Monday, September 13, 2010

National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month - Part 2

As stated in our last post, the first step on the road to recovery is realizing that you have a problem. What comes next? Many people have been able to live clean and sober lifestyles through their own will-power and strength, yet others find the need to search for outside help. Thousands of people world-wide have found peace within the walls of Alcoholics-Anonymous (AA) and or Narcotics-Anonymous (NA). Working through a 12-step program and sponsorship has been and is what continues to save lives across the globe daily. Due to pride, guilt, hurt and or shame many people unfortunately do not utilize this helpful community resource as they should. What are your thoughts about the 12-step program?

"Keep coming back, because it works if you work it..."

Monday, September 6, 2010

National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month

“I’ll just have one drink,” “I'll just take one puff”, this is what many people say or have said the first time they tried drugs or alcohol. What many of these people did not realize is that it only takes that “one time” to become addicted to drugs and alcohol.

“I only have one drink a day,” “So what I drink a six pack of beer a night after work it helps me unwind,” “Marijuana is not a drug, it’s from the earth and I can stop when I want to.” How many times have you heard a friend, co-worker or loved one say those things? How many times have you said them?

September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month … lets take a moment this month to educate our-selves on the disease of addiction.

Question: What is Drug Addiction?

Answer: Drug addiction is a complex brain disease. Often drug addiction is characterized by compulsive, at times uncontrollable, drug craving, seeking, and use that persist even in the face of extremely negative consequences.

Drug seeking becomes compulsive, mostly as a result of the effects of prolonged drug use on brain functioning and, thus, on behavior. For many people, drug addiction becomes chronic, with relapses possible even after long periods of abstinence.

If you or someone you know is suffering from substance abuse addiction, there is help. The first step on the road to recovery is admitting that you have a problem.

How has addiction changed your life or the life of someone you know?