Drug Abuse in the First World is Serious

How bad is Drug Abuse in the United States of America? How can we stop abuse of drugs with our young people? Why is the war on drugs a lost cause? Is legalization of drugs the right solution? What will we do in the future as all these folks in their teens or still young adults hit their middle thirties and need new Heart Valves? How can our already over taxed health care system handle it? All good questions indeed.

The answers are not so easy however, as drug abuse in the US is a huge problem and small businesses constantly complain about the drug problems and difficulty in hiring labor. The war on drugs seems to be a dead end game. If we stop the drugs from Mexico, we hurt legal trade with more barriers to entry and even if we do, most of the Meth is home grown in the cities and towns near where it is used anyway.

Legalization of drugs, which many have pondered seems like a solution but is it really? After all more druggies will not help the work force or health care costs in the future and although it might lower the costs and decrease petty crimes, it will still be a huge problem. Today we seem to have more problems and questions than answers. So, if you have a solution, well now is a good time to speak up. Consider this in 2006.

Oklahoma Drug Abuse

The use of illegal drugs has become a reality throughout modern America. The state of Oklahoma is no exception to this rule. Emotional insecurity, poverty and plain curiosity have caused many Americans to experiment and use substances in hopes of alleviating the pain of everyday life and to achieve a pleasurable ‘high’. Many people choose to view these types of individuals as outcasts, but at the law firm of Atkins & Markoff, we view these unfortunate individuals not as criminals, but as victims caught up in the uncaring impartial justice system. This outlook greatly influences the manner in which we treat our clients and gives us the opportunity to provide them with the best legal protection they deserve.

Drug use in Oklahoma consists of many types of drugs. Cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, extacy, GHB, and prescription drug use. These are among some of the most common problems on the streets today. The clients who turn to the law firm of Atkins & Markoff will be nothing less than satisfied. We pride ourselves on a proven track record of defending victims charged with drug crimes and will use every aspect of the law to make sure your rights and freedom are protected.

Introduction To Cocaine Addiction

Coke, more commonly known as cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant which instantly affects the brain after introducing it to the body. The effects of this drug are extremely pleasurable and give a false sense of euphria. Like caffiene, coke makes the user feel awake, and energized. Cocaine addict's usually experience a sense of well being and feel 'powerful', combined with restlessness and anxiety. When the effects of cocaine wear off the user will 'crash', become depressed, and crave another 'hit' or 'wack'. Cocaine addiction is hard to beat, because of the great length's the user will go to get the drug. Some will even neglect their job, family and loved ones, in order to satisfy their craving for cocaine. This is one of the reasons why cocaine addiction is considered so harsh. It effects the user as well as everyone around him or her.
Signs of cocaine abuse include: change in mood, appitite and sleep cycles, depression, absence at work and home, running/ sniffly nose, new group of friends and a drop in school grades. Loss of interest in hobbys and other activities are also common signs of cocaine usage. Teenagers may also have a frequent need for money, without a good reason. Confronting the suspected user is the best solution. Cocaine addiction's should not go overlooked and should be treated ASAP. Long term effects of cocaine include: irritability, mood swings, restlessness, paranoya, possible auditory hallucinations and the number one long-term effect is addiction to the substance itself.
Many treatments have been found to be have great affects on treating cocaine addiction. It is important when selecting treatment methods, to match the treatment to the individual's needs. The main idea is to get the cocaine abuser to stop the use of the drug and help them maintain a positive outlook throughout the withdrawal. Rewards for positive behaviour and attitude are sometimes given and staying cocaine free becomes easier for the users in time. Residential programs focus on re-socialization, group therapy, and team work to assist an addict through withdrawal. It is very important, regardless of the treatment, is moral support from loved ones. Cocaine addiction is not easy to beat, but it's not impossible, with help and the proper treatment, cocaine addiction can be overcome.

Addiction to Clutter

Clutter is a big problem for many people. At a lecture that I gave, I asked for a show of hands regarding how many people had problems with clutter and disorganization. I was surprised to find that at least half the people raised their hands.
One of my clients told me that she was trying to help her sister get back on her feet after her sister had been laid up with an illness and lost her job. Her sister’s house had always been a mess, and had become so filled with clutter that there was no place to walk or sit. My client, Rebecca, offered to buy her sister a car if she would clean up her house. Rebecca even offered to help her sister clean up the house. Rebecca was shocked when her sister refused the offer, even though she desperately needed the car. He sister was unwilling to get rid of the clutter.
Why? Why was the “stuff” so important to her?
Underneath all addictions lies fear - of emptiness, helplessness, loneliness and aloneness. Addictions are a way to feel safe from feeling these difficult and painful feelings, and an addiction to clutter is no exception. It’s all about having a sense of control over feeling safe. Clutter, like all addictions, provides a momentary feeling of comfort. However, as with any addiction, the clutterer needs more and more clutter to maintain the illusion of safety and comfort.
When my mother died and my son was cleaning out her house, he discovered huge amounts of clutter. While my mother’s house always looked neat and clean, the cupboards and drawers were filled with clutter. My son told me he found 6 broken hair dryers in one cabinet. Why would my mother want to keep six broken hair dryers?
My mother grew up during the depression and always had a fear of not having enough. No matter how much she accumulated materially, she never felt that she had enough. The six hair dryers made her feel safe from her fear, even if they didn’t work.
Carrie has trouble throwing things away, especially magazines with “important’ information in them. She subscribes to many magazines but, being the mother of three small children, doesn’t often have the time to read them. So the magazines pile up and pile up. Carrie hopes at some point to have the time to read them, but that time never seems to come. When asked why she won’t throw them out, her answer is, “Because there might be something important in them and I don’t want to miss it.” Carrie fears missing out on some important piece of information – information that may give her the peace she is seeking. It makes her feel safer and in control to have all the magazines around her with their important information, even if she never gets to read them.
When we don’t feel safe on the inner level, then we try to make ourselves feel safe on the outer level, and clutter is one way of doing that. Whether it’s things, such as hair dryers, or information, such as in magazines and newspapers, clutterers do not trust that they will have what they need. In addition, clutterers may be resistant people who see messiness and clutter as a way of not being controlled by someone who wants them to be neat.
HEALING THE ADDICTION TO CLUTTER
Clutter is created and maintained by a wounded, frightened part of oneself, the wounded self – the part that operates from the illusion of having control over people, events, and outcomes. As long as this wounded self is in charge of the decisions, the clutterer will continue to accumulate clutter as a way to provide comfort and the illusion of control over feeling safe, or continue to be messy as a way to resist being controlled.
Healing occurs when the individual does the inner work necessary to develop a strong, loving adult self. A loving adult is the aspect of us that opens to and connects with a spiritual source of wisdom, strength, and love. A loving adult is capable of taking loving action in our own behalf. The loving adult operates from truth rather than from the false beliefs of the wounded self, and knows that the comfort and safety that clutter seems to provide is an illusion – that no matter how much clutter accumulates, the clutterer still feels afraid. The loving Adult knows that safety and integrity do not lie in resistance. Only a loving adult who is tuned in to the guidance provided by a spiritual source and capable of taking loving action in one’s own behalf can create a sense of inner safety.
Practicing the six steps of Inner Bonding that we teach develops this powerful loving adult.

Meth Addiction Help

Methamphetamine is commonly known as "speed" or "meth." It is a white and odourless crystalline powder that easily dissolves in water. The drug was developed early in this century from its parent drug, amphetamine, and was used originally in nasal decongestants, bronchial inhalers and other related products. Like amphetamine, it causes increased activity, decreased appetite, and a general sense of well-being. Meth is a highly addictive substance, and is widely abused among our youth. It has become Meth addiction is a serious problem and often has very serious consequences.
Treatments for meth addictions range from method to method. The primary treatment for methamphetamine addictions is an intensive outpatient program that is designed to treat the patient's dysphoira, paranoia, psychosis and agitation. Successful meth treatment requires the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy. This approach prepares the addict for life-long recovery. Although recovering from meth addiction is challenging, it is not impossible. With determination and support the addiction can be beat.
Treatment for meth overdoses require certain protocols in the emergency room. Becasue hyperthermia(overheating) and convulsions are common and often fatal, ER treatment focuses on the immediate physical symptoms. Overdose patients are cooled off in ice baths, and anticonvulsant drugs may also be administered.
Currently there are no pharmacutical treatments for addiction. How ever, often meth addiction is followed by depression, therefore the use of some anti-depressant medications can be helpful in users who recently have become abstinent. Shock therapy is a outdated form of addiction treatment, and was discontinued becasue it was found to have more negitive effects than positive.

Struggling With Addictions

What kind of bad habits do you struggle with? Most people think that when they come to Christ that their bad habits will magically disappear. And some church people act like if you have any bad habits in your life that you must not truly be saved, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Christians or not, we are all people, and people make mistakes. People have bad habits.
If you are anything like me, you have poured your heart out in counseling sessions with your church leaders, stood in prayer lines, repented and vowed to do better. And still found yourself giving into that temptation the next time it presented itself, leaving you asking, “What’s wrong with me?”
Nothing. There is nothing wrong with you. The very fact that you are concerned about it is a good sign. It’s the people who won’t admit they have a problem that should worry.
Everyone, at one time or another, struggles with some type of bad habit or addiction. Maybe it’s shopping too much, smoking, drinking alcohol, pornography, coffee, sweets, etc. People don’t want others to know about their problems, so they hide them in the closet, hoping that no one will ever find out about their secret. When a problem is hidden in the dark, it will continue to haunt you. But once it is brought into the light, that is when you will be able to overcome it.
A bad habit or addiction is anything that robs you of your time with God, that you feel that you must hide, that hurts your health or the health of others or is against the Word of God.
It is important that we guard what we are feeding the gates of our heart–our eyes, ears and mouth. Looking at pornographic magazines or watching R-rated movies causes those images to enter our eye gates, and once there, our minds store those images for safe keeping. Then at the most awkward moments, it will replay those images. Maybe in your dreams, when you are praising God at church or when you are kissing your girlfriend.
Perhaps you don’t watch anything objectionable. Instead your vice of choice is heavy-metal or rap music that talk about killing cops and degrading women. At first, you may just think the music has a nice beat, but after awhile, even though, you are not consciously listening to the lyrics, those words–the ones about murder, drugs and sex–will seep into your subconscious. You will find yourself getting into trouble because you have a shorter fuse than you used to. You will blur the line between right and wrong. You won’t remember why having sex without a marriage license is sinful, why stealing and lying are immoral. All because you didn’t guard what you let through your eye and ear gates.
How do you overcome the bad habits and addictions in your life?
1. Repent. I John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” If we didn’t struggle with problems in life, there would be no reason to repent. However, we do, so we must ask God to forgive us for our wrongdoings. He is a gracious God who promises to forgive us when we repent. The mistake most of us make is in hiding our sin from God. Somehow we think that we can hide it from the One who sees all and knows all. Run to God when you slip in your recovery. Run to Him when you sin because He is on your side. He is not sitting up in Heaven, waiting to pounce on you anytime you make a mistake. That is not who He is. God is love not hate.
2. Ask God For Help. In II Corinthians 12:9, God tell us “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. Think about that for a moment. In our times of weakness, we can count on God to be strong for us. If we team up with God, we can conquer anything. Romans 8:37 promises that “we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”
Philippians 4:13 states that “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Never be afraid to ask God for help because without Him, beating a bad habit is like digging yourself out of the bottom of the Grand Canyon. It’s an uphill battle.
3. Make A Decision. I will–when said together, those two words can be the strongest words in the English language. Why? Because they denote choice. Even in the Garden of Eden, we find humans making their own choices. Eve could have chose not to talk to the serpent. She could have decided not to eat the fruit. Adam could have refused the fruit when Eve offered it to him.
Every day we make choices. Will I have the soup or the salad? Will I cheat at golf? Will I give back the extra change the cashier gave me? Every day we make up our minds to do the right thing or to do the wrong thing. But when faced with a choice, humans usually choose the wrong thing because it is easier to give into temptations than to say “no.”
So, we must train ourselves to choose the right option. Whenever you have to choose between right and wrong, take a moment and determine which is the wrong option and which is the right. If you don’t know, ask yourself what would happen if you picked a certain option. If it would result in someone being hurt or in something that is contrary to God’s Word, it is the wrong choice.
4. Find Someone To Talk To. James 5:16 advises us to “Confess your faults one to another that ye may be healed...” As I said before, when we leave things in the dark, they continue to have a hold over us. In order to stop this cycle, we must find someone to confess our habits and addictions to. Once it is out in the open, then you will begin to heal in that area of your life. Make sure to find someone you can trust to talk to. You don’t want your sins to be broadcast all over your church, your neighborhood or your school. Instead go to your minister, youth pastor, parents, school counselor or a close friend.
Expose your bad habits and addictions to God’s light, and you will be amazed at how quickly they will crumble under the heat.

Signs That Rage Has Turned Into An Addiction

All addictions have symptoms, which allow us to recognize these problems as addictive diseases. The signs of addictive diseases are self-stimulation, compulsion, obsession, denial, withdrawal and craving syndrome, and unpredictable behavior. Like alcoholism or drug use, anger meets many of the criteria.
Self-Stimulation
For those who are rageaholics, expressing anger is self- stimulating. It triggers the compulsion for more anger. For example, let’s pretend that we are going to provide treatment for alcoholics. On the way to the treatment center we stop and buy a case of beer. When we get to the meeting, we tell the alcoholics in therapy that they just need to do a lot of drinking to get it out of their system once and for all. This is similar to when therapist tell men with rage problems, “You just need to express yourself and get it out of your system.” It is just as absurd. The more alcoholics drink, the more they want. The more ragers rage, the more they want to rage.
Compulsion
Anger addiction or “rageaholism” is the compulsive pursuit of a mood change by repeatedly engaging in episodes of rage despite adverse consequences. Rageaholics continue to rage compulsively without regard to the negative consequences. Compulsion or loss of control is the inability to stop expressing anger once we have begun. The inability to control angry words is a certain sign of rageaholism. Loss of control--that is addiction.
Obsession
Rageaholics are frequently preoccupied with resentment and fantasies of revenge. Those thoughts sometimes rise powerfully and allow no other thoughts to enter. The force of anger is sometimes irresistible and followed by action. Therefore, the preoccupation with the “wrongs” of others and revenge continually leads to rage. Progressively, these thoughts crowd out all others until our life becomes chronically revenge-oriented. At that point, anger controls our thoughts.
Denial
Denial keeps anger addicts trapped. It is the mental process by which we conclude that the addiction is not the problem; it’s “them.” Ignorance of addiction and the inability to examine ourselves, work together to keep rageaholics stuck. Knowing no other way to live, we deny that there is anything wrong with us. This system of denial ensures that the process of rage and righteous indignation will continue. Righteous indignation keeps our focus off of ourselves. This is why ragers seldom are able to say, “I am wrong.”
Withdrawal and Craving
As with any addiction, anger has a detoxification period. Craving is high during this time. Those who abstain from name-calling, profanity and yelling during this period report more depression than usual for the first three months. Typically, during the first 90 days of abstinence, ragers feel vulnerable and spend a lot of time thinking and hoping for a situation that will allow us to use violence for some heroic purpose. Afterward, however, if we have achieved complete abstinence and maintained it for 90 days, we find we no longer think in profane or disparaging terms. It may even become shocking when we hear others do it.
Unpredictable Behavior
Another definition of alcoholism is that when an alcoholic drinks, there is no way to predict his or her behavior. He may drink appropriately from time to time, just as the rageaholic may express anger appropriately from time to time. However, when the alcoholic starts to drink alcohol, all bets are off. No one knows what is going to happen. When rageaholics start to express anger, no one knows where it is going to go. The most likely think is that they will explode, rant and rave. Rageaholics would like to learn how to express our anger appropriately just like alcoholics would like to learn how to drink appropriately. While there are some exceptions, I encourage those with rage problems to abstain from the expression of anger for one year.
This plan is only for that small percent of the population who have rage or violence problems. The approach described here is not for everyone; but for those addicted to rage, it won’t work to express your anger

Curbing Your Carbohydrate Addiction

Some experts consider carbohydrate craving and addiction as something more of the body than of the mind, meaning biological factors are generally considered to be the main trigger for carb cravings. These cravings are described as a compelling craving, or desire for carbohydrate-rich foods; an escalating, recurring need or drive for starches, snack foods, junk food, or sweets.
This is where the cycle of carbohydrates and cravings start. High-sugar, refined starch, convenience and comfort foods feed the addiction like a drug. This results in high blood sugar and insulin levels which results in more cravings. The situation also results in higher levels of serotonon - a brain chemical that acts like Prozac. People eat sweets to get the sugar ‘high’.
Another contributing factor to overeating and sweet craving is stress. When we are tense, the adrenal gland produces more of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol stimulates production of a brain chemical called ‘neuropeptide Y’.
This is kind of a carbohydrate craving switch. Aside from this, neuropeptide Y also makes the body hang on to the new body fat we produce. In other words, tension not only triggers carbohydrate cravings, it also makes it more difficult to lose any additional weight. Cortisol also stimulates insulin, which leads to blood sugar dips and fat storage.
It's a vicious cycle that feeds on itself, over and over.
Food is not just a biological need; there is also an emotional element to it. Something in our emotional state, particularly a negative one evokes an urge for ‘comfort’ food. By dealing with the issue behind the cravings, it produces emotional relief that can reduce or even eliminate the urge to overeat.
All in all, most experts agree that by eating enough wholesome foods at meals and by having a healthy afternoon snack, people can minimize their cravings for sweets.
Here are recommendations to curb carbo cravings.
1. Eat less but more often. Eat small meals or snacks containing some PROTEIN every few hours to keep blood-sugar levels steady. Skipping meals causes blood sugar levels to drop, which leaves you yearning for processed carbohydrates and sweets for energy.
2. Be selective about the carbohydrates you eat. Avoid nutrient-stripped foods made of white flour, white rice, refined sugar and highly concentrated sweeteners. Look for foods rich in fiber such as fresh vegetables and fruits, which level off blood sugar.
3. Don't skimp on protein to ‘make room’ for large amounts of carbohydrates. Protein gives the body extended energy, helps balance blood sugar and keeps cravings at bay.
4. Limit your intake of alcohol, fruit juice and caffeinated drinks. These cause abrupt blood-sugar highs followed by troublesome blood-sugar lows, leaving you starved for energy.
5. Eat small portions of seasonal goodies AFTER protein-containing meals or snacks, if at all. If you eat sweets on an empty stomach, you'll experience blood-sugar lows that trigger the desire for more sweets.
6. Avoid becoming famished during shopping trips and while traveling. Carry protein-rich snacks such as nuts, hard-boiled eggs, nutrient-balanced energy bars or "vegetable green" tablets like those listed. These high-power foods are great when you feel your energy drop.
7. Get enough sleep. When the body and mind are well-rested, cravings for carbohydrates often vanish.

10 Tenets of Effective Drug Addiction Treatment

On any given day in the United States, one million people are in treatment for alcoholism or drug addiction. It is not getting into treatment, however, that makes the difference. Instead, it is what a person gets out of treatment. The fact that many people do not find success in treatment on their first attempt is due in part to a lack of understanding about what makes effective treatment.
1.There is no treatment formula that will work for everyone.
Occasionally, people looking for treatment will come across other individuals who are already in recovery and who insist that the only path to recovery is whatever path the recovering individual has taken. This simply is not true. The ultimate success of each individual entering treatment depends on finding the right treatment setting and methods for the individual, and everyone’s needs are different.
2. Medically supervised withdrawal is only one step in addiction treatment; alone it will do little.
Frequently, it is necessary for addicts and alcoholics to go through a medically supervised withdrawal period before they can safely enter treatment. However, some people confuse this short 3 to 7 day period with treatment, which it is not. Some people cycle in and out of these withdrawal episodes convinced that they should be able to maintain abstinence afterwards, but never finding success. Seemingly tragic, this allows some addicts to continue in their addiction while giving the appearance that they are attempting to get healthy.
3. Length of treatment counts.
The appropriate duration for an individual depends on his or her problems and needs. Research indicates that for most patients, significant improvement is reached at about 3 months. The research suggests that this may be residential, outpatient or a combination of both depending on the individual’s needs. After this initial period, additional treatment can produce further progress toward recovery.
4. Drug addiction is a multidimensional problem, and treatment needs to address all of an individual’s needs.
Effective treatment must address the individual's drug use, but also any associated medical, psychological, social, vocational, or legal problems.
5. Counseling (individual and/or group) is a critical part of effective addiction treatment.
Many alcoholics and addicts mistakenly believe that if they could just stop using for a week or two they could stop using forever. In reality, they need therapy. In therapy, addicts examine their motivation, build skills to resist drug use, replace drug-using activities with constructive and rewarding nondrug-using activities, and improve problem-solving abilities. Additionally, therapy helps individuals to rebuild and re-learn family and social living patterns.
6. Medications are an important part of treatment for many people. Medications such as suboxone, methadone and LAAM can all be effective in helping certain individuals stay away from illicit drugs. Some times frowned upon by some individuals in recovery the truth is that these medications allow millions of individuals to live normal, productive lives.
7. Drug testing during treatment is important.
Drugs are found everywhere, even in drug treatment. Whether treatment is offered on an outpatient, inpatient or in a jail drugs are available to individuals in treatment. This puts individuals in treatment at risk for reusing even while in treatment. It also means that every individual in treatment should be monitored for drug treatment on an ongoing basis. In this manner treatment, plans may be modified to increase the chance of ultimate success.
8. Alcoholics and addicts with mental health disorders should be treated for both at the same time.
An alcoholic or addict who also has a mental health disorder is said to have “co-occurring” disorders. In the past, the question has sometimes been should the person be treated for the mental health problem or the addiction first. People may be using drugs to deal with the mental health problem or they may have the mental health issue because of their drug use. The most effective way to deal with these two “co-occurring” disorders and deal with the addiction is to treat them at the same time.
9.Addiction Treatment works even for people who don’t choose it of their own free will.
It used to be believed that someone had to want to go into treatment before it could be effective. New research has shown that this is not the case. In fact, treatment is just as effective for individuals who are court ordered to do treatment as it is for people who figure out the need for it on their own. Families and employers can be just as effective at getting unwilling addicts into treatment. Stephen King, in his autobiography “On Writing,” tells about the intervention his wife and family performed on him. King did not want to go into treatment. He was seemingly happy doing coke and drinking mouthwash, but his wife Tabitha and his children were not happy with the situation and performed an intervention. Forced to choose between family and drugs, King made the right choice. Interventions are most successful when done correctly and with the help of a professional. For more information on interventions visit www.interventionresources.net
10. Don’t give up.
As with other chronic illnesses, relapses can occur during or after successful treatment episodes. Addicted individuals may need lengthy treatment and more than one time in treatment before they can enjoy long-term abstinence and full restoration to a drug free life. The period after treatment is just as important as being in treatment. Finding support and continuous work to stay drug free will be necessary. A slip or relapse is just an indicator that more work, and possibly more treatment, is necessary. Don't give up.

Drug Addiction Treatment Centers: A Fresh Start

Half a decade ago, I started working on a hotline to help addicts and their families find drug addiction treatment centers. Thousands of calls later, I still remember the first time I picked up the line.
I could hardly make out what the woman on the other end was saying to me. Shelly (not her real name) was sobbing. She had just arrived at her father's apartment and had found him passed out cold on the couch with a needle still sticking out of his arm. Why she called our line instead of 9-1-1 was a mystery. I called for an ambulance and waited on the phone with her until they arrived. She told me how her father had been a construction worker, though his dream was to play guitar in a band. Shelly said her parents split up when she was thirteen because of her dad’s drinking. He moved away to live in another state for a couple of years and they began to lose touch. He would send the occasional card or make a call on her birthday the first couple of years, but that eventually ended. After college, Shelly decided to find her dad. It turned out that he had moved back and was living just a couple of miles from where she grew up.
Somewhere along the way, he had picked up a heroin habit. Shelly tried to talk him into going to treatment, but he always had an excuse for why he couldn't. Shelly said she visited him weekly, helped him keep his apartment up, bought his groceries and kept after him to quit. She said she they had just talked the night before and that he had, for the first time, agreed to try treatment. On my end, I could hear the ambulance approaching and then a knock on the door. Shelly hung up and I never heard from her again.
Today in America, there are 13 million people in need of alcohol or drug addiction treatment. Fortunately, according the government, there are just over 13,000 drug addiction treatment centers waiting to help these individuals. It may have been too late for Shelly's dad, I don't know, but I do know that it is not too late for anyone who is looking for a drug addiction treatment center today.

Overcoming Work Addiction

Why are you so busy? Do you really have too much work? Is work so important to you that you'll sacrifice just about anything in your life to get the job done? Even if it's at the expense of your health and your relationships?
If you find these questions disturbing then see how you rate with these ones:
Do you work more than 50 hours a week?
Do you dream about work?
Do you feel that in order to succeed you must work late most of the time?
Are you a stranger in your own home?
Do you constantly miss family and social events because you're always working?
Do you schedule and undertake more than you can get done in a 40-hour work week?
Do you get bored when you're not working?
Is missing family and social events because of work unavoidable?
When on holiday do you constantly check your phone messages and email?
Your Score
The greater the number of yes answers, the closer you are to fitting the profile of a workaholic. If you've answered yes to more than half of the questions, it's time to take stock before you lose your health, family and everything you hold near and dear to your heart.
Do a Stocktake
First, of all take a really good look at your job, what you do and the importance of your accomplishments. Are you appreciated for all those long hours you've put in? Does it really - I mean really - make a difference to your income? Let's face it. In today's economic environment, employees are often nothing more than expendable pawns. No amount of overtime and sacrifice will make a difference when a company has to make cutbacks.
Are You Having Fun?
Secondly, determine if you're having fun at your job, long hours notwithstanding. If you're not having fun and are popping antacids to avoid a stress-related ulcer, then you need to rethink all that hard work you're putting in. Fun must be a high priority in your life and your job should be no exception.
Gary's Story
In one of our coaching sessions, Gary told me he wanted to expand his social circle yet didn't have time because he worked from 7.30 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. most days. He said he'd been doing this for years and that it was 'the norm' in his profession.
As I continued to question him about why it was standard procedure to work these ridiculous hours, he realised that those colleagues who succumbed to this belief were all very unhappy individuals. Most of them were divorced just like he was and had no-one to go home to. They used work as a way to avoid the loneliness.
Gary was divorced because he didn't pay attention to his relationships. He would arrive home at 7.30 p.m. most nights and his wife wouldn't bother communicating with him. She was busy looking after their two young boys and meeting their needs. At that time of night his wife was putting the kids to bed.
Gary would read them a story if they hadn't already fallen asleep.
He was missing out on everything that was important to him.
Unfortunately Gary didn't wake up to himself in time and got caught up with being 'Mr. Important' at work. He paid a heavy price with the divorce which followed.
Bringing Up Kids
In his book "Raising Boys", Stephen Biddulph categorically states: If you routinely work a fifty five or sixty hour week, including travel times, you just won't cut it as a dad.
He says: Your sons will have problems in life and it will be down to you.
The Final Word
If you seriously want to make changes to your life, then take action now. If it's too hard to do by yourself, get a coach. If you've been a workaholic it can take awhile to break your old habits and to instill new behaviours. After all you've got everything to gain by working less and everything to lose by continuing the way you are.

Identify and Remedy Work Addiction

Work addiction is an unrestrained, unfulfillable internal demand for constant engagement in work and a corresponding inability to relax. A person with work addiction, a “workaholic,” is incessantly driven, relentlessly active. Work is the one organizing and effective activity. For some work addicts, inactivity or activity other than work gives rise to guilt, anxiety, or emptiness. Some individuals view work as the only area in which they can establish and maintain their identities, feel effective, and enjoy feelings of importance, validation, and affirmation. Others may use work to counteract underlying feelings of inadequacy and ineffectiveness. In either case, the workaholic cannot rest.
Working passionately, long and hard, and deriving satisfaction, does not make someone a work addict. An addiction is something you can’t do without. These addicted to alcohol or drugs feel as if they cannot do without them. The person who cannot maintain comfort or a sense of worth without working is similarly addicted. People with work addiction have to work constantly, even on weekends, and during whatever vacations they permit themselves. For these individuals, however, the relentless pursuit of work and the attainment of material gain do not result in pleasure.
Like other addictions, work addiction affects the workaholic’s social life and restricts his or her personal freedom and happiness. In fact, excessive work can be a means to withdraw from relationships, to manipulate relationships by limiting one’s availability, or to regulate relationships so that not too much is expected.
Individuals who are truly addicted to work do not find great pleasure in the work itself. Work, motivated by a desire to be effective, to experience mastery, and also avoids feeling bad. Like other compulsions work addiction is an attempt to regulate one’s feelings and self-esteem.
WORK ADDICTION: SELF-EVALUATION QUESTIONS
Change begins by looking at things in a different way. Consider the following questions in relation to your work and your feelings about your work identity.
• Do you have a specific time when your work life stops and your private life begins each day? Each weekend? For vacations?
• When you leave work, do problems, projects, calls, appointments, and meetings follow you home and erode your private time?
• Do you have withdrawal symptoms when not working, such as restlessness, anxiety, depression, or psychosomatic symptoms?
• Has anyone close to you ever accused you of being a workaholic?
• Have you become creative in rationalizing your excesses, perhaps by convincing yourself that success demands a dedication bordering on obsession? Do you fear failure if you do anything less?
• Can you not seem to stop replaying conversations at work, reassessing decisions, and reexamining work details?
• Is what you do who you are? Is your identity as a person so closely linked to your work identity that it is difficult to enjoy an activity not connected with work?
• Do you take setbacks, feedback, or criticism of work projects personally?
• Are you still trying to prove your worth to yourself, or someone else, by what you do? Do you believe that only unending effort will demonstrate your true value?
• Are you doing what you do for someone else’s response, or for your own benefit and satisfaction of your own ideals?
• Is work an escape? Does it allow you to fill a void or get out of doing something you regard as unpleasant, such as meeting family obligations or facing family conflicts?
• Do you have medical problems as a result of overwork, or a physical deterioration from alcohol, cigarettes, skimping on sleep, or overeating?
• Has your social or family function deteriorated as a result of excessive work, including neglect of children or spouse?

How to Avoid Drug Rehab and Drug Addiction for Your Kids

Some parents who dabbled in drugs when they were in their teens or early twenties may hear of their own kids smoking marijuana and not be too worried about it. After all, you lived through it and it seemed relatively harmless. What you may not know is that marijuana today is far more potent than it was in the 60's and 70's - some of it packs five to 10 times the wallop it did back then. Have a look at how you felt back in the 60's when you smoked marijuana and imagine feeling five to 10 times the impact and you can see why even 'harmless' marijuana is now more addictive and is sending people to a drug rehab.

Why is marijuana so much stronger and more dangerous today? Some growers have specifically cultivated the plants that way: The percentage of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the ingredient that gives marijuana its kick, commonly known as THC, varies widely - from about 0.1% to 10%. The 0.1% variety is grown largely as hemp, the plant fibers used for clothing and other goods, while marijuana used as drugs is usually in the 1 to 2% range. However, if growers separate the male from the female plants, the energy usually used to develop the fertilized seed in female plants is redirected to the flower and resin where the THC concentration is about 10%. The flower and resin are then harvested. This is just one of the techniques growers have employed to make the marijuana on the streets stronger than it used to be, and one of the major reasons why kids these days may need drug rehab even if they're only smoking marijuana.

The second reason why it's more dangerous is because the drug culture has changed. Back in the '60s, for example, it was difficult to find a high school - especially in the suburbs - where anyone at all smoked marijuana and, even then, it was probably just one or two of the hundreds of kids going to the school.

In our schools today, kids are not only smoking marijuana, they are also using heroin, prescription drugs like OxyContin, and just about everything else you can think of. This increases the exposure: no matter what school your kids are going to, you can pretty much guarantee that they know someone who is taking drugs of one sort or another and those drugs will be offered to them. They are also likely to know at least one person whose drug addiction or abuse problem is serious enough to require drug rehab.

Why the big change? High schools, colleges, and even elementary schools are no doubt a reflection of the overall drug culture now prevalent in the U.S. Back in the '60s, kids weren't given Ritalin if they were having trouble in school, parents weren't on tranquilizers, anti-depressants, and so on - not that no one was taking them, but the numbers were relatively small compared to the 22 million needing alcohol or drug rehab today.

Our television programs were not peppered with drug ads, patients weren't requesting those drugs from their doctors - as they are often instructed to do by the ads - and doctors didn't readily prescribe them. In those days, the prescription pad was largely reserved for patients whose problems were physical - antibiotics, blood pressure or heart medications and so on - not mind-altering drugs to which people became addicted and which they need drug detox or drug rehab to quit.

If you want your kids to stay off drugs, if you don't want your kids to look at drugs as the solution to life's problems, don't compromise - even with marijuana. Also, kids whose parents educate them on the dangers of drugs are 50% less likely to take them. If you already have a kid who's into drugs of any kind, get them into a good drug rehab program fast so you can avert the dangerous consequences you read and hear about in the news every day.

Drug Court Alternative Sentencing - Stay Out of Jail and Get Free Addiction Treatment

Alternative Sentencing

Alternative sentencing is an option that many courts turn to when seeking punishment for certain crimes. Often, when the crime is drug related and non-violent, it would actually be more affordable and productive in the long term for both the offender and the community if they had treatment instead of incarceration. A prison sentence sometimes leaves people just as addicted when they get out as when they got in jail. The addiction itself is sometimes the real problem and by treating the disease itself and giving the offender skills to deal with it, it is hoped that they will not be in court again.

Non Violent Offenders

In recent years, drug courts specifically designed for nonviolent drug offenders and nonviolent crimes committed by drug users have emerged in all states to help the traditional criminal justice system - a system that is being overwhelmed by relatively minor drug offenses. Defendants can agree to participate in a drug court program and upon completion may get a reduced sentence or even dismissed charges.

The options offered and mandated by the courts can widely vary depending on the crime, the state, the judge, the defendant's history and situation. Typically, courts will offer one or a combination of probation, drug education classes, chemical dependency treatment, house arrest or mandatory drug testing. There may also be special programs in certain areas for family friendly treatment or supplemental mental health services for co-occurring diagnosis.

Getting In

Once an offender has been arrested, there are a variety of steps and procedures that they must follow. Usually, a professional psychological profile for when an offender is indicated or pre-sentencing evaluations used by law firms are necessary. Courts may have qualified expert witnesses in substance abuse or dependency. Some courts may refer an offender to treatment or one may need to find a state certified treatment program that can provide the proper documentation and support in court. Some treatment centers have established relationships with courts and can arrange individualized and structured alternative sentencing proposals.

Dare To Be Yourself Without Drugs And Alcohol

Whether you are young or not-so-young, there is one fact which is probably true-- when you began using drugs and alcohol, you may have thought it was a great way to fit in with others who were doing the same thing. If you think about it, though, there is something that is much better than taking on a self-destructive lifestyle in order to be one of the crowd-- you can now branch out into an entirely new venture, and dare to be yourself!

If you are like most people, you are probably wondering what you can gain from such a radical move. There are a number of answers to that, and all of them are equally valid. For starters, when you are no longer bound to drugs and alcohol, you will also no longer be bound to a lifestyle which holds you back and holds you down.

If you have not yet thought of it in those terms, perhaps now is a good time to start. As many people begin to use drugs and alcohol because they do not wish to conform, consider how much conforming you have been doing as a result! If you have been going where your crowd goes, if you have been doing what your crowd does, it would seem you have lost something very important somewhere along the line.

When you dare to be yourself without drugs and alcohol, you are making a great positive statement about yourself! You are now beginning to assert that being an individual is your true priority-- and there could not possibly be anything better than that!

If you have been focusing on drugs and alcohol for a long time, you may have lost sight of who you really are. You may have been going along with the crowd for so long that you are not sure what is important to you and what you want from life. The best thing about this dilemma is that it is never too late to start, and today is the very best time to start.

When you take on the task of asserting this priority, you will find that you will no longer be in the position of having drugs, alcohol, and that lifestyle defining who you are. Although the thought may seem a bit intimidating at first, it should not be; after all, what could be better than finding that there has been a competent, intelligent, very individual person there all along? You will find what works for you and what does not; and you will find a nearly-limitless world of possibilities opening up for you each day.

You have not reached this point by accident. You can reclaim your goals, your interests, your dreams-- and you will have a much healthier life in which to enjoy it all. All you need to do now is to decide that you really do want all of those things-- and then take the challenge to dare to be who you are!

Recover From Drug Addiction With Three Basic Steps

Sometimes admission of a drug problem is a lot harder to deal with than the problem itself. If you at least suspect that you have it, chances are that you are experiencing a phase which most drug users, even at their early stages of drug abuse, have in common - denial. You must understand that whatever level of dependence you have right now, you have to quit drugs. It's as simple as that. There are numerous steps towards recovery, but they may be summed into three simple ones. None of them may be easy, but their effectiveness in providing a way for you to help quit drugs is undeniable.

The change begins with you. If you feel that drug use is getting in the way of your goal to achieve a fulfilled, happy life, then the first step in the effort to quit drugs is to admit that you are a user. This initial admission will afford for you to help quit drugs, and will put you on the right track to recovery. Forget the past and focus on your future. Understand that you are not a bad person for being dependent to drugs; this only means that you have a problem which is solvable; having this initial mindset will help quit drugs for you, while starting off on the right foot.

Talk to someone you can trust. Unfortunately, it is difficult to quit drugs without support form the people around you. Friends and family provide morale and emotional help. Quit drugs now and have those who are special to you back you up. You'll find that not only is getting rid of the habit easy, their efforts to help quit drugs for you will tighten the bonds which bind you close, resulting in a more meaningful relationship with them.

Seek professional help. If your level of dependence is strong enough to hinder your all your personal efforts to quit drugs, you'll need therapy and rehabilitation from a facility which specializes in such. These can help quit drugs for you in the most effective way, making the transition from drug dependence to drug-free as smooth and as manageable for you. They will also provide for post-therapy advice on how to stay off of it once you're back in the 'real world,' so to speak. If you follow these three simple steps, you'll be assured of a cleaner, more fulfilled life; one without drug dependence.

The Key Towards Drug Recovery - Moral Support

You can support a friend or a family member in his or her efforts to quit drugs by getting involved yourself, and there are various ways of doing this. This usually begins with an intervention which makes the first attempt to help the person as to how to quit. Using drugs to the point of abuse can hinder the development of a person's self-image, a consequence which can only be reversed through support. This is effective if it extends past the intervention, and stays with the person in every step of the recovery.

Sometimes the best way to provide support to a person who is a drug dependent is just to be there for him or her at the time when the person needs your company the most. Recovery from the condition entails numerous mixed emotions as experienced by the person, with some more difficult to deal with than the others. You have to be physically there for the person, reminding him or her of the ways as to how to quit using drugs. Your physical presence will enforce the feeling that the person is not alone in the effort, and will be even more motivated towards his or her personal recovery. In order to help a dependent quit drugs, you first have to be there no matter what the situation, to provide for emotional and moral support.

Empathize with what the person is going through in his or her attempt to quit drugs. Remember that he is fully aware of the ways as to how to quit using drugs, but the body resists the change through withdrawal symptoms. Understand that the person's irrationality and irritability is experienced because his entire self is battling the sudden change, and the best you can do is stay close and show that you'll be there for the person.

Of course, you are only human and you cannot do this all alone. Sometimes you yourself will be taxed out with frustration in helping the person quit drugs; you feel spent yourself, both emotionally and physically. It is better if you help the person out as a group; discuss among his friends and family members the best way as to help him how to quit using drugs, and take turns at providing support, either individually or in groups. You may also need professional assistance; a drug treatment specialist will be able to answer your questions as to how to quit using drugs, he will be able to arrange a treatment plan which is personally set up for the drug dependent's individual welfare

Dealing With Drug Withdrawal Symptoms

If you have decided on making an effort to quit drug addiction, congratulations; you've made the right choice towards better health. But you have to take caution though; the road you're treading to quit drugs may be bumpy, and sometimes you'll also feel that your efforts are like an uphill climb. This is due to the difficulty which all drug dependents go through during the rehabilitation process; withdrawal. You may have heard of this before and may even have experienced it in your initial attempts to quit drug addiction. Be sure that whatever you are going through, it will definitely pass in time.

Your body is experiencing these symptoms because it is accustomed to regular intake of the substance you are trying to get rid of in your effort to quit drugs. The unique thing about your body is that it becomes accustomed to an ever-increasing intake of any substance, and will get used to previous doses of the drugs you used to take, without providing the effect you were expecting to receive. Once you quit drug addiction, the sudden drop of the level of the substance will be missed by your body, and will react in a way that is normal for it - to flush out the residue and recompense for the loss. This to you can be either uncomfortable or entirely intolerable, depending on the intensity and the length of time which you have spent using it.

During this trying period, you will admittedly constantly think about backtracking on your decision to quit drugs. In all earnestness, don't. Think about the prize for going through this short-lived experience. You will get rid of your drug dependence and move on to a more fulfilled life without it. You will be able to regain the life you have missed before your dependence. It doesn't matter which substances you are trying to get rid off in your attempt to quit drug addiction; it is a hurdle which you can overcome - but you have to strengthen your resolve to get through it.

Sometimes the toll which your effort to quit drugs may be too difficult to handle; in this case it is better if you admit yourself into a rehabilitation facility which provides help for people who are trying to quit drug addiction. With professional help and therapy, your opportunities for returning to drug dependence are done away with, since you won't be exposed in any way with them during your admission. This will make your effort to quit drug addiction that much easier to bear, and you'll be able to get back to your life before dependence sooner than you expect.

How To Stay Off Of Drugs Once You've Quit

If you have been successful in your attempt to quit drugs, well, congratulations to you! You've gone past the first part towards your recovery. But it isn't over; remember that you may have a fresh start, but this doesn't mean that you're body is ready to face up to the temptation without succumbing to it. The question which bugs most of those who've quit doing drugs can be summed up in two words: "Now what?" Indeed, your previous life was drug-centered, and now that it's gone, you'll have to fill in the gap, as soon as possible. Some people fail in their efforts to entirely quit doing drugs because they don't find another way to occupy themselves, causing them to suffer a relapse, and they eventually revert back to the habit.

Once you have quit drugs, you have to change your lifestyle with a holistic approach. Remember your motivations during the time when you have decided to quit doing drugs? Now is the time to do something about it. If you want to go kayaking, or if you want to take a prize vacation, do it. Do something to reinforce your previous motives to quit doing drugs, and to stay off of it.

Avoid at all costs the situations and things which have led you to drug dependence. You have made a breakthrough leap when you have overcome your drug dependence, that the opportunities for a relapse which you may face will pale in comparison to it. Keep in mind that once you've quit drugs, you've won the war; the rest will seem like trifle obstacles, and once you get used to the idea that you've quit doing drugs and have gained the resolve to stay off of it, denying its access to your life will eventually become second nature to you.

You have to keep your body and mind occupied, so you'll have fewer chances for a relapse after you have quit drugs. The body follows the mind, and as long as the former is conditioned to the thought that the body has done away with dependence after you've quit doing drugs, you have to feed your body with the right stimulus to stay on top of the situation. Take part in an active exercise regimen and start a healthy diet program. This will bring back the health you've lost before your drug dependence, and will revitalize your body and mind to a better, healthier new you.

When Rehabilitation is the Best Solution

Oftentimes, drug dependence can be a condition which you will have difficulty handling all by yourself, to the point that the people who care for you may be affected. If you feel that things are getting out of hand, take a stand now and consider the option of a rehabilitation program, one which will help you quit drugs effectively. Rehabilitation programs differ in formats, but are geared towards the same goal: to help the dependent quit using drugs altogether, and to help the person start out with a renewed life.

Drug rehabilitation programs provide assistance in early detection and treatment of drug dependence. You may have recognized that you are indeed a drug dependent, and have decided to quit using drugs with professional help. Rehabilitation programs are comprehensive and multi-faceted, and will help you quit drugs through individualized treatment plans. These will guide you with every step of your effort to quit using drugs, and will employ tested methods towards recovery, such as multiple-approach intervention techniques, care management, and reinforcement.

While on your way to quit drugs once and for all, the program will also provide social skills training which you won't achieve on your own; these will help you recognize the situations and conditions which led to your dependence, so that you can easily avoid them in the future after you have successfully quit using drugs. Specialized services in the areas of medical, personal, psychiatric, and occupational concerns are also offered to make the recovery a holistic one for you. And because you are inside an environment which is drug-free, the impulses which you have felt before may be overwhelming at first, but be assured that they will eventually die down before disappearing altogether.

There is a chance that you may relapse back to your previous dependence even after you have completed the program and is indeed successful in your goal to quit drugs. For this reason, rehabilitation programs are designed to be a part of your life, during and after your drug problem. With the help of professional counselors and therapists, you will be able to regain your life back and keep it that way. You can share your motivations to quit using drugs to other dependents, through support programs which let you become an active part in other people's transformation, which will give you an increased sense of purpose and will motivate you to continue in your efforts not only to quit using drugs entirely, but to help other people deal with their drug problems as well.

Nutrition and Exercise - Keys to Drug Use Recovery

If you are currently experiencing the pangs of your attempt to quit drugs, understand that it is your body which first feels the consequences of recovery. If you are looking for an easier way as to how to quit drugs, there are only simple ways to do so, and the difficulty in going through them will be entirely up to you. However, you can help your body recover faster once you know how to quit drugs with proper nutrition and exercise.

If nutrition is essential to a person of good health, then it is all the more important for you to observe a healthy diet during your efforts to quit drugs. It is important, though, that you first talk to your doctor, or if you are on a rehabilitation program, a health counselor. They will be the ones who are more in a position to determine for you as to how to quit drugs through an adjustment of your diet, by customizing it to fit your present needs. Depending on the substance which you are trying to do away with, your diet will most likely contain high amounts of protein, vitamins, fiber, and complex carbohydrates, with less fat and cholesterol. These will make up for the nutrient loss which your body suffered during the course of your dependence.

Another way as to how to quit drugs is through constant activity. Now this can be done through normal mobility, but is more effectively achieved through exercise. Not only does it promote blood circulation, it will also help you quit drugs without you knowing it, since your body is flushing out the harmful toxins through sweat. You will also regain the flexibility and the mobility you lost before the treatment, with each session of intensive workouts. Talk to your doctor or counselor about how to quit drugs with this method; they may be able to customize an exercise regimen which is both safe and helpful for you.

Remember that your efforts to quit drugs involve physical well-being as part of a holistic approach. Nutrition and proper exercise must be accompanied by the right mindset and the appropriate guidance from a professional. If you have questions as to how to quit drugs while having a healthy body with a healthy mind, get in touch with a rehabilitation facility within your area, sign up, and make the first few steps toward recovery. You owe yourself the chance for a better life without substance abuse.

The Role of Faith in Addiction Recovery

There is no doubt that believing in something greater than ourselves will lead a person to be more humble and at peace. Faith is never a negative thing, yet the following question remains to be answered. Should Faith alone be the determining means to whether an addict controls the addiction or can other means be used to help the addict take control of his or her life and prevail over the addiction?

The Roots of Faith Based Addiction Recovery

Everyone has heard of A.A. and 12 Step Programs and Support Groups, yet as influential as these groups have been in injecting faith into addiction recovery, the roots of faith based addiction recovery reach much farther back. It is well known that Bill Wilson, the creator and theologian of A.A. and 12 Steps, was originally inspired by the Oxford Groups, a controversial 20th Century Christian Revivalist movement spearheaded by Frank Buchman, but faith based addiction recovery probably reaches farther back into the 1800's.

In the 18th , 19th , and early 20th Centuries there were what historians have classified as six Christian revivals. The 19th Century alone became a century of Christian Evangelical revival and awakening. In the midst of Christian revivalism in the 1800's an off shoot of sorts took hold, impacting the thought of American Christianity. Christian Science, formed by Mary Baker Eddy, espoused healing through religious devotion and connection to the divine. Her work won accolades from the century's Christian thinkers and formed the basis of many Evangelical and revivalist movements of the 20th Century. It is no doubt that Bill Wilson not only was heavily inspired by ideas of Buchman, but came forth with the kernels of A.A. after a long period of revivalist movements, in which Eddy found her voice. This voice, one which espouses health and spirituality no doubt had a heavy influence on the premier faith based addiction recovery program of the 20th Century: A.A.

Spiritual Salvation = Addiction Recovery?

The deeper question of whether spirituality alone can bring the addict out from the grips of addiction depends more on what it's "root-cause" is. A.A. and 12 Step Program supporters believe that the "root-cause" of any type of addiction is a result of a lack of connection and submission to God., thus giving a space for the addiction or "Satan" to take root. On the other hand, current medical research suggests some revolutionary findings in terms of what the true "root-cause" may actually be. Researches have noted that current findings indicate that addiction may well be rooted in "bio-chemical"deficiencies, often times influenced by genetics. If this is the case then it stands that targeted nutritional changes may prove to be much more effective in taking someone away from addiction.

Two Paths That Are Really One

Despite the seemingly great divide between these two paths both are reconcilable and can work in tandem. There is no doubt that genetics and biochemical deficiencies are merely factors that may cause one to have a predisposition to addiction. It is true that one can live their entire life without developing an addiction and yet be genetically predisposed to it. Other circumstances may or may not activate these factors. Such circumstances include psychological trauma and/or a spiritual vacancy. It is obvious there is no magic pill to end an addiction. It is important to note that dealing with one's medical deficiencies doesn't necessarily negate the need for a "spiritual awakening" to fill the void most addicts say they feel.

This joining of these two once divergent paths can be explained by using the metaphor of a cup. It is important to build a strong container or cup in order to develop a vessel that can hold the liquid one chooses to put in it, but after all a cup without any liquid in it has yet to fulfill it's purpose. In this example, the cup is the body, which needs to have it's certain deficiencies addressed and the liquid is the realm of the spiritual and metaphysical, which needs to have a healthy body in order to become fully expressed. It is only by intertwining both the physical and spiritual that the addict can be pulled out of the depths of addiction and find inner meaning and joy in their lives.

Reasons Why You Must Quit Drinking Alcohol

Alcohol and your body don't go, but just how many people out there carry on drinking alcohol when they know this?

This should make you think before the next time you have a drink; within minutes of alcohol entering your body, it infiltrates your bloodstream, your brain, your liver, your pancreas, your kidneys, your lungs and every other living tissue in your body. When you think about it, everytime you have a drink of alcohol it's slowly killing you. Now that's a nice thought isn't it?

Did you know that heavy drinkers of alcohol are known as "Chronic Drinkers."

Studies have shown that heavy drinking will reduce the size of your brain, your reactions become slower and you begin to lose your memory. Also in the studies which where carried out, alcoholics showed signs of congnitive dysfunction, this was proved by using the latest technology in MRI scanning.

The strength of a drink you're drinking will have the effect and impact on the absorption rate. It's simple really the stronger drinks are absorbed quicker than weaker drinks.

When neat sprits are consumed in concentrated amounts, they can irritate your stomach lining, causing a response which delays the absorption of the alcohol.

Almost as soon as we have some alcohol, it seems to have an effect on out central nervous system. It begins by depressing the inhibitory centres of your brain. Alcohol effects people in different ways, some people become relaxed, others become very aggressive and some just become more confident in themselves, like taking more, and some even think they become more attractive (I don't think so).

If you have a problem with your drinking you'll notice the following. Once the euphoric feeling has worn off your on your way to a negative rebound. Which will include the following, depression sets in again, you become guilty and anxiety.

A Look At Drug Addiction

Drug addiction is a complicated disorder which may involve practically every aspect of an individual's life in the family, at work, and amongst friends. It is actually a brain disease as the abuse of drugs leads to changes in the structure and the functioning of the individual's brain. Drug addiction costs taxpayers millions of dollars each year and is a major public health concern for all of us, as it is a chronic relapsing disorder, which means that it lasts a long time and individuals who are trying to quit are apt to start using drugs again.

Addiction

Drug abuse causes changes in the brain, which then leads to certain behaviour, like taking the drug compulsively, but drug addicts can learn to change their behaviour. This addiction is influenced by a range of factors which involve one's genes, environment, and the age of the person when drugs were first used. Addiction to drugs and alcohol is a vicious cycle that can destroy lives, families, friendships, and anything else it comes into contact with, and the individual can become addicted to many drugs, not just so called street drugs like heroin. It should be understood as a chronic recurring illness.

Treatment

Drug addiction treatment is for people who find themselves not able to cope with life without drugs or alcohol and can be described as the therapeutic and educational process of initiating recovery. When it comes to prescription drug addiction, one of the main problems is that it is a hidden disorder. The treatment of drug addiction can vary widely according to the sort of drugs used, amount of drugs involved, duration of the drug addiction and any medical complications that occur.

Any treatment also has to take into account the needs of the individual concerned. Treatment for drug addiction is administered in many different settings, employing a selection of behavioural and pharmacological approaches and can be tailored to each patient's drug abuse patterns and any co-occurring medical, psychiatric, and social problems they may have. This can then hopefully lead to sustained recovery and a life without drugs. Treatment medications, such as LAAM, methadone, and naltrexone, are available for any patient who is addicted to opiates.

Conclusion

It's a sad fact that drug addiction along with alcohol addiction is the number one cause of death among young people. The good news is that although breaking a drug addiction can be extremely difficult, it is by no means impossible. Obtaining the correct treatment is absolutely vital in an effort to end this compulsive behaviour.

Celebrating Recovery 12 Steps

Celebrate Recovery ministry is to fellowship and celebrate God´s healing power in the lives through the 8 Recovery Principles, and 12 steps. Celebrate Recovery began at Saddleback Church about 16-17 years ago, and they have been able to start the program in over 10,000 churches and over 500,000 individuals have completed the program.

People who are interested to join their meetings, don't have to be alcoholics, or have past drug problems like I'm used to seeing at other A.A. or similar meetings. In fact anybody dealing with any hurts, habits or hang-ups can join and are welcomed. This recovery program is based on God's Word, the Bible.

A few years ago even President George W. Bush has recognized and praised Celebrate Recovery program as a ministry at the 11th Regional White House Conference on Faith-Based and Community Initiatives at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

The 12 steps described here are as follows:

Step 1

We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors. That our lives had become unmanageable.

For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. (Romans 7:18)

Step 2

Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to act according to His good purpose. (Philippians 2:13).

Step 3

Made a decision to turn our life and will over to the care and loving concern of God.

I urge you, therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of God's great mercy, to offer your self as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. (Romans 12:1)

Step 4

Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. (Lamentations 3:40).

Step 5

Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being, the exact nature of our wrongs.

Therefore, confess your sins to each other, and pray for each other, so that you may be healed. (James 5:16).

Step 6

Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. (James 4:10)

Step 7

Humbly asked Him to remove all our shortcomings.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9).

Step 8

Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.

Do to others, as you would have them do to you. (Luke 6:31).

Step 9

Made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that someone has something against you, leave your offering there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. (Matthew 5:23-24).

Step 10

Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

So, if you think that you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall. (1 Corinthians 10:12).

Step 11

Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you daily. (Colossians 3:16).

Step 12

Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, we try to carry this message to others, and practice these principles in all our affairs.

Drug Addiction Recovery - The 12 Step Way

I often find myself baffled by the alternatives to 12 step Recovery. It's kind of right out of the AA Big Book; "looking for an easier, softer way!"

If you really look at what happens to the person that is afflicted with the disease of Addiction, it's a tale of immorality, unscrupulous ways, and anti-social thinking being adapted to. With the focus of a life becoming narrowed down to obtaining and using a drug, not much is left that would indicate ever needing to be concerned about other people or things, unless they're needed for that "Quest"! A true Addict at the height of an Addiction does not care about anyone else, when all is said and done!

The goal of Recovery, in our Society, is to once again, or for the first time, become a productive member of said Society. An Addict most in generally becomes such an anti-social being in many or even just one way, that he can no longer blend in with, or hide from the rest of the world. Quite to the contrary, at some point the Addict begins to "stick out like a sore thumb." Thus they are apprehended by the law for one or more of their anti-social behaviors, if they don't die first. When Bill and Bob, the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous and the 12 step concept, were in the conception and philosophical stages of their journey to Sobriety, they found that they had to very nearly do a 180 degree turnabout. This is the point I've been trying to get to in that it is what the 12 step concept guides one into being able to accomplish. This kind of turn around produces something that I don't think Bill and Bob would ever have been so presumptuous as to claim but I will. This "way-of-life" produces "Good" people.

True enough, the AA Twelve Step Program provides for the agnostic and only asks that one acknowledge a higher power of some sort. But God had a hand in the whole AA thing. Even though they carefully sculpted the program to leave no one out, they acknowledge God, by name, over and over throughout the Big Book. The actual goal that the Big Book accomplishes directly parallels the teachings of Jesus and His Disciples in the New Testament of the Holy Bible, and their goal! The outcome of a good personal 12 step program is what every Preacher, Priest, Minister, Rabbi, or any other Religious leader, is trying to produce with his congregation. I must say though, that the 12 Step Program does propose more of a loving, caring God. A God that only needs to asked for help and in no way professes Hell or Damnation. This is one of It's strongest points. My faith was restored by the 12 Step Program because it made it easier for me to believe that I could be forgiven and given Holy Graciousness. Every time that you walk into a meeting room, you see miracles. There, you learn to recognize a miracle when you see one!

Before AA I had given up believing, and thought that what I had done left no room for redemption. I could not even try, because every religion that I had experienced had led me to believe that I was a "hopeless sinner." I felt that no matter what I did, what I had done, left me destined to "burn in Hell." Then in meetings I met these people who were so able to care about others. They were people who had changed from one thing into something new. The more of this I saw the easier it became for me to think, "Maybe I could do that too!" Maybe there was hope for someone like me! Maybe God could forgive me! Maybe I could actually become a good person!

I'm a Drug Counselor now. But even with my education that led to certification, I see nothing more powerful, with any better results than 12 Step Recovery. I see where counseling added to 12 Step Recovery, increases success. I will state though that if one or the other had to be taken out of the equation, I believe that the 12 Stepper will do better than someone who only had Counseling. The 12 step concept is sort of a guide to living life, that doesn't leave out much of anything. In one way or another the answers to the dilemmas of life are covered.

Please Do Not Lower the Legal Age for Drinking!

There has been so much discussion recently on lowering the drinking age to 18. Apparently, one of the key arguments is that if someone is old enough to die for his/her country in war then they should be old enough to drink. I don't buy it. This article will give just a few of the reasons that I totally don't buy this argument.

First, a short story I read in the paper this week. A group in England was petitioning that bars be kept open later to reduce the incidence of binge drinking. Yes, you read that correctly. Let them drink longer to reduce binge drinking. The justification was this - people increase the amount of alcohol consumption before "last call", so they will have a later "last call". Seems to me that a late last call is still a last call, and I just cannot imagine how letting people drink longer will reduce their level of drinking. This is similar to the reasoning I read about for proposing to lower the drinking age to 18.

First, as a college teacher, I can tell you that there is a HUGE difference in maturity between an 18 year old and a 21 year-old. HUGE. As a person reaches 21, they start to be more in control of their own actions and less likely to be swayed by the whim of their friends. Although there are always exceptions, the odds are better that a 21 year-old will take more time to reflect on the dangers of drinking and driving before getting behind the wheel when they are intoxicated. Maybe they have experienced a friend getting hurt or an acquaintance getting killed. Maybe they are just more likely to reflect on their own actions and be less swayed by sudden hormonal changes. I don't know all the reasons that the differences in those two ages are so pronounced, but I can assure you that they are.

Second, there is a strong belief in the "recovery" community about addiction and emotional development. Apparently, when a person becomes addicted to drugs or alcohol, his emotional development STOPS at the age that the addiction started. Someone that started drinking at 14 tends to have an emotional age of 14 until they enter a rigorous program of recovery. Why does this happen? I'll use alcohol abuse as an example. When someone starts drinking, they might start for fun or amusement. But if the alcohol use continues and crosses the line of addiction, then he soon starts using alcohol as a "solution" to stress. A problem comes up, and he no longer learns how to deal with that problem. Instead, he quickly downs a drink - providing an immediate "release" of anxiety. Of course the problem doesn't get solved that way, but there is an "impression" that the alcohol made the problem "less problematic." So the next time a problem comes up, alcohol is the solution - and smart problem solving behavior never develops.

Emotional maturity is a process of learning to solve increasingly complex problems using our own personal resources. In the process of dealing with problems, we flex our emotional muscles and expand our ability to handle similar problems. We mature. If all problems are met with alcohol, then there is no emotional growth. There is one solution for everything and that solution is a quick drink. If this happens once or twice, there is no huge issue. But if an addiction develops and this happens repeatedly, then a person's emotional growth is stunted. That is why a person that starts drinking heavily at age 18 can remain an 18 year old emotionally indefinitely.

If we reduce the drinking age to 18, then we will freeze the emotional development of a large number of people who tend to abuse alcohol. Now you are thinking that a huge number of people aged 18 are already drinking and that is true. But at least there is some deterrent to that happening with a legal age limit of 21. But if 18 year-olds are drinking when the legal drinking age is 21, what age group will start drinking if the age is pushed down to 18. I have no proof, but I would lay a bet that a much larger proportion of 15-17 year-olds would start drinking excessively. The group of under-aged drinkers would not decrease, it would just be younger.

Cannabis Addiction

This drug was consumed since the prehistoric period, however the all time greatest demand provoked in the early 20th century. The amount of people that are addicted to it is very high. Many people look it upon as a safe drug as it is abstracted from the nature. Anything that is consumed within the limits is all right. But when the limits are crossed and it is consumed excessively then this will act as an addiction, where a person will crave for more and more of it. For many people cannabis has become a daily routine. For them, if not consumed they won't be able to continue with their daily work. Actually it has become their way of living. This is addiction and in this situation a person will always feel impatience, frustration, and anger and so on. Those who are addicted to it go to an extent of robbing money to fulfil their desire for consuming marijuana. It is a serious problem as it affects both, your life as well as the people who are associated to you.

Many people who are well aware of their addiction and may at times come to a conclusion that they will stop it; however it is not possible for them to overcome it without any help or expertise assistance. So in order to trounce it they opt for joining a rehab centre. These rehab centres try and force you out of addiction however this is a forceful way. No sooner the victim is out of the rehabilitation centre, you will see him/her again addicted to cannabis. The reason for this is the problem was not sorted from the root. So for you it is very important to discover the root cause. You have made a habit of consuming cannabis, and so has your mind assumed that you are supposed to consume it every time you are out of giddiness. So your mind is the one that has to be dealt with. For this you will have to look help from a curative procedure that deals with a person's mind.

Hypnosis deals with a person's mind. It is the best possible help you can get in the concern of your brain. Unlike the rehab process, it is far more dependable, as it removes the problem right from the ground. Hypnosis will help your mind relax; it will then be taken to a stage where it will be made subconscious. A subconscious mind is then allowed to take in only the positive factor. Hypnosis will eradicate your present torment days into the ones those were normal at the time when you were not addicted to cannabis. This treatment is avail in the form of mp3. All you got to do is browse a certain website and you will be provided with the downloadable content. Once done you can conduct these self-hypnotizing sessions, in the comfort of your home. After following this simple process, your will be back on the track. So you can go ahead and get one downloaded for your cause and you will see a certain change in your health and life.

Alcoholism Recovery And The BAR Cycle

Alcoholism is a serious condition that can lead to loss of employment, family, health...even life. There are different beliefs as to the causes of alcohol addiction...genetic, allergy, mental or behavioral. While professional diagnosis and treatment are often important, you can do a lot to help yourself, gain control and live in recovery. This article will discuss the nature of alcoholism, traditional treatment and self-help using the BAR Cycle.

Alcoholism-Disease And Addiction: This condition usually involves a low self-esteem described as "self-loathing." An alcoholic sees the physical stimulation of alcohol as a solution to their low self-esteem, to help in social situations, to provide "courage" or to get over stress from work or relationship problems. Drinking does, in fact, temporarily dull the feelings, so it seems to be of some use. Since it's temporary, we return to the self-loathing, which has been increased because of our needing alcohol just to live.

Alcoholism can have physical "causes" or, at least contributing factors. Genetics, diabetes and allergy are three that are commonly discussed. Other popular "causes" are parental example, peer pressure, and society. None of these "causes" have been proven to actually cause alcoholism, because many have endured most or all of these conditions without becoming an addict. Many others have become alcoholic with no evidence of any of them. Regardless of the cause, Alcoholism has proven to be treatable or controllable, though not easily so.

Traditional Alcoholism Treatment: Alcoholics with severe addictions often check themselves in to treatment centers, where medicines are combined with individual and group psychological therapy. Some of these centers use the AA's 12 steps in addition to other therapy. AA has been the most effective system in the history of alcoholism treatment...so much so that the 12 steps have been copied for help with most other addictions. Part of what makes AA powerful is that the 12 steps work to eliminate causes of self-loathing, while building a positive self-esteem.

The BAR Cycle And Alcoholism Self-help: The BAR Cycle of human motivation describes a process to control human behavior, especially addictive behavior. Instead of repeating that description here, we're going to jump right into how the cycle can be used to help control Alcoholism. The key is the "belief " part of the cycle...that self-loathing/self-esteem process. Since self-loathing is at the root of alcoholism, we need to change our belief from self-loathing to self-confidence. Like any addiction, our approach toward changing our belief has to be both general (self-esteem) and specific (not drinking).

With self-image, all the steps described in the BAR Cycle article apply, including self-talk, positive attitude, elimination of negative attitudes, positive behaviors, etc. All of these improve how we see ourselves so, over time, we'll feel self-confident without feeling compelled to drink.

With drinking, we apply the BAR Cycle to specifically reprogram ourselves into other activities that will form positive habits. Many do this with AA meetings, volunteer work, involvement in church, etc. The positive feedback received from going day-by-day without drinking and from meetings and volunteer work begin to replace self-loathing with a positive self-esteem.

For some of us who suffer severe alcoholism, professional treatment is a requirement. The self-help steps in the BAR Cycle can help us eliminate the root cause of the addiction and permanently change how we see ourselves. You can move from self-loathing to self-loving in a matter of months.

Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol is one of the hardest drugs to stop using considering its wide spread use and popularity in today's culture. It is easily accessible at most convenience stores and as we all know, convenience stores are everywhere. For a person trying to kick their addiction, something as simple as paying for a tank of gasoline could be a big issue. It can be challenging if the person is not on the right footing when entering the store. They may suddenly find themselves looking through the glass freezer doors, scanning the shelves, moving from Coca-Cola to Pepsi down to the energy drinks section and then to the alcohol section. For a normal individual (non alcoholic) it is a simple issue. They would give little thought and apply little effort in turning and walking away.

But for an alcoholic that wants and needs to drink, turning and walking away from the freezer door is like drowning in the middle of a stormy ocean, seeing a life preserver nearby but not reaching for it. For the normal individual, this example seems extreme but for the alcoholic that is still drinking, it is a hard truth.

Alcohol addiction has yet to be completely understood by the scientific and medical communities. One thing commonly agreed upon is that alcohol addiction, or alcoholism, is a fatal disease if not treated. Luckily, it is treatable. Though there has yet to be a vaccine invented that will cure the disease of alcoholism. As of today, there is no proven permanent cure for alcoholism. On the bright side, there are numerous ways to combat alcoholism for those willing to stop drinking and accept help.

Alcoholism is considered by most to be an obsession of the mind and allergy of the body. When thinking of an allergy, most people think of an allergic reaction to, say, shellfish. For someone who is allergic to shellfish to sit at the dinner table and fill their stomach with it could be fatal. But what if this person has an obsession that cannot be controlled once they begin eating the shellfish? They need more and more until they have filled themselves with it and must be hospitalized because of it. Family members and friends can hide the shellfish, not buy it, skip the shellfish sections of the local market but somehow, someway, the individual with the shellfish obsession will find a way to get it and eat it. Again, this sets off a turn of events that nearly kills the person and lands them in the hospital. Alcoholism is similar to the example above.

As it has been said before, one drink is too many and a thousand is never enough. The disease of alcoholism is sly, mysterious, potent and patient. A non alcoholic can be at a social event, have a drink maybe two, start to feel tipsy or a sense of loss of control, nausea might set in and they will stop. For an alcoholic at the same event, they will have a drink and begin to feel more in control, more elated and free. Another drink increases that feeling so another will be needed after that and another and then another. The alcoholic will continue to drink and will be drunk before the night is over.

When a person crosses the line between normal drinking and alcoholism, they will never be the same again. It is like changing a cucumber into a pickle. The pickle will never be cucumber again. The alcoholic will try to grasp the same feelings and emotions they once associated with casual drinking but it will elude them indefinitely. They will continue down numerous paths to try and regain what once was but will exhaust every avenue until there is nowhere else to turn. Even then, they may still drink.

Alcoholism is misunderstood by the general population and there is good reason behind this. Non alcoholics will never be able to comprehend the powerful obsession affiliated with alcoholism. It is something that cannot be understood unless it is lived by the individual themselves. Even the alcoholic may be baffled by their life threatening dilemma. Not too long ago alcoholics were thrown into insane asylums and locked away. But there is hope for the alcoholic today. By accepting help, an alcoholic can increase their chances of living a purpose-filled and happy, alcohol-free life.

Quit Alcohol Addiction

The reason that many people tend to get addicted to alcohol is varied. Some people drink to enjoy their life and others drink when they have nothing to do, when at a party and others drink in their mournful days. Alcohol addiction can also be a consequence of the environment a person has grown up in. others may simply start to get a taste of varied alcohol flavors and different kinds of alcohols that the manufacturers dish out.

Alcohol addiction is a common sight in today's generation. Especially in the youth, none of the parties are said to be complete without the involvement of alcohol. Alcohol is stated as one of the top causes of death and ailment in the list of addictions. It can cause many conditions that can get the better of your health even before you realize it.

After consuming alcohol it's your liver that is targeted in the long run. This in turn guarantees that you start having problems with your internal body parts. It has been proved with recent studies that a person that tends to get addicted to alcohol reduces his own life expectancy by a minimum of ten years. People that are addicted to alcohol can be involved with a number of crimes such as murders, felony, and rape.

In such a situation a person might not have the intention of doing such an awful crime but excessive alcohol consumption takes over an alcoholics better senses. Not only do you ruin your health but also in the bargain, this will land you in a problem where you will find yourself behind bars under rigorous punishment.

People that are addicted to alcohol are described as alcoholics. Many people have attempted to try to stop this bad habit of theirs but are simply unable to. How to stop drinking alcohol? What exactly has to be done in this regard? Firstly a strong will is to be developed in order to get rid of alcohol. This is the time a person's will power can be put to an ultimate test and for this you should be ready to overcome all obstacles that come your way.

You can visit a rehabilitation center that can help you. Rehabilitation centers are well known for their success to help people deal with different kinds of addictions. Alcohol addiction is a problem that many have encountered and overcome. With the help of friends, family and, of course your own willingness, you can leave your past behind. Now that you are aware of how to stop drinking alcohol you should not find it difficult to put a stop to your dreadful habit.

One very effective way to control drinking is by using a process called Hypnotherapy. The use of Hypnosis in therapy became very popular towards the end of the last century, used by many in the western world to help them to stop smoking. Since then the practice has come a long way and there are many clinics the world over that can help sufferers of alcohol addiction with Hypnotherapy. Many people also wish to get this help in the comfort and security of their own home. If this is the case for you then you may wish to consider using an hypnosis download for alcohol addiction. This way you get the results that you want in the comfort of your own home and in your own time.

7 Tips On How To Stop Drinking Alcohol

It is really difficult to get geared up stop drinking alcohol. Here are 7 tips to get started on the road to recovery:

1. You have to do it for yourself - You hear this and it's true. Not your family, significant other, or whoever might be asking you to stop. If you don't do it for yourself, you will be starting out with a handicap.

2. Physical exercise - Limited studies have shown that the people who get exercise while trying to stay sober are less likely to relapse. It is possible that the reason is at least partially that exercise tends keep the person in a more relaxed state.

3. Give yourself rewards - People forget this aspect of recovery, and it is an important one. Rewards help to keep you in the game. The more frequent the better.

4. Don't guilt trip yourself when you fail - Getting angry with yourself for a temporary setback is non-productive, and will make anyone more prone to give up. If you slip, forget it and move on. This is alcohol addiction, one of the biggest challenges you are ever going to face.

5. Get some kind of outside help - Whether it's A.A., some kind of therapy, or a proven formula to get sober, utilize something outside of your normal scope of thinking and experience. Left alone to ones thoughts and methods is probably not the best thing, since those thoughts and methods contributed to the addiction in the first place.

6. Spend as little time alone as possible - For single people this can be a tall order. If you can't surround yourself with people, get out more which helps generate a fresh perspective on life.

7. Develop a new daily routine that does not include drinking alcohol. Get up earlier, incorporate some exercise into the daily routine, the possibilities are endless. After all, to stop drinking is to make a fresh start on its own.

Everyone is an individual, and will have to operate on his or her own unique timetable. There are no rules or prescribed time limits to step from addiction to sobriety. Go at your own pace.