alcoholic

Why Can’t Recovering Addicts Use In Moderation?

May 14, 2013 by Recovery Blogger Leave a Comment

A client asks: If we can change our thinking in order to abstain from using alcohol and other drugs, then why can’t we change our thinking to be able to use in moderation?

Why can’t addicts use in moderation? Think about it: why couldn’t we simply use “in moderation” without all the hassle of detox, treatment, and a program of recovery? If we couldn’t do it then, why should we be able to do it now? Those are the real questions!

The key is “change our thinking.” We don’t think our way out of addiction. We make a decision to get clean and sober, and to follow the suggestions of our program of choice, in order to facilitate abstinence. The thinking and process of our programs of recovery relieve some of the emotional pressures we created with our addiction and equip us to live sober lives, but they do not “cure” the addiction.

Abstinence and the subsequent repairs that our bodies are able to effect in our brains allow our addiction(s) to enter remission. Our brains slowly deactivate the extra receptor sites that clamored for more drugs and caused our compulsion to use, and at the same time the production of chemicals normally found in the brain has to ramp back up from being suppressed by the presence of the drugs. Not until this process is complete — and it can take months — do we reach the point of feeling relatively normal, although we begin to feel better long before the job is done.

Feeling better is part of the problem, too. Because the repairs to our brains depend on abstinence, as long as there are any of a wide variety of abusable drugs in our systems, the repairs can’t take place. And because they also take time, and that means that the desire to use won’t go away entirely for quite awhile; it will come and go. We can easily decide that we’ve been clean for a while so we ought to be able to “handle it.” But if we give in and use, even a little, the repairs to our brain will slow down, prolonging the physical recovery process. It is also quite likely that the combination of reuniting with our old obsession, combined with the indisputable fact that people on drugs do stupid things, will cause us to decide more would be better. Continued use will reverse the recovery process and kick us back into full-blown addiction.

Recovery is not a matter of willpower. If it were, we would have simply ignored the compulsion and stopped. The compulsion comes from a part of the brain that isn’t affected by conscious thought. We can’t think our way into sobriety; we need abstinence too. Here at Sunrise Detox, we see a lot of folks who think that they can use in moderation. Again, and again, and again….

Filed Under: Addict, Alcoholic, denial, Questions From Newcomers, Recovery Tagged With: addict, alcoholic, denial, questions from newcomers, Recovery

Things Clients Say In Detox — Denial On The Hoof

February 17, 2013 by Sunrise Detox Leave a Comment

We thought we would list some of the things that we hear clients say. You can substitute any drug for any other drug in any statement or comment. Denial ain’t just a river in Africa, remember?

I don’t even know why I’m here. I’m not an addict.

You’re here for some reason. You didn’t just walk in to see what it was like. Some major problem in your life got you through the doors. You may as well hang out for a while and see if we can help you with the problem — whatever it is.

Marijuana isn’t addictive, because there’s no withdrawal.

It is true that years ago there was no noticeable withdrawal from marijuana use, but in those days cannabis had only about 1/10th the active ingredients that today’s hybridized varieties have. Even then, chronic users often had trouble quitting.

Today, there is acute withdrawal that involves irritability, sleeping difficulties, mood swings, loss of appetite and other issues. We also know that there is a post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) that includes depression and cognitive disorders, and that can last for many months.

I’ll stop drinking, but I’m still going to smoke a blunt now and then.

Recovery requires abstaining from all mood-altering drugs. We cannot pick and choose. All drugs work on our reward system. Addiction occurs when the reward system loses the ability to make us feel good without the extra stimulation of drugs. If we continue to stimulate the reward system so that it cannot return to normal, then we will continue to have cravings.

I only drink wine or beer.

All ethyl alcohol (ethanol) affects the human body the same way, and one six-ounce glass of wine, one 12 ounce beer, and one shot of 80 proof liquor all contain roughly the same amount of alcohol.

I only drink on weekends.

It is not important when we drink. What matters is how much, and why. If we are waking up with a hangover, which is really alcohol withdrawal, we are drinking enough to cause changes in our brains, even if we only do it two or three days out of the week. And are we really remaining totally abstinent the rest of the week, or are we having a couple to “relax” each evening? If that is the case, why do we need alcohol to relax?

I only use (pick a drug) occasionally, so I won’t become addicted.

There are millions of addicts who have found out the hard way that, despite their denial, the occasions tend to get closer and closer together until they have merged, so that we need the drug to be comfortable. When we are more comfortable under the influence of drugs than we are without them, we are well on the way to addiction.

Alcohol doesn’t bother me; I can drink all my buddies under the table.

Increasing tolerance for alcohol or any other drug is the first sign of addiction. If we can drink, snort, swallow or shoot more than we used to be able to handle, we’re in trouble.

“I can take it or leave it.” (I just choose to take it.)

Put it down and don’t touch it for two weeks. Let us know how that works for you. Try it again. Learn anything about denial?

I only have a couple of drinks at home, just to relax.

There is nothing wrong with that, unless we cannot relax without the drinks. In that case we need to do some hard thinking. We also we need to look at what we consider a “couple of drinks.” A standard drink is one shot of 80-proof liquor, one six-ounce glass of wine, or one 12-ounce beer. “Topping off” is cheating. So is filling an iced-tea glass with ice and booze and calling it “a drink.”

My whole family drinks like me.

Alcoholism has a strong hereditary component, as do some other addictions. Need we go on?

The bottom line is this: If drugs, including alcohol, are causing problems in our lives, whether they be hangovers, missing work, “discussions” with our spouses or partners, DUI’s, or any other issues, then they are a problem. There are no two ways about it. Either they cause problems or they don’t. Then the big question becomes why we are continuing to do something that continues to cause us problems.

Now that is a good question — a very good question.

Filed Under: Addiction, Alcoholism, denial, Detox, Treatment Tagged With: addict, alcoholic, denial, PAWS, Willingness

Shame About Alcohol Use May Increase The Likelihood Of Relapse

February 6, 2013 by Recovery Blogger Leave a Comment

The study, conducted by researchers from the University of British Columbia, shows that behavioral displays of shame strongly predicted whether recovering alcoholics would relapse in the future.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130204114246.htm

Filed Under: Addiction Education, Addiction Science, Alcoholic, Alcoholism, Relapse Tagged With: alcoholic, Recovery, relapse, Shame

Hosting An Addict At A Holiday Party

December 11, 2012 by Sunrise Detox Leave a Comment

If you’re wondering how to deal with a loved one’s addiction issues while still making them welcome at a holiday party, this previous post by blogger Bill W. may provide some help and assurance.

Folks in the addiction and alcoholism treatment fields are often asked about how a host should handle a holiday party attended by recovering friends. Social occasions that involve people in recovery, especially those in early recovery — can pose some perplexing problems for a host.

On one hand, a host who is aware of a guest’s need to avoid mood-altering substances may wish to do what is possible to keep from exposing them to temptation. On the other hand, social drinking is a part of everyday American culture. Most social gatherings involve some drinking by some of the guests, and there is certainly nothing wrong with that. Unfortunately, for some of us, it might not be the healthiest of environments, and a host may be at a loss as to how she ought to deal with guests who are in recovery. Here are some pointers on how to handle this delicate situation while, at the same time, being fair to all.

Filed Under: Addict, Addiction, Family and Friends, Recovery, Staying Sober Tagged With: addict, alcoholic, holiday parties, holidays

Research on drug use goes down the toilet

January 9, 2012 by Recovery Blogger Leave a Comment

Analysis Of Waste Water May Be The Key To
Determining Community Drug Use

Sewers don’t lie. People may be less than forthright about what they put into their bodies, especially if that includes illicit drugs, but a chemical analysis of what comes out of their bodies removes all mystery. According to drug and addiction researchers, analysing wastewater for remnants of illicit substances provides the only truly objective indicator of drug use patterns in a community.

“Whatever you think about drugs, people need to have objective data so they can at least have an informed discussion,” says Caleb Banta-Green, a research scientist at the University of Washington’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute in Seattle.

I don’t feel that (AA or NA) works for me; any suggestions?

December 27, 2011 by Recovery Blogger Leave a Comment

ADDICTION AND RECOVERY (c) Bill W. 2011

Q. I don’t that feel (AA or NA) works for me; any suggestions?

Rather than answering the question directly, let me ask you a few questions. You only have to answer them for yourself. What your reply to me might be is completely immaterial.

1. Did you go to a meeting every day, or did you find excuses to stay away?
2. Did you talk to people, or did you arrive late and leave early, avoiding contact?
3. Did you sit up front and pay attention, or did you sit in the back and keep track of all the things in the meeting that you didn’t approve of?
4. Did you share — at least your name — or did you keep quiet and try to look cool so people wouldn’t know you were a newcomer?
5. Did you get a Big Book or Basic Text (and read it)?
6. Did you get a sponsor?
7. Did you talk to your sponsor and get to know him or her?
8. Did you do any work on the Steps?
9. Did you become involved with service: putting away chairs, making coffee, cleaning up, greeting people (especially other newcomers) to make them feel at home?
10. Did you get to know people who would include you in their activities outside of meetings, like going for coffee, picnics, and the many other things that program people to do have fun?
11. Did you keep coming back, even when you didn’t feel like it?
12. Did you want to believe the group could help, or did you look for things that were wrong with it — things to be offended by; reasons to disapprove?

The program won’t work for you — unless you work for it. If you’ll think about your answers, you’ll discover the suggestions.

Filed Under: Addict, Alcoholic, denial, Recovery, Staying Sober, Support Groups, Twelve Steps Tagged With: 12 Steps, AA, addict, alcoholic, NA

You Just Never Know

September 17, 2011 by Recovery Blogger Leave a Comment

For those of you who haven’t figured it out yet, I’m a recovering addict. My sober anniversary was last Wednesday, and since this is the time of the year when I make a point of looking back at how things were, I offer the following story.

Twenty-odd years ago, when my life was substantially different from the way it is today, I was handed an assignment by my boss, the Chief of Police. I’m a touch vague on the dates, but that doesn’t matter.

The job was to wade through a bunch of sworn affidavits that had been provided by the local hospital as fruits of a civil case, interview some folks, and find out if there were appropriate criminal charges to be brought against some people. After a week or so reading a lot of boring statements and talking to a lot of people, I came to the following conclusions.

The Board of Directors had for some years given the hospital administrator carte blanche, and he had taken advantage of it to the tune of about three million dollars in cash unaccounted for and unauthorized credit card purchases.
Contractors working on additions to the complex also had their fingers in the till.
There were substantial indications that fraud and embezzlement had been committed, but our department lacked the investigative resources to bring a case to trial that was comprised largely of accounting work.
The case should be turned over to the State Attorney for further investigation. (Ultimately, it went to the state Department of Law Enforcement.)

bop.gov

The administrator, an active and advanced alcoholic, ended up serving three years. It turned out that much of the money had gone for expensive inpatient treatment for himself, a daughter and his wife, all of whom were eventually successful at getting sober. The ex-administrator got sober in prison.

Now here’s the point: always be nice to folks, even when you don’t have to.

The drunken hospital administrator, because of his interest in the subject, had founded a treatment center on the 6th floor of the hospital. Although closed now due to corporate decisions, it was at one time well-known as one of the best treatment centers in the country. A few years later, when the Chief saved my life by forcing me into treatment — and made sure that my wife got treatment as well when she asked for it — we got sober on the sixth floor of that hospital.

And the ex-administrator, whom I had helped send to prison, eventually became my sponsor.

You…just…never…know.

Filed Under: Addiction, Alcoholism, Family and Friends, Treatment Tagged With: addict, alcoholic, high functionlng alcoholic