| The anti-social nature of drug addiction results in a | | | | incarceration decreases, and criminal behavior |
| "Life-Style". The addict becomes out-of-synch with | | | | becomes as strong and as much of a problem as |
| the social structure in which he must live. Addicts | | | | addictive behavior. Combined, they are a very difficult |
| begin to associate only with other addicts or drug | | | | state of being to change. Very few people, if any, |
| dealers and then transcend into the subculture of | | | | have the ability to make the needed changes on their |
| drug use. Paranoia triggered by many different things, | | | | own, if they are truly an addict. |
| and at many different levels, causes the addict to | | | | Some form of structured and rehabilitative "Help" |
| become less and less comfortable around anyone | | | | becomes a necessity if the addict is ever to return |
| who is not doing the same as they are, partially | | | | to being able to function in society. Strict rules and |
| because they are becoming criminals as well as | | | | routines are needed. Acceptance of the need for |
| addicts. Over a period of time, addiction requires | | | | help is important. It's important because the nature of |
| particular justification, and rationalization to live with | | | | addiction is that it produces "denial" of the "problem". |
| the results that it is producing. Gradually, these | | | | Coming out from under the distorted thinking is |
| ego-defense mechanisms morph into an Anti Society | | | | nearly impossible because the "brain" is the most |
| philosophy created from "distorted thinking". As the | | | | severely affected part of the person that has |
| addict becomes more dysfunctional they inevitably go | | | | become an "Addict"! 12-Step programs and a limited |
| so far outside of the laws of society that they | | | | number of Christian based programs are the only |
| assume a profile that is easily identifiable, and as a | | | | source of help that is not expensive beyond the |
| result they get arrested. Usually, the crime factor | | | | financial capability of most addicts and their families. |
| progresses as the addiction progresses and the | | | | Acceptance becomes the "key" factor for Recovery |
| distorted thinking progresses. A completely changed | | | | from this dread disease. Frequently multiple episodes |
| set of principles, morals and beliefs is adopted. | | | | of formal treatment are the only solution or answer. |
| Unfortunately, this is usually gradual to the point of | | | | Yes, multiple episodes, because "Relapse" into |
| becoming a long-term, overall behavioral change. | | | | addiction is usually inevitable as a result of how |
| The addiction progresses as the "Brain Chemistry" | | | | complicated this problem is. Physiology, psychology |
| changes. As the brain chemistry changes the behavior | | | | and even pharmacology may all factor into treatment |
| changes. As the behavior changes the entire | | | | of this chronic, progressive, and fatal disease. The |
| personality changes. Much of the change in brain | | | | 12-step program's fundamental requirement of |
| chemistry has far reaching effects that are not easily | | | | "Acceptance" has produced "Miracles", but should we |
| overcome or reversed. The chemistry changes are in | | | | rely on miracles to solve our country's greatest |
| "Neurotransmitters", which are at the heart of the | | | | problem? Treatment in a controlled environment |
| relationship between the brain and the rest of the | | | | enables the addict to more easily discover and realize |
| "Central Nervous System". Specifically, lowered | | | | the need to identify and "accept" that they need to |
| Dopamine levels are personality changers. Dopamine | | | | change their primary way of thinking, and behavior. In |
| affects hunger, sleep, emotions and even the "body | | | | treatment, this reality is also reinforced by "peers" |
| clock". In their search for "Euphoria" craving for the | | | | who share a common problem. This "acceptance" |
| drug-of-choice becomes incessant. | | | | must be complete and must be constantly reinforced |
| Sadly, this craving becomes less easily satisfied. As | | | | over a long period of time. Its much easier to do |
| the brain changes, the drug is less capable of | | | | when those around you have to do the same thing. |
| producing the same effects that it had on the brain | | | | You don't become an addict overnight and you can't |
| before the changes. The addict literally has a | | | | Recover overnight. Before an addiction is properly |
| "different brain". The addict then is "chasing" the | | | | addressed, it has usually developed over a period of |
| feeling that they originally derived from use of the | | | | many years, sometimes even decades. It is hard for |
| drug. The problem is that the drug can no longer | | | | a human being to accept that a great portion of life |
| produce the feeling that the addicts' memory has | | | | has been thrown away. Shame, guilt and fear that |
| branded. Eventually the addict loses the "high" and is | | | | come with sobriety and the restoration of the |
| now just trying to get "well" or feel "normal". Without | | | | thinking process, are common complications for the |
| a specific level of the drug in their system, the addict | | | | addict. These feelings are so difficult to deal with, |
| begins to feel generally "sick". Tolerance for the drug | | | | that they are often regarded as the primary cause |
| increases incrementally with the length of the period | | | | of relapse into using. Acceptance of defeat is also a |
| of time that the addict has been using. As time | | | | stumbling block, because no one likes losing. Thus it |
| progresses it takes more and more of the drug, that | | | | becomes crucial to move past the defeat and focus |
| can no longer satisfy, to fulfill the needs or desires of | | | | on the accomplishment of becoming "Sober". |
| the user. As the addict becomes more dysfunctional | | | | "Sobriety" is a term commonly used in both AA and |
| and the amount of the drug needed increases, the | | | | NA in regard to abstention from both alcohol and |
| ability to obtain it becomes harder and requires | | | | other drugs. Narcotics Anonymous declares regularly, |
| methods that are almost alway illegal. More serious | | | | in their meetings, that "Alcohol is a drug, period". Most |
| criminal behavior is adopted to obtain the amount of | | | | alcoholics of the older generation resent this claim. |
| money needed to get the increasingly greater | | | | Current knowledge supports the NA declaration and |
| amount of the needed drug. The "Circle of Addiction" | | | | acknowledges that all are mood altering substances. |
| becomes "Life". Need for the drug is followed by | | | | Acceptance of this idea is crucial, because most "drug |
| obtaining the money for the drug. This in-turn, is | | | | addicts" begin a relapse with the use of alcohol, often |
| followed by obtaining the drug, and using the drug. | | | | deceiving their selves into believing alcohol is not a |
| Satisfaction decreases and the need increases. More | | | | drug so they'll be able control us of it. |
| drugs inspire more crime, and more crime results in | | | | Acceptance, acceptance, acceptance, it just runs |
| more "time"... Life has become the drug-of-choice! | | | | through the philosophies of Recovery like a river. |
| Detoxification from the drug usually only happens | | | | Before you can do this you have to accept that. |
| after being arrested for a crime and being forcefully | | | | Before you can do that you have to accept this. |
| removed from the environment where the drug is | | | | Accept it! Accept it! Accept that the Therapist or |
| accessible. Detoxification is most often the easy part | | | | Counselor knows what they're talking about. Accept |
| for an addict. The chemistry changes in the brain that | | | | the fact that you are sick. Accept that you have |
| have been paralleled by behavior and personality | | | | become dysfunctional. Accept that things will only get |
| changes, are not easily reversible. The drug is | | | | better the longer you are clean and sober. Accept |
| removed from the scenario but the distorted thinking | | | | that this is wrong and that is right. Accept help! |
| has been "hardwired" into the addicts' brain in the | | | | Accept the belief that Alcoholics Anonymous and |
| form of an anti-social belief system. Incarceration only | | | | Narcotics Anonymous are and will always be an |
| adds to the dysfunction because jails and prisons also | | | | integral part of long-term maintenance of "Sobriety"! |
| have an anti-social belief system in place, of their | | | | An inescapable fact is accepting that not only your |
| own, developed by criminals of all kinds. This sick | | | | body has to recover from using the drugs, but that |
| addict, whose ability to think is very poor, easily | | | | your mind will probably need even more time to |
| succumbs to the belief system in place wherever he | | | | recover from using them. Accept that people are not |
| is incarcerated, only too easily. As the length of | | | | going to immediately accept your intention, ability or |
| terms of incarceration increases with the severity of | | | | desire to change. |
| crimes committed, the length of time outside of | | | | |