I spend a lot of time talking to families determined to find help for a loved one who is addicted to drugs. Inevitably the conversation includes the questions: “Aren’t there some medications that will make them stop?” “I’ve heard about Suboxone, is that the answer?” “Will Vivitrol cure my son’s addiction?” How wonderful it would [...]
I recently spoke with a young man who was “having a problem with opiates.” In actuality, he was trying hard to convince both himself and me that his prescription medication abuse wasn’t serious. Certainly he felt it would be wrong to call himself an “addict.” The hard facts make it impossible to offer comfort or [...]
A friend recently spent a few days in the hospital for knee surgery. The doctor’s advice at the time of discharge was simple and encouraging: “Rest, take it easy for a few weeks and before you know it life will be back to normal.” If only healing from addiction to alcohol & drugs could follow [...]
Life in recovery can have many benefits and positive experiences. The key to staying in recovery is to discover the goodness and the fulfillment life has to offer when you are drug-free. People who are engaged in a proactive recovery from addiction: Do things to help them manage stress Work on building and sustaining healthy relationships, especially [...]
One of the principle causes of relapse is thinking that you don’t need help, or that you can manage recovery on your own. We hear lots of people say: I understand how to manage my recovery. I don’t need a counselor or a sponsor.” Relapse begins the moment a person in recovery thinks they can [...]
There is no cure for addiction so the recovering addict or alcoholic must always be on guard against the possibility of relapse. It is very important to know the signs of relapse and take immediate steps to safeguard against temptation. Some of the big triggers are stress, exhaustion, loneliness, boredom, resentment and relationship problems. Addicts need [...]
The people who love and care for those with addictions are constantly placed in the difficult position of deciding how to act. Do you challenge the alcoholic or addict to get help? Do you refuse to help them until they decide to seek treatment? Do you withdraw assistance (money, housing, car, etc.) until they take the [...]
Like any chronic disease, addiction needs to be treated; however, the answers do not lie in quick fixes. Overcoming addiction requires learning the tools, strategies and behaviors that enable someone to manage life without resorting to drugs or alcohol as the easy answer. Help is important, because the addicted person must learn to think, act, and [...]
People drink and use drugs for a reason; they want to feel different. For many of them that reason is hazy when they first enter treatment. As they detox and their brains begin to heal, they are able to make the connection between life events and their pattern of drinking or using. They see that there were [...]
The line between substance abuse and addiction is often hard to see until it has been crossed. An individual may deny they have an addiction until the consequences are overwhelming and undeniable: a lost job, broken relationships, a DUI, financial problems, legal issues, or a serious health condition. The CAGE Test is one way to [...]
