deceptive and furtive behavior, dishonesty
Argumentative or sullen and withdrawn
Loses interest in formerly loved sports or hobbies
Sudden weight loss and/or change of appearance

As with a physical illness, parents will—if the above signs are present—need to enter into an entirely new world of awareness, education, and coping strategies. There will be conflicting advice. There will be internal conflicts between the parents, and the drug-abusing teen will exploit these conflicts.

Resources are available for parents entering this new world (or already immersed in it). Al-Anon Family Groups has meetings and valuable printed material.

Aug272014Apr252025

Substance Abusers and Families Often Suffer From Guilt

Understanding Addiction

Guilt, even if unacknowledged, runs rampant in the minds of substance abusers and their family members. Because denial is the No. 1 symptom of alcoholism and drug addiction, guilt may go unrecognized at first, but it plays a major role in the family dynamics of addiction. For the addicts, guilt results from the embarrassment to themselves and their loved ones caused by their behavior and their lack of responsibility for their actions. Guilt also gives them a false excuse for continuing to drink or use because alcohol and drugs alter their reality and enable them to hide from their feelings.

Denying feelings

Substance abusers are masters at making excuses for their excessive and obsessive use of alcohol or drugs. They see themselves as victims, and they can offer up untold reasons why they do what they do. The underlying reason, however, is to stop feeling how they are feeling. They may be angry or sad. They may feel afraid or insecure. They may even be joyful and exhilarated and want to enhance those feelings. As their drinking and using increases, the guilt they feel over their behavior also increases. They become trapped in the cycle of addiction. Recovery involves taking a serious look at the emotions underlying substance abuse and dealing with the guilt.

Family embarrassment

Family members begin to take on the emotional symptoms of addiction, including guilt. They become anxious and worried about the consequences of the addict’s behavior. They worry about paying the bills or the possibility of abuse. They suffer embarrassment when others see the foolish behavior caused by drinking and using. In an effort to control the addict’s behavior, they begin to wonder if something they are doing is causing the addict to drink or use. They want to solve the problems endured by the addict and the family members, so they grasp at every possibility, either real or imagined. Spouses, for example, may think they can change their partners by trying to become more attractive and appealing, or by manipulating and pleading. When families participate in recovery, they gather tools for letting go of guilt and learn new ways to conduct their own lives.