Where does Columbia South Carolina stand in regards to these alarming national statistics?
Residents of South Carolina often breath a sigh of relief that some other state, such as Mississippi, has kept South Carolina from “last place” when reviewing statistics regarding educational levels, STD rates, alcohol consumption and DUI’s, yadda… yadda. So often do we see our home stack up poorly compared to the rest of the nation. Should we be surprised to learn of similar trends when we turn the focus to our children and the recent surge in prescription drug abuse?
The worsening economy of recent years has produced unexpected consequences as our nations youth have turned to the illegal use of prescription drugs as teens and adolescents have begun rummaging family medicine cabinets. According to a 2008 “Monitoring the Future” survey, 15.4% of high school seniors have used prescription drugs found in family medicine cabinets for non-medical purposes.
Federal government agencies estimate about twenty five hundred teens each day are abusing legal drugs for the first time. In fact, seven of the top 10 drugs being misused by high-school seniors are legal prescriptions or over-the-counter medications. Again, according to a “Monitoring the Future” survey of almost 50,000 students in 8th, 10th and 12th grade, teens are abusing prescription amphetamines, sedatives, tranquilizers, and Ritalin, as well as over-the-counter cough medication.
Parents can take steps to combat this escalating new trend of prescription drug abuse by our youth as follows:
Get rid of unused medications
Many adults have developed a life long habit of simply leaving numerous prescription pill bottles in a medicine cabinet or some other easily accessed family location. The most affective remedy in the fight against escalating prescription drug abuse is to simply get rid of all unused medications and no longer keep old prescriptions around the house. Reasons for keeping old prescriptions vary but none of these reasons are good enough when one considers our youth is abusing these medications. Discard old medications into the toilet and watch as the pills are flushed away. Do not trust simply throwing medications into a trash can. Take care in discarding old prescription pill bottles as the labels can provide abusive information to identity thieves.
Count your medications and know what you have “on-hand”
Take the time to inventory and “KNOW” what medications you do in fact have in your home. Count your pills… often.
Secure medications
Keeping prescription medications in the family medicine cabinet will not be a big secret to anyone. Keep your active medications in a more secure personal and private location. For females, perhaps your purse and for men, if you have any kind of safe in the house, your prescription medications might need to be the first items placed in them. Lastly, talk with relatives and the parents of your teen's friends and encourage them to keep their medications secured.
And finally, talk with your children!
Let your children know that the misuse of prescription drugs is not safer than abusing illegal drugs and can be just as dangerous.
If you or a loved one is suffering in Columbia SC with addiction issues or for further assistance with chemical dependence and addiction, please see: Columbia Treatment Centers
Additional addiction questions can be channeled through Columbia’s Alcoholics Anonymous Intergroup office located at:
AA Intergroup
3014 Devine Street, Room 103
Columbia SC 29205
(803) 254-5301
www.area62.org
Questions or comments for the author can be sent to AnthonyEBaker@Hotmail.com or visit the authors recovery and sobriety blog at Tony’s Sobriety Rack
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Columbia SC pharmacies enter prescription drug abuse battle
Prescription drug store chains in Columbia South Carolina have joined forces nationally with NACDS (National Association of Chain Drug Stores) in an ongoing effort in the battle against the growing problem of prescription drug abuse. Tuesday May 24, 2011 at 9:00 am in the Washington DC headquarters of the 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building (a senate subcommittee on crime and terrorism) the NACDS submitted their report to the federal government in a document labeled “Responding to the Prescription Drug Epidemic: Strategies for Reducing Abuse, Misuse, Diversion, and Fraud (The complete NACDS statement is available in PDF format here.) The NACDS believes the following list of actions will help in the fight against prescription drug abuse.
Support by pharmacies for controlled substance prescription monitoring programs.
Using medication therapy management services.
Shutting down illegitimate Internet drug sellers.
Providing patients with a way to dispose of unused medications.
Thirty five states, so far, have joined forces in this fight by setting up controlled substance prescription monitoring programs. In these 35 states, pharmacies report information about all prescriptions of controlled drugs so that suspicious activities can be detected and reported on a national level.
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores membership is made up of 39,000 pharmacies that employ 2.7 million employees, including 118,000 full-time pharmacists. The chain drug stores fill about 72% of annual prescriptions nationwide, or about 2.6 billion prescriptions a year. Familiar Columbia names in this chain of drug stores would be Walgreen, Wal-Mart, CVS, Riteaid and many other commonly patronized pharmacies.
If you or a loved one is suffering in Columbia SC with addiction issues or for further assistance with chemical dependence and addiction in, please see: Columbia Treatment Centers
Additional addiction questions can best be channeled through Columbia’s Alcoholics Anonymous Intergroup office located at:
AA Intergroup
3014 Devine Street, Room 103
Columbia SC 29205
(803) 254-5301
www.area62.org
Support by pharmacies for controlled substance prescription monitoring programs.
Using medication therapy management services.
Shutting down illegitimate Internet drug sellers.
Providing patients with a way to dispose of unused medications.
Thirty five states, so far, have joined forces in this fight by setting up controlled substance prescription monitoring programs. In these 35 states, pharmacies report information about all prescriptions of controlled drugs so that suspicious activities can be detected and reported on a national level.
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores membership is made up of 39,000 pharmacies that employ 2.7 million employees, including 118,000 full-time pharmacists. The chain drug stores fill about 72% of annual prescriptions nationwide, or about 2.6 billion prescriptions a year. Familiar Columbia names in this chain of drug stores would be Walgreen, Wal-Mart, CVS, Riteaid and many other commonly patronized pharmacies.
If you or a loved one is suffering in Columbia SC with addiction issues or for further assistance with chemical dependence and addiction in, please see: Columbia Treatment Centers
Additional addiction questions can best be channeled through Columbia’s Alcoholics Anonymous Intergroup office located at:
AA Intergroup
3014 Devine Street, Room 103
Columbia SC 29205
(803) 254-5301
www.area62.org
President Obama signs legislation to “crack down” on prescription drug abuse
Columbia South Carolina is leading the way in a national crack down on prescription drug abuse with its pilot anti-drug program marking a 43 percent decrease in the number of pain medications prescribed as described in a recent Tuesday May 24, 2011 The State news article titled “Senate Panel seeks answers to prescription drug abuse”.
The crack down is coming after a “Senate panel on Tuesday pressed administration officials and experts for answers to the growing problem of prescription drug abuse” reports The State. Senator Sheldon, who is a democrat from RI and chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on crime and terrorism, is reported to have said, "their (prescription drugs) abuse poses a serious and growing threat to our communities and young people".
The paper went on to report that Gil Kerlikowske, the administration's director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, told the panel that the “U.S faces an epidemic of prescription drug abuse”. He said “the pills were popular because they were easy to get and there was a low perception of risk”.
The State article went on to say, “Last month the White House announced plans to crack down on prescription drug abuse, including putting a priority on ridding the nation's medicine cabinets of outdated, unused medications. Kerlikowske said that nearly 75 percent of people who abused prescription drugs reported that they got painkillers from friends or relatives”.
The DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) has enacted a program they are terming the national "Prescription Drug Take-Back". The DEA is enforcing this program in all 50 states.
The White House has urged officials to step up efforts in the disposal of prescription drugs. President Barack Obama has signed legislation that would make it easier for consumers to get rid of unused medication.
The States article can be read in its entirety at: “Senate Panel seeks answers to prescription drug abuse”.
Columbia South Carolina residents and citizens experiencing addiction issues with prescription drugs or any other form of addiction are urged to contact one of the many treatment facilities which can be found at: Columbia Treatment Centers
or Columbia's AA Intergroup office.
The crack down is coming after a “Senate panel on Tuesday pressed administration officials and experts for answers to the growing problem of prescription drug abuse” reports The State. Senator Sheldon, who is a democrat from RI and chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on crime and terrorism, is reported to have said, "their (prescription drugs) abuse poses a serious and growing threat to our communities and young people".
The paper went on to report that Gil Kerlikowske, the administration's director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, told the panel that the “U.S faces an epidemic of prescription drug abuse”. He said “the pills were popular because they were easy to get and there was a low perception of risk”.
The State article went on to say, “Last month the White House announced plans to crack down on prescription drug abuse, including putting a priority on ridding the nation's medicine cabinets of outdated, unused medications. Kerlikowske said that nearly 75 percent of people who abused prescription drugs reported that they got painkillers from friends or relatives”.
The DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) has enacted a program they are terming the national "Prescription Drug Take-Back". The DEA is enforcing this program in all 50 states.
The White House has urged officials to step up efforts in the disposal of prescription drugs. President Barack Obama has signed legislation that would make it easier for consumers to get rid of unused medication.
The States article can be read in its entirety at: “Senate Panel seeks answers to prescription drug abuse”.
Columbia South Carolina residents and citizens experiencing addiction issues with prescription drugs or any other form of addiction are urged to contact one of the many treatment facilities which can be found at: Columbia Treatment Centers
or Columbia's AA Intergroup office.
Columbia Rotarians affirm AA sponsorship concept
Over the many decades since the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous, much has been said and second guessed regarding AA’s sponsorship program. There is never a more positive confirmation of any program than the affirmed success of the program itself. Columbia South Carolina has recently just witnessed such affirmation with the great success of the Spring Valley Rotary Club’s mentoring program. This mentoring program was established several years ago by one of Columbia’s true hero’s and Fort Jackson’s former commanding general, Maj. Gen John A. Renner, Ret., Army Ranger. (Read more: Former Fort Jackson commander Renner dies)
The Rotarians have an established program now where they meet weekly, usually Monday nights for 1 ½ hours. In the sessions, about 10 community volunteers huddle in one-on-one sessions with their "clients'' who have signed contracts acknowledging their readiness to enter the mentoring relationship. Clients into this prestigious six-month program are processed through the Salvation Army after being screened by other agencies. The "State" article goes on to say, “The Rotarians are helping recovering alcoholics and drug addicts re-enter society as sober, productive wage-earners”.
Much more can be learned about this amazing program at: “Business give new hope to addicts”.
For further assistance with chemical dependence and addiction in Columbia South Carolina, please see: Columbia Treatment Centers
Additional addiction questions can best be channeled through Columbia’s Alcoholics Anonymous Intergroup office located at:
AA Intergroup
3014 Devine Street, Room 103
ColumbiaSC 29205
(803) 254-5301
www.area62.org
If you or a loved one are experiencing the heartache of one of this nations greatest challenges, addiction, this examiner truly wishes you the absolute best of luck and is confident compassionate resources will be found at the above describe locations and resources.
The Rotarians have an established program now where they meet weekly, usually Monday nights for 1 ½ hours. In the sessions, about 10 community volunteers huddle in one-on-one sessions with their "clients'' who have signed contracts acknowledging their readiness to enter the mentoring relationship. Clients into this prestigious six-month program are processed through the Salvation Army after being screened by other agencies. The "State" article goes on to say, “The Rotarians are helping recovering alcoholics and drug addicts re-enter society as sober, productive wage-earners”.
Much more can be learned about this amazing program at: “Business give new hope to addicts”.
For further assistance with chemical dependence and addiction in Columbia South Carolina, please see: Columbia Treatment Centers
Additional addiction questions can best be channeled through Columbia’s Alcoholics Anonymous Intergroup office located at:
AA Intergroup
3014 Devine Street, Room 103
ColumbiaSC 29205
(803) 254-5301
www.area62.org
If you or a loved one are experiencing the heartache of one of this nations greatest challenges, addiction, this examiner truly wishes you the absolute best of luck and is confident compassionate resources will be found at the above describe locations and resources.
Gov. Nikki Haley vetoes addiction bill
In Tuesday’s “The State” newspaper, Columbia South Carolina’s governor is reported to have vetoed an addiction bill. At first glance, a misleading opinion might be garnered by the reader as the states news paper initially reports the vetoed bill would make it “more difficult to start addiction treatment programs” in South Carolina. Further reading of the newspaper article yields a differing opinion.
The bill, S. 232, “would allow the Department of Health and Environmental Control to regulate certain facilities that treat drug addiction. The bill would require such facilities to require a Certificate of Need, which can become a political process among competing health care providers” reports the governor’s office.
Governor Haley clarifies her position by stating, “I believe the Certificate of Need program creates unnecessary regulation for the healthcare market," Haley wrote. “The CON process allows government to ration care, stifle competition in the medical field, and pick which facilities and practices are allowed to succeed”.
In short it appears the governor favors South Carolina’s free market place to decide which treatment facilities fail or succeed which should favor the people in need, South Carolina’s addicted and ill.
The full State article can be found at: Haley vetoes insurance, addiction bills
Further detailed information regarding South Carolina’s treatment centers can be found at : South Carolina's Treatment Centers
And lastly, Columbia's specific treatment centers may be found at: Columbia South Carolina's Treatment Centers
Columbia SC specifically, has seven treatment centers which are as follows:
Starting Point LLC
1421 Bluff Road
Columbia, SC 29201
Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment Center Earle E Morris Jr
610 Faison Drive
Columbia, SC 29203
Richland Springs Psychiatric Hospital
11 Medical Park
Columbia, SC 29203
The Midlands LRADAC/The Behavioral Health Center of
1325 Harden Street
Columbia, SC 29204
MCXL-PHS (ASAP) Moncrief Army Community Hospital
4500 Stuart Street
Columbia, SC 29207
Veterans Affairs Medical Center William Jennings Bryant Dorn
6439 Garners Ferry Road
Columbia, SC 29209
William Jennings Bryan Dorn
6439 Garners Ferry Road
Columbia, SC 29209
The bill, S. 232, “would allow the Department of Health and Environmental Control to regulate certain facilities that treat drug addiction. The bill would require such facilities to require a Certificate of Need, which can become a political process among competing health care providers” reports the governor’s office.
Governor Haley clarifies her position by stating, “I believe the Certificate of Need program creates unnecessary regulation for the healthcare market," Haley wrote. “The CON process allows government to ration care, stifle competition in the medical field, and pick which facilities and practices are allowed to succeed”.
In short it appears the governor favors South Carolina’s free market place to decide which treatment facilities fail or succeed which should favor the people in need, South Carolina’s addicted and ill.
The full State article can be found at: Haley vetoes insurance, addiction bills
Further detailed information regarding South Carolina’s treatment centers can be found at : South Carolina's Treatment Centers
And lastly, Columbia's specific treatment centers may be found at: Columbia South Carolina's Treatment Centers
Columbia SC specifically, has seven treatment centers which are as follows:
Starting Point LLC
1421 Bluff Road
Columbia, SC 29201
Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment Center Earle E Morris Jr
610 Faison Drive
Columbia, SC 29203
Richland Springs Psychiatric Hospital
11 Medical Park
Columbia, SC 29203
The Midlands LRADAC/The Behavioral Health Center of
1325 Harden Street
Columbia, SC 29204
MCXL-PHS (ASAP) Moncrief Army Community Hospital
4500 Stuart Street
Columbia, SC 29207
Veterans Affairs Medical Center William Jennings Bryant Dorn
6439 Garners Ferry Road
Columbia, SC 29209
William Jennings Bryan Dorn
6439 Garners Ferry Road
Columbia, SC 29209
Monday, May 30, 2011
Rebuilding Trust
Quite often, the first consciously sober reality drug addicts and alcoholics realize is that of their closest associates, usually family, no longer seemingly to trust them. Believe it or not, to the affected, this often comes as a shocking surprise. The destruction of trust takes place at a time when the addict or alcoholic was not mentally conscious but was infact inebriated. We seem to “wake up” into a new world where trust is shattered in the opening moments of our fledgling sobriety. This new reality in and of itself can be an enormous hurdle for the newly sobered and presents its on challenge.
Six months after my on last drink, one rainy evening I was rear ended sitting still with my foot on the brake at a municipal red light. By the time I could shake the rattling shock from my head; a local municipal police officer had come upon the accident and was “working the wreck”. To a witness, the accident would have been easily obvious as to who the perpetrator was and who the victim was. The attending police officer, doing his standard sworn duty worked the accident in a text book fashion and first tended to the person at the rear of the wreck. Soon the police officer came to me and initially was polite and business like. It didn’t take long for the officer to process my driver’s license and pretty soon the entire demeanor of the wreck changed completely. All of a sudden I found myself being given a field sobriety test, questioned in regards to alcohol use, treated as if I were about to be a DUI client and the sole 100% cause of the accident!
Typically, we spend many years destroying the trust provided us as a respected birthright. In my on case, I had spent thirty one years destroying the trust the ones around me had placed in me. Just because I had finally had enough alcohol, did not in any way mean the world realized I had finally had enough alcohol. I had proven to the world that my personal best was yet another drink and that is what the world had come to expect from me. Just like I had come to the point of trustlessness one drink at a time, it would take one responsible act at a time to rebuild the trust I so desperately wanted. In time, that much needed trust did return… one drink-less day at a time.
Six months after my on last drink, one rainy evening I was rear ended sitting still with my foot on the brake at a municipal red light. By the time I could shake the rattling shock from my head; a local municipal police officer had come upon the accident and was “working the wreck”. To a witness, the accident would have been easily obvious as to who the perpetrator was and who the victim was. The attending police officer, doing his standard sworn duty worked the accident in a text book fashion and first tended to the person at the rear of the wreck. Soon the police officer came to me and initially was polite and business like. It didn’t take long for the officer to process my driver’s license and pretty soon the entire demeanor of the wreck changed completely. All of a sudden I found myself being given a field sobriety test, questioned in regards to alcohol use, treated as if I were about to be a DUI client and the sole 100% cause of the accident!
Typically, we spend many years destroying the trust provided us as a respected birthright. In my on case, I had spent thirty one years destroying the trust the ones around me had placed in me. Just because I had finally had enough alcohol, did not in any way mean the world realized I had finally had enough alcohol. I had proven to the world that my personal best was yet another drink and that is what the world had come to expect from me. Just like I had come to the point of trustlessness one drink at a time, it would take one responsible act at a time to rebuild the trust I so desperately wanted. In time, that much needed trust did return… one drink-less day at a time.
Why does AA seem to work?
Why does AA seem to produce more lifetime sobriety than all other forms of “help”? After all, tremendous amounts of money, research and time have been invested in all forms of drug and alcohol rehab. What makes the success of one stand out over another?
Make no mistake, it is note worthy to state that people do in fact get sober in a huge variety of ways. Some find relief in churches, others from doctors and hospitals. Perhaps some even get help from psychiatrist and/or psychologist, treatment facilities and detox centers. Jail has even produced sobriety at times. Some people have just simply decided to stop drinking all on their on. Be all that as it may, no other form of “help” has the percentage of life time success as the twelve step program of Alcoholics Anonymous. Why is that?
When I was drinking, which was over half my life, everything occurring in my world was “I, I, I” or “Me, Me, Me”. I had no other moral compass by which to live. The spiraling pit of painful self obsession was truly my greatest addiction of them all! How much money can “I” make? How big of a house can “I” have? How powerful of a career can “I” get? On and on the progressive mental illness continued and with every thought would always come a drink.
The very first word of AA’s twelve steps is not “I” or “Me” but it is “WE” and in those simple two letters lay the mystical and miraculous spiritual healing qualities of AA’s entire program! The first half of AA’s first step reads “We admitted we were powerless over alcohol” and thusly a program of “WE” came into existence! The absolute power of “WE” has now saved the lives of millions of otherwise hopeless drug addicts and alcoholics. The concept that “I can’t do this by myself but somehow because YOU are sober, I gain the strength to live sober today also” is the “WE” power of AA.
A single sewing thread has no strength what-so-ever and will snap with the lightest tug. But weave a thousand threads together and suddenly you have the strength of a cable that can pull an aircraft carrier! Such is the miraculous qualities of AA, the strength of “WE” allows “ME” to live happy, joyous and free just for today.
Make no mistake, it is note worthy to state that people do in fact get sober in a huge variety of ways. Some find relief in churches, others from doctors and hospitals. Perhaps some even get help from psychiatrist and/or psychologist, treatment facilities and detox centers. Jail has even produced sobriety at times. Some people have just simply decided to stop drinking all on their on. Be all that as it may, no other form of “help” has the percentage of life time success as the twelve step program of Alcoholics Anonymous. Why is that?
When I was drinking, which was over half my life, everything occurring in my world was “I, I, I” or “Me, Me, Me”. I had no other moral compass by which to live. The spiraling pit of painful self obsession was truly my greatest addiction of them all! How much money can “I” make? How big of a house can “I” have? How powerful of a career can “I” get? On and on the progressive mental illness continued and with every thought would always come a drink.
The very first word of AA’s twelve steps is not “I” or “Me” but it is “WE” and in those simple two letters lay the mystical and miraculous spiritual healing qualities of AA’s entire program! The first half of AA’s first step reads “We admitted we were powerless over alcohol” and thusly a program of “WE” came into existence! The absolute power of “WE” has now saved the lives of millions of otherwise hopeless drug addicts and alcoholics. The concept that “I can’t do this by myself but somehow because YOU are sober, I gain the strength to live sober today also” is the “WE” power of AA.
A single sewing thread has no strength what-so-ever and will snap with the lightest tug. But weave a thousand threads together and suddenly you have the strength of a cable that can pull an aircraft carrier! Such is the miraculous qualities of AA, the strength of “WE” allows “ME” to live happy, joyous and free just for today.
Are YOU an alcoholic?
The first and strongest reaction of everyone that has ever been confronted with the aspect of being labeled an “alcoholic” is always the same, “DENIAL”. Immediately, the individual begins to build a silent wall of defense erecting invisible barriers designed to keep this perceived albatross from being placed around his on neck. Every imaginable verbal defense is mentally prepared beginning with quick sound bytes designed to ward off the “alcoholic labeling” attack being brought on by well meaning family members. The question has always been the same, “are YOU an alcoholic”?
Countless arguments in the alcoholic debate for both sides have been built since grapes were first stomped. One of the better list of questions designed to identify an alcoholic is being presented in today’s Columbia addictions examiner column. This “list” is from The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and is intended to help a person determine whether he or she has symptoms of alcoholism. Also, this list has been used many times by many resources for many years and is considered quite reliable by many professionals. Here's the list:
1. Do you occasionally drink heavily after a disappointment, a quarrel or when the boss gives you a hard time?
2. When you have trouble or feel under pressure, do you drink more heavily than usual?
3. Have you noticed you are able to handle more liquor than you did when you first started drinking?
4. Did you ever wake up the “morning after” and discover you could not remember part of the evening before, even though friends say you didn’t pass out?
5. When drinking with other people, do you try to have a few extra drinks when others will not know it?
6. Are there times when you feel uncomfortable if alcohol is not available?
7. Have you recently noticed that when you begin drinking, you are in more of a hurry to get the first drink than you used to be?
8. Do you sometimes feel a little guilty about your drinking?
9. Are you secretly irritated when family or friends discuss your drinking?
10. Have you noticed an increase in the frequency of your memory blackouts?
11. Do you often find that you wish to continue drinking after your friends say they have had enough?
12. Do you usually have a reason for the occasion when you drink heavily?
13. When you are sober, do you often regret things you have done or said while drinking?
14. Have you tried switching brands or following different plans for controlling your drinking?
15. Have you often failed to keep promises you have made to yourself about controlling or cutting down on your drinking?
16. Have you ever tried to control your drinking by changing jobs or moving to a new location?
17. Do you try to avoid family or close friends while you are drinking?
18. Are you having an increasing number of financial and work problems?
19. Do you sometimes have the shakes in the morning and find it helps to have a little drink?
20. Do you eat very little or irregularly when you are drinking?
21. Do you get terribly frightened after you have been drinking heavily?
22. After periods of drinking, do you ever see or hear things that aren’t there?
Those answering yes to several of the questions from 1 through 8 may be in the early stage of alcoholism. Additional yes answers to questions 9 through 22 may indicate the middle to final stages of alcoholism.
If you are concerned this column means “YOU”, please know that millions have preceded you on this path and it can lead to living a beautiful life of being happy, joyous and free!
Countless arguments in the alcoholic debate for both sides have been built since grapes were first stomped. One of the better list of questions designed to identify an alcoholic is being presented in today’s Columbia addictions examiner column. This “list” is from The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and is intended to help a person determine whether he or she has symptoms of alcoholism. Also, this list has been used many times by many resources for many years and is considered quite reliable by many professionals. Here's the list:
1. Do you occasionally drink heavily after a disappointment, a quarrel or when the boss gives you a hard time?
2. When you have trouble or feel under pressure, do you drink more heavily than usual?
3. Have you noticed you are able to handle more liquor than you did when you first started drinking?
4. Did you ever wake up the “morning after” and discover you could not remember part of the evening before, even though friends say you didn’t pass out?
5. When drinking with other people, do you try to have a few extra drinks when others will not know it?
6. Are there times when you feel uncomfortable if alcohol is not available?
7. Have you recently noticed that when you begin drinking, you are in more of a hurry to get the first drink than you used to be?
8. Do you sometimes feel a little guilty about your drinking?
9. Are you secretly irritated when family or friends discuss your drinking?
10. Have you noticed an increase in the frequency of your memory blackouts?
11. Do you often find that you wish to continue drinking after your friends say they have had enough?
12. Do you usually have a reason for the occasion when you drink heavily?
13. When you are sober, do you often regret things you have done or said while drinking?
14. Have you tried switching brands or following different plans for controlling your drinking?
15. Have you often failed to keep promises you have made to yourself about controlling or cutting down on your drinking?
16. Have you ever tried to control your drinking by changing jobs or moving to a new location?
17. Do you try to avoid family or close friends while you are drinking?
18. Are you having an increasing number of financial and work problems?
19. Do you sometimes have the shakes in the morning and find it helps to have a little drink?
20. Do you eat very little or irregularly when you are drinking?
21. Do you get terribly frightened after you have been drinking heavily?
22. After periods of drinking, do you ever see or hear things that aren’t there?
Those answering yes to several of the questions from 1 through 8 may be in the early stage of alcoholism. Additional yes answers to questions 9 through 22 may indicate the middle to final stages of alcoholism.
If you are concerned this column means “YOU”, please know that millions have preceded you on this path and it can lead to living a beautiful life of being happy, joyous and free!
Local drug and alcohol rehabilitation in Columbia SC
Television and radio advertisements often lead us to familiar names in the drug and alcohol treatment industry that are really more national in scope and less localized. Sometimes when an issue as intimate and personal as drug or alcohol addiction can be, it may be helpful to seek services from someone that is more like family and a part of the local community. In Columbia SC, just such services are available from a well known institution called “Morris Village”. A more complete association name would be “Earle E. Morris Jr. Alcohol and Drug AddictionTreatment Center” but locally well known as just Morris Village.
Morris Village is located at:
610 Faison Drive, Columbia, S.C. 29203
Telephone: (803) 935-7100
www.state.sc.us/dmh/morris_village
Morris Village is a 160-bed inpatient addiction treatment facility and it’s purpose is to provide treatment for persons requiring inpatient level of care for alcohol and other drug addiction. The Morris Village mission statement is as follows:
“Morris Village is to provide effective treatment of chemical dependence through comprehensive evaluation, safe detoxification, and state-of-the-art treatment services. Our staff respects the dignity and rights of patients and promotes their return to normal, productive lives in their communities. We are committed to professionalism, quality and excellence”.
All this week this section of the Examiner has highlighted several selected treatment facilities in the Columbia SC area. The purpose has not been to focus attention on any specific institution over some other institution but rather simply to indicate the vast array and variety of services available in Columbia. Available treatment facilities are indeed numerous and varied from private to public institutions, inpatient to outpatient institutions and clinical environments to name a few. If there is a commonality with any of these, it is that they are all “initial”, short term (first 30 days) treatment regarding this deadly subject. All of these institutions should be viewed as a “start” on a new path in life that will lead to living happy, joyous and free.
Morris Village is located at:
610 Faison Drive, Columbia, S.C. 29203
Telephone: (803) 935-7100
www.state.sc.us/dmh/morris_village
Morris Village is a 160-bed inpatient addiction treatment facility and it’s purpose is to provide treatment for persons requiring inpatient level of care for alcohol and other drug addiction. The Morris Village mission statement is as follows:
“Morris Village is to provide effective treatment of chemical dependence through comprehensive evaluation, safe detoxification, and state-of-the-art treatment services. Our staff respects the dignity and rights of patients and promotes their return to normal, productive lives in their communities. We are committed to professionalism, quality and excellence”.
All this week this section of the Examiner has highlighted several selected treatment facilities in the Columbia SC area. The purpose has not been to focus attention on any specific institution over some other institution but rather simply to indicate the vast array and variety of services available in Columbia. Available treatment facilities are indeed numerous and varied from private to public institutions, inpatient to outpatient institutions and clinical environments to name a few. If there is a commonality with any of these, it is that they are all “initial”, short term (first 30 days) treatment regarding this deadly subject. All of these institutions should be viewed as a “start” on a new path in life that will lead to living happy, joyous and free.
Private or public help?
Today’s world is more complex than ever and consequently, victims from the ravages of drug and alcohol abuse are also vastly complex. In today’s world, people suffering addiction are ingesting a mixture of intoxicants. A lethal combination of alcohol, illegal drugs and even prescription medications are often combined into a new and deadly brew.
“Help” for addiction is likewise a complex tangle of resources that must be sorted through often at very difficult periods of time for affected families. Over time, our society has developed both public (government) and private resources in this ongoing battle of chemical dependence. Personal insurance also comes into play in the treatment of drug and alcohol dependence and plays a role in a patient’s treatment.
One of the many reputable and familiar private treatment facilities in Columbia SC is “Three Rivers Behavioral Health” located at:
2900 Sunset Boulevard
West Columbia, SC 29169
(803) 796-9911
www.threeriversbehavioral.org
Three Rivers publishes a public statement of “Creating New Beginnings” and offers free assessments for their services. Three Rivers also divides their services into distinct groupings with offerings for adolescents, adults and then seniors. In addition to the standard alcohol and drug inpatient and outpatient programs commonly offered throughout help facilities, Three Rivers offers assistance with the following issues:
Teen Depression
Panic
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
General Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Troubled Adolescent
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Social Phobia
Three Rivers offers free assessments for each of the above listed issues. If you or a loved one is suffering from addiction issues, Three Rivers may be the place you can find your way back to a happy, joyous and free life.
“Help” for addiction is likewise a complex tangle of resources that must be sorted through often at very difficult periods of time for affected families. Over time, our society has developed both public (government) and private resources in this ongoing battle of chemical dependence. Personal insurance also comes into play in the treatment of drug and alcohol dependence and plays a role in a patient’s treatment.
One of the many reputable and familiar private treatment facilities in Columbia SC is “Three Rivers Behavioral Health” located at:
2900 Sunset Boulevard
West Columbia, SC 29169
(803) 796-9911
www.threeriversbehavioral.org
Three Rivers publishes a public statement of “Creating New Beginnings” and offers free assessments for their services. Three Rivers also divides their services into distinct groupings with offerings for adolescents, adults and then seniors. In addition to the standard alcohol and drug inpatient and outpatient programs commonly offered throughout help facilities, Three Rivers offers assistance with the following issues:
Teen Depression
Panic
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
General Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Troubled Adolescent
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Social Phobia
Three Rivers offers free assessments for each of the above listed issues. If you or a loved one is suffering from addiction issues, Three Rivers may be the place you can find your way back to a happy, joyous and free life.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
What is the role of government?
What is the moral and compassionate role of government in the war on drugs and chemical dependence treatment and recovery? For most of us, when we fall we begin looking around for someone that can help us stand back up. This analogy is ever so accurate for those of us that have hit the ground due to alcoholism and/or drug dependence.
In Columbia South Carolina, public support and public dollars are channeled through the states “Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services” (DAODAS). DAODAS is South Carolina’s single authority channeling drug and alcohol related prevention and treatment resources for the entire state. The department is a state resource and is accountable to the governor’s office of the state of South Carolina.
Recognizing the need for public service pertaining to the general public welfare, DAODAS offers an array of prevention, intervention, treatment and rehabilitation services through a community based system of care. Since its inception some forty years ago, DAODAS has provided services for more than a million South Carolinians.
DAODAS is located in Columbia at:
101 Executive Center Drive, Suite 215
Columbia SC, 29210
(803) 896-5555
http://www.daodas.state.sc.us
DAODAS can probably best be thought of as a coordinating point of services attempting to bring together all available resources and then funneling those services out to the appropriate individuals throughout the state of South Carolina. It’s not so much that DAODAS can be thought of as a resource for specific help but rather DAODAS is a resource that can best align the best and most appropriate help for an individual. If you or a loved one is suffering from the ravages of alcohol or drug dependence, a phone call to DAODAS could be just the action that begins to lead to a path of a happy, joyous and free life once again.
In Columbia South Carolina, public support and public dollars are channeled through the states “Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services” (DAODAS). DAODAS is South Carolina’s single authority channeling drug and alcohol related prevention and treatment resources for the entire state. The department is a state resource and is accountable to the governor’s office of the state of South Carolina.
Recognizing the need for public service pertaining to the general public welfare, DAODAS offers an array of prevention, intervention, treatment and rehabilitation services through a community based system of care. Since its inception some forty years ago, DAODAS has provided services for more than a million South Carolinians.
DAODAS is located in Columbia at:
101 Executive Center Drive, Suite 215
Columbia SC, 29210
(803) 896-5555
http://www.daodas.state.sc.us
DAODAS can probably best be thought of as a coordinating point of services attempting to bring together all available resources and then funneling those services out to the appropriate individuals throughout the state of South Carolina. It’s not so much that DAODAS can be thought of as a resource for specific help but rather DAODAS is a resource that can best align the best and most appropriate help for an individual. If you or a loved one is suffering from the ravages of alcohol or drug dependence, a phone call to DAODAS could be just the action that begins to lead to a path of a happy, joyous and free life once again.
Where can hope be restored in Columbia SC?
The never ending battle with drugs and alcohol can truly be an overwhelming experience for any one individual in Columbia SC. The state, South Carolina, is a large tourist and coastal state lending itself more vulnerable to the world’s drug cartels and drug traffickers. The “war on drugs” can truly seem like a hopeless proposition to an affected individual.
Cocaine is abundant in South Carolina, college campus and club drugs such as MDMA, GHB, PCP and LSD (all hallucinogens) are at all time highs in popularity. The abuse of prescription drugs is also at all time highs with Oxycontin leading the way but also high on the Rx list are methadone, diazepam, lortab, valium and xanax.
All of the aforementioned chemicals are enormously addictive along with many other drugs. These highly addictive substances, more often than not, bring a human being to an overwhelmingly hopeless position where they have no answers and only death can seem like a remedy.
So where does a South Carolinian turn to find the necessary hope required to take the first step out of this nightmare?
Many highly qualified drug and alcohol treatment centers exist not only in South Carolina but all across the United States. Although the Examiner does not endorse any one institution above another, we are proud to point to the states successes.
One such treatment center carrying the word “hope” in its name and slogan is “The Treatment Center” where they state “We Restore Hope”. The Treatment Center can be found in Columbia at:
101 Executive Center Drive Suite 215
Columbia, South Carolina, 29210-9498
(803) 896-5555
http://www.thetreatmentcenter.com
The Treatment Centers mission statement is inspiring of itself and reads as follows:
“At The Treatment Center, our passion is, simply, you. Our mission is to restore you and your families hope. We exist because we feel strongly about helping people overcome their drug or alcohol addictions in a safe, medically supervised and supportive environment. Our primary job is to help you get sober – and stay sober – restoring your hope in yourself and your future”.
If you or a loved one finds yourself in a hopeless situation, The Treatment Center may just be your first step onto a path of living happy, joyous and free once again.
Cocaine is abundant in South Carolina, college campus and club drugs such as MDMA, GHB, PCP and LSD (all hallucinogens) are at all time highs in popularity. The abuse of prescription drugs is also at all time highs with Oxycontin leading the way but also high on the Rx list are methadone, diazepam, lortab, valium and xanax.
All of the aforementioned chemicals are enormously addictive along with many other drugs. These highly addictive substances, more often than not, bring a human being to an overwhelmingly hopeless position where they have no answers and only death can seem like a remedy.
So where does a South Carolinian turn to find the necessary hope required to take the first step out of this nightmare?
Many highly qualified drug and alcohol treatment centers exist not only in South Carolina but all across the United States. Although the Examiner does not endorse any one institution above another, we are proud to point to the states successes.
One such treatment center carrying the word “hope” in its name and slogan is “The Treatment Center” where they state “We Restore Hope”. The Treatment Center can be found in Columbia at:
101 Executive Center Drive Suite 215
Columbia, South Carolina, 29210-9498
(803) 896-5555
http://www.thetreatmentcenter.com
The Treatment Centers mission statement is inspiring of itself and reads as follows:
“At The Treatment Center, our passion is, simply, you. Our mission is to restore you and your families hope. We exist because we feel strongly about helping people overcome their drug or alcohol addictions in a safe, medically supervised and supportive environment. Our primary job is to help you get sober – and stay sober – restoring your hope in yourself and your future”.
If you or a loved one finds yourself in a hopeless situation, The Treatment Center may just be your first step onto a path of living happy, joyous and free once again.
Addiction rehab and recovery in Columbia SC
Each year approximately 50,000 South Carolinians seek some type of addiction assistance from a South Carolina authorized service center located throughout the states 46 counties. These state-wide services ripple through a broad range of addiction topics from the familiar drug and alcohol issues but also reach into more uncommon topics like gambling, inhalants, sexual issues and many other destructive behaviors.
Rehab, treatment, detox and recovery of these destructive behaviors typically “fork” into two categories. 1, Centers that deal with the immediate affects of an addiction which is typically a short term detox atmosphere usually occurring over a short period of time. These centers include state run and privately funded institutions, a few of which we are planning to focus on this week. 2, Institutions that focus on a long term “life-time” solution of these illnesses that are more permanent in nature. These institutions include such facilities as Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA) to name a few. These later institutions focus on sober people learning how to “Live Sober” on a daily and permanent basis.
Columbia SC has an abundance of institutions focusing on the short term detoxification of patients. These are typically state or private institutions offering a choice of inpatient or outpatient services. The examiner does not want to infer a preference of one institution over any other institution by focusing the discussion on a specific facility but does want to point out some of the states most notable, landmark names involved in the daily struggle of our states addiction challenges.
One highly respected addiction and recovery facility in the Richland and Lexington areas is LRADAC. Contacts and locations for LRADAC are as follows:
Richland County (803) 726-9300
2711 Colonial Drive
Columbia, SC
Lexington County (803) 726-9400
1068 South Lake Drive
Lexington, SC
Administrative Office (803) 726-9301
2711 Colonial Drive
Columbia, SC
Common web site and email is:
http://www.lradac.org/
info@lradac.org
LRADAC defines and publishes its purpose and services as follows:
“Establish a new image while striving for excellence and maximizing service delivery. LRADAC is the premier prevention, intervention and treatment provider in Lexingtonand Richlandcounties providing leadership throughout the state and achieving national recognition for excellence”.
If you or someone you love is suffering from the ravages and bondage of any addiction, LRADAC will make a great first step on the path to a “happy, joyous and free” life.
Rehab, treatment, detox and recovery of these destructive behaviors typically “fork” into two categories. 1, Centers that deal with the immediate affects of an addiction which is typically a short term detox atmosphere usually occurring over a short period of time. These centers include state run and privately funded institutions, a few of which we are planning to focus on this week. 2, Institutions that focus on a long term “life-time” solution of these illnesses that are more permanent in nature. These institutions include such facilities as Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Cocaine Anonymous (CA) to name a few. These later institutions focus on sober people learning how to “Live Sober” on a daily and permanent basis.
Columbia SC has an abundance of institutions focusing on the short term detoxification of patients. These are typically state or private institutions offering a choice of inpatient or outpatient services. The examiner does not want to infer a preference of one institution over any other institution by focusing the discussion on a specific facility but does want to point out some of the states most notable, landmark names involved in the daily struggle of our states addiction challenges.
One highly respected addiction and recovery facility in the Richland and Lexington areas is LRADAC. Contacts and locations for LRADAC are as follows:
Richland County (803) 726-9300
2711 Colonial Drive
Columbia, SC
Lexington County (803) 726-9400
1068 South Lake Drive
Lexington, SC
Administrative Office (803) 726-9301
2711 Colonial Drive
Columbia, SC
Common web site and email is:
http://www.lradac.org/
info@lradac.org
LRADAC defines and publishes its purpose and services as follows:
“Establish a new image while striving for excellence and maximizing service delivery. LRADAC is the premier prevention, intervention and treatment provider in Lexingtonand Richlandcounties providing leadership throughout the state and achieving national recognition for excellence”.
If you or someone you love is suffering from the ravages and bondage of any addiction, LRADAC will make a great first step on the path to a “happy, joyous and free” life.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Alcoholism – The role of resentment
It is often said “resentment is the number one offender of alcoholics”. What exactly does that mean? How does one live life without ever feeling resentful toward some person, place or thing at some point? How can one guard themselves against feeling resentful?
As if things were not tough enough, Columbia South Carolina is certainly a grand place to find a few resentments lying around. After all, South Carolina is often thought of as firing the first shots of the civil war. Catching a resentment during the day can sometimes be like going out and catching a cold.
So how does an addict or alcoholic deal with resentment vs. recovery? The first thing to realize is no human being has any power or control over any people, places or things. We (alcoholics and addicts) can not change or control the behavior of this world. This alone is an enormous step toward anyone’s sobriety and recovery.
When I began my personal drinking at a young age, I was resentful toward smarter people, richer people, funnier people… better looking people. As the years passed, my resentment list only grew.
At the very end, my resentment list morphed into Armageddon with hostile feelings toward the one person that was supposed to be my best friend, my spouse. I was told by caring people, that if I did not want to die drunk, I had better do something with my resentment.
Naturally I asked “what can I do”? I was told of a “tool” to use called the “Resentment Prayer”. I rebelled by saying “I did not believe in prayer”, “that I did not believe in God”, anything to continue my ways. I was told my choices were simple, to pray or die.
The resentment prayer states the affected person is to pray for the person one is resentful at, to have all the things in life that the resentful person wants for themselves”. Say what? How was I to do that? I was very hurt toward my spouse, her demise seemed more appropriate.
So I asked, “How can I do this”? I was told, “pray to be taught to pray”. Not liking my chances, I could think of no argument to keep from trying. That night I silently said, “God please help me do this” and that was as far as I got.
Each night the sentence grew a few more words. Within a few weeks, I began to focus on other life issues and my spouse began to have less importance. I never drank again.
As if things were not tough enough, Columbia South Carolina is certainly a grand place to find a few resentments lying around. After all, South Carolina is often thought of as firing the first shots of the civil war. Catching a resentment during the day can sometimes be like going out and catching a cold.
So how does an addict or alcoholic deal with resentment vs. recovery? The first thing to realize is no human being has any power or control over any people, places or things. We (alcoholics and addicts) can not change or control the behavior of this world. This alone is an enormous step toward anyone’s sobriety and recovery.
When I began my personal drinking at a young age, I was resentful toward smarter people, richer people, funnier people… better looking people. As the years passed, my resentment list only grew.
At the very end, my resentment list morphed into Armageddon with hostile feelings toward the one person that was supposed to be my best friend, my spouse. I was told by caring people, that if I did not want to die drunk, I had better do something with my resentment.
Naturally I asked “what can I do”? I was told of a “tool” to use called the “Resentment Prayer”. I rebelled by saying “I did not believe in prayer”, “that I did not believe in God”, anything to continue my ways. I was told my choices were simple, to pray or die.
The resentment prayer states the affected person is to pray for the person one is resentful at, to have all the things in life that the resentful person wants for themselves”. Say what? How was I to do that? I was very hurt toward my spouse, her demise seemed more appropriate.
So I asked, “How can I do this”? I was told, “pray to be taught to pray”. Not liking my chances, I could think of no argument to keep from trying. That night I silently said, “God please help me do this” and that was as far as I got.
Each night the sentence grew a few more words. Within a few weeks, I began to focus on other life issues and my spouse began to have less importance. I never drank again.
Alcoholism – What is failure?
Our modern culture seems riveted on success vs. failure in simple black and white terms. No matter the subject, we always seem to divide along two lines, one of winning and then that of suffering loss. Modern children are raised with this strong since of success vs. failure which is more often seen as winning vs. loosing. The sporting arena is probably our first guide stone for measuring success as we quickly grow accustomed to our favorite team “winning”. As we grow in life, the simplicity of picking winning sides becomes intuitive and without thought as we quickly learn disdain for loosing.
When it comes to addiction in Columbia SC, is this really the best attitude to approach recovery? For instance, if one finally makes a very difficult and hard choice of picking a day and time to begin living clean and sober, then is it really wise to view subsequent time periods of drinking or drugging as success or failure? If one does drink or drug again after becoming clean and sober, has that person truly “failed”?
It’s unimaginable that any person, let alone a very sick addict or alcoholic, could possibly have the strength and ability to permanently overcome the mental pressure that success or failure brings on. What enormous pressure to be under for all of the remaining hours of ones life! I will NEVER drink again? Ever? I will NEVER use again, ever? Do the hours not begin to tick by like weighty bricks with that thought?
The secret to successful recovery is to change our way of thinking on what successful recovery really means. Have we indeed failed if we drink again? After all, that is what alcoholics do, drink that is. We must first learn to accept and realize that for alcoholics and addicts to drink or use, is for alcoholics and addicts to die. These substances kill us. Once we replace our old fashioned notions of success vs. failure with this simple fact, we are then ready to make progress in our recovery. Gone will be the shame we feel if/when we do become intoxicated again. As long as we are alive, we are NOT failing! As long as we are alive, we have the power to choose to live sober that very day regardless of anything that may have happened on any preceding day. We must shed the stigma that to drink or drug makes us a looser. We must commit ourselves to a simple fact, that every day we are alive we have a choice of living sober that one day.
When it comes to addiction in Columbia SC, is this really the best attitude to approach recovery? For instance, if one finally makes a very difficult and hard choice of picking a day and time to begin living clean and sober, then is it really wise to view subsequent time periods of drinking or drugging as success or failure? If one does drink or drug again after becoming clean and sober, has that person truly “failed”?
It’s unimaginable that any person, let alone a very sick addict or alcoholic, could possibly have the strength and ability to permanently overcome the mental pressure that success or failure brings on. What enormous pressure to be under for all of the remaining hours of ones life! I will NEVER drink again? Ever? I will NEVER use again, ever? Do the hours not begin to tick by like weighty bricks with that thought?
The secret to successful recovery is to change our way of thinking on what successful recovery really means. Have we indeed failed if we drink again? After all, that is what alcoholics do, drink that is. We must first learn to accept and realize that for alcoholics and addicts to drink or use, is for alcoholics and addicts to die. These substances kill us. Once we replace our old fashioned notions of success vs. failure with this simple fact, we are then ready to make progress in our recovery. Gone will be the shame we feel if/when we do become intoxicated again. As long as we are alive, we are NOT failing! As long as we are alive, we have the power to choose to live sober that very day regardless of anything that may have happened on any preceding day. We must shed the stigma that to drink or drug makes us a looser. We must commit ourselves to a simple fact, that every day we are alive we have a choice of living sober that one day.
Alcoholism – Relapse or Recovery?
People get sober every day in a variety of ways. People get sober when they spend some time in a jail cell for instance. People get sober in many hospitals, treatment centers and detox units across the nation every day. People get sober because a spouse may be threatening them or even an employer. Sometimes a consultation with a physician will shake a person into a bit of short term sobriety. Good reasons abound for intoxicated people to spend a few days without any chemical ingestion and consequently, “sober up”.
So what is the difference between sobriety and recovery? What’s the difference between drunkenness and intoxication? Is it “relapse” or just plain old “drunk again”? What’s the difference between an alcoholic and a drunk? Can someone be a drunk without being an alcoholic or vice-versa?
For this alcoholic, the question was never “can I get sober”? The real question was, and still is, “What does it take for me to be able to LIVE each day sober”? Once I began to see and ask the question somewhat differently, amazing miracles began to happen.
When I was trying to “get sober”, it was ME doing the “trying”. I was trying to have POWER over alcohol. As long as I continued to try and gain power over alcohol, failure was as certain as the eventual next drink… which always, sooner or later, came my way. Once I began to learn how to LIVE sober, the bondage of alcohol seemed to vanish. It was then that I realized “learning how to live sober a day at a time”, is what I had spent a life time running from. The problem was me.
Daily people shout that if only “so and so” would happen, then they would not have to drink. If only a spouse or career would behave satisfactorily, then they would not “need” a drink. It is always something else that is “causing” the problem and this being so, then only brute strength and will power could possibly overcome drinking again. The problem with this is that no human being has that kind of power each and every day, each and every hour. Somewhere lurking in the dark corners of some quite time somewhere lays yet another drink of alcohol.
Sobriety and recovery is truly a situation where by giving up, we begin to win!
So what is the difference between sobriety and recovery? What’s the difference between drunkenness and intoxication? Is it “relapse” or just plain old “drunk again”? What’s the difference between an alcoholic and a drunk? Can someone be a drunk without being an alcoholic or vice-versa?
For this alcoholic, the question was never “can I get sober”? The real question was, and still is, “What does it take for me to be able to LIVE each day sober”? Once I began to see and ask the question somewhat differently, amazing miracles began to happen.
When I was trying to “get sober”, it was ME doing the “trying”. I was trying to have POWER over alcohol. As long as I continued to try and gain power over alcohol, failure was as certain as the eventual next drink… which always, sooner or later, came my way. Once I began to learn how to LIVE sober, the bondage of alcohol seemed to vanish. It was then that I realized “learning how to live sober a day at a time”, is what I had spent a life time running from. The problem was me.
Daily people shout that if only “so and so” would happen, then they would not have to drink. If only a spouse or career would behave satisfactorily, then they would not “need” a drink. It is always something else that is “causing” the problem and this being so, then only brute strength and will power could possibly overcome drinking again. The problem with this is that no human being has that kind of power each and every day, each and every hour. Somewhere lurking in the dark corners of some quite time somewhere lays yet another drink of alcohol.
Sobriety and recovery is truly a situation where by giving up, we begin to win!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Recovery – Freedom from Alcohol
Hollywood actor Anthony Hopkins has now been sober and a long term recovering alcoholic for decades. Many years ago, in an interview, Barbara Walters asked Mr. Hopkins what he considered to be the most important aspect of being sober. Mr. Hopkins replied to the interviewer, “freedom from alcohol”.
Addiction is truly a great deceiver to its victims. We alcoholics begin the journey of addiction by first being led into believing drugs and alcohol somehow mysteriously provide the relief we seek when what we actually suffer from are the effects of a low self esteem. As the journey continues, an arrogant wall of self righteousness is built around ourselves brick by brick, one day at a time. In the end, what we alcoholics and addicts have constructed around ourselves is an invisible glass prison where we have learned to lie to ourselves in order to keep the game going. We even learn to protect our way of existence, which is actually the “watering hole”, with every manufactured justification we can conjure together.
For thirty one years, this alcoholic proudly proclaimed to the world he had his life perfect in every way and exactly as he wanted. It was a tiny world that existed of a job in one place, a house only a few miles away and a store that sold alcohol in between. This alcoholic was truly a slave to this world and resisted fervently any attempts that pushed at him to step out of this narrow existence.
It is only after being “freed” from alcohol that one can truly see the jail addiction becomes. This alcoholic no longer has to fear the power of an unjust employer. This alcoholic no longer fears panic if the house runs low of alcohol. This alcoholic no longer fears being asked to perform in some way early in the mornings, which use to be a request that would strike absolute terror within this examiner. This alcoholic no longer fears someone asking him for his signature for fear someone would notice the shaking hands and the secret would be out. Today, this alcoholic is FREE from alcohol.
Anyone in Columbia SC seeking a similar path out of the bondage of alcohol and addiction can begin their personal journey by contacting:
AA Intergroup
3014 Devine Street, Room 103
Columbia SC 29205
(803) 254-5301
or on the net at:
www.area62.org
Addiction is truly a great deceiver to its victims. We alcoholics begin the journey of addiction by first being led into believing drugs and alcohol somehow mysteriously provide the relief we seek when what we actually suffer from are the effects of a low self esteem. As the journey continues, an arrogant wall of self righteousness is built around ourselves brick by brick, one day at a time. In the end, what we alcoholics and addicts have constructed around ourselves is an invisible glass prison where we have learned to lie to ourselves in order to keep the game going. We even learn to protect our way of existence, which is actually the “watering hole”, with every manufactured justification we can conjure together.
For thirty one years, this alcoholic proudly proclaimed to the world he had his life perfect in every way and exactly as he wanted. It was a tiny world that existed of a job in one place, a house only a few miles away and a store that sold alcohol in between. This alcoholic was truly a slave to this world and resisted fervently any attempts that pushed at him to step out of this narrow existence.
It is only after being “freed” from alcohol that one can truly see the jail addiction becomes. This alcoholic no longer has to fear the power of an unjust employer. This alcoholic no longer fears panic if the house runs low of alcohol. This alcoholic no longer fears being asked to perform in some way early in the mornings, which use to be a request that would strike absolute terror within this examiner. This alcoholic no longer fears someone asking him for his signature for fear someone would notice the shaking hands and the secret would be out. Today, this alcoholic is FREE from alcohol.
Anyone in Columbia SC seeking a similar path out of the bondage of alcohol and addiction can begin their personal journey by contacting:
AA Intergroup
3014 Devine Street, Room 103
Columbia SC 29205
(803) 254-5301
or on the net at:
www.area62.org
Alcoholism – What makes someone addicted…. to anything?
Why do people become addicted? On the surface this question may seem simplistic and rather meaningless. Obviously people become addicted to things in life by using or consuming them, right? If an alcoholic never drank, would they really become an alcoholic? If a drug addict never swallowed a pill, would they become a drug addict? If a gambler never entered a casino….. well, you get the point.
These issues are quite complicated and the further along the “ism” path one moves along, the more complicated the issues become. For instance, most of these issues become “multiplistic” addictions toward later stages. What is meant by that, for instance in the case of alcohol, the alcoholic will eventually become both psychologically addicted as well as physically addicted.
But is this “multiple” dilemma true in the beginning? What really occurs the very first time someone takes a drink, swallows a pill, places a bet? The answers this examiner knows today come from the experiences of his very on life combined with literally thousands of stories told throughout AA. Without exception, almost everyone that develops an addiction in life usually begin the journey around a common age of fourteen, fifteen or sixteen. The intense psychological emotions and needs of feeling “Secure and Loved” can almost always be found at the root of any addiction. The chemical that gets set free in our bodies seem to satisfy these needs in some perverse way.
It took many years of sobriety for this writer to realize that with his first drink, which was a can of beer at the age of fifteen, the alcohol produced the most wonderfully euphoric feelings of being accepted, “a part of” or “belonging to”, “good enough” and yes….. even loved. This “effect” was truly a remarkable Dr Jeckle and Mr. Hyde transformation. However, it was a transformation that happened ONLY in MY mind and was not real! The friends, who were so very important at that time, did not really see the miraculous change that occurred in my mind. However, the satisfaction that came from that transformation was a feeling that was very real to me and I desperately pursued the effect every day for the next thirty one years!
These issues are quite complicated and the further along the “ism” path one moves along, the more complicated the issues become. For instance, most of these issues become “multiplistic” addictions toward later stages. What is meant by that, for instance in the case of alcohol, the alcoholic will eventually become both psychologically addicted as well as physically addicted.
But is this “multiple” dilemma true in the beginning? What really occurs the very first time someone takes a drink, swallows a pill, places a bet? The answers this examiner knows today come from the experiences of his very on life combined with literally thousands of stories told throughout AA. Without exception, almost everyone that develops an addiction in life usually begin the journey around a common age of fourteen, fifteen or sixteen. The intense psychological emotions and needs of feeling “Secure and Loved” can almost always be found at the root of any addiction. The chemical that gets set free in our bodies seem to satisfy these needs in some perverse way.
It took many years of sobriety for this writer to realize that with his first drink, which was a can of beer at the age of fifteen, the alcohol produced the most wonderfully euphoric feelings of being accepted, “a part of” or “belonging to”, “good enough” and yes….. even loved. This “effect” was truly a remarkable Dr Jeckle and Mr. Hyde transformation. However, it was a transformation that happened ONLY in MY mind and was not real! The friends, who were so very important at that time, did not really see the miraculous change that occurred in my mind. However, the satisfaction that came from that transformation was a feeling that was very real to me and I desperately pursued the effect every day for the next thirty one years!
Alcoholics Anonymous – Why?
Everyone hearing the words, “Alcoholics Anonymous” will immediately have some preconceived connotation, on a scale of 0 – 10, of exactly what AA is (ranging from 0 – 10). So what, exactly, “IS” Alcoholics Anonymous, what does it do for anyone and “WHY” would a person go there?
The first imagine many people have of an AA meeting is that of a “gloomy and depressing” place where only “losers” go and nothing very positive happens. Some people even mistakenly believe it is a place where alcoholics go to learn “how to drink”. Others think it to be a place where certain questions can get answered like, “How did I get this”, “How do I get rid of it”, “How do I get my life back”, or “When can I stop coming here”?
The truth of the matter is that Alcoholics Anonymous is like so many other things in life, “it is simply whatever one wants to make of it”. In other words, an individual can put into AA very little or a great deal and in the end, that same person will probably realize either a very little, or a great deal.
Just like every church, school or hospital is not satisfactory to everybody, different AA groups seem to “fit” individuals differently. Sometimes a person simply needs to experiment with different groups before determining whether they actually “like” AA or not.
As for AA being a “gloomy” place? Well….. is it really the AA meeting or is it a time in ones life where the experiences are simply “depressing”? Wouldn’t this period of time be “gloomy” regardless of AA?
This examiner can never really “tell” anyone anything but can only relay their on personal experiences. Ten years ago, in 2001 when this examiner needed an AA group to attend, it just so happened he was living in a very rural place in Alabama where the nearest AA group was thirty minutes away by car. Events just happened to fall in such a way that a new AA group sprouted up in that location. Now, ten years later and moved on to a completely different life in ColumbiaSC, this small AA group has invited this examiner to be their guest speaker this coming Saturday evening celebrating their ten year anniversary. The absolute joy this honor brings is indescribable and could have never been anticipated. All I had to do was simply “Be There”.
The first imagine many people have of an AA meeting is that of a “gloomy and depressing” place where only “losers” go and nothing very positive happens. Some people even mistakenly believe it is a place where alcoholics go to learn “how to drink”. Others think it to be a place where certain questions can get answered like, “How did I get this”, “How do I get rid of it”, “How do I get my life back”, or “When can I stop coming here”?
The truth of the matter is that Alcoholics Anonymous is like so many other things in life, “it is simply whatever one wants to make of it”. In other words, an individual can put into AA very little or a great deal and in the end, that same person will probably realize either a very little, or a great deal.
Just like every church, school or hospital is not satisfactory to everybody, different AA groups seem to “fit” individuals differently. Sometimes a person simply needs to experiment with different groups before determining whether they actually “like” AA or not.
As for AA being a “gloomy” place? Well….. is it really the AA meeting or is it a time in ones life where the experiences are simply “depressing”? Wouldn’t this period of time be “gloomy” regardless of AA?
This examiner can never really “tell” anyone anything but can only relay their on personal experiences. Ten years ago, in 2001 when this examiner needed an AA group to attend, it just so happened he was living in a very rural place in Alabama where the nearest AA group was thirty minutes away by car. Events just happened to fall in such a way that a new AA group sprouted up in that location. Now, ten years later and moved on to a completely different life in ColumbiaSC, this small AA group has invited this examiner to be their guest speaker this coming Saturday evening celebrating their ten year anniversary. The absolute joy this honor brings is indescribable and could have never been anticipated. All I had to do was simply “Be There”.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Columbia drug and alcohol recovery groups
Columbia South Carolina has a variety of drug and alcohol treatment and recovery institutions. A suitable treatment facility can be found to satisfy the needs of any individual. Alcoholic’s Anonymous groups rank high on anyone’s success meter and Columbia also has no shortage of these institutions. In regards to Alcoholics Anonymous, Columbia is divided into fourteen areas of the city and these fourteen areas comprise eighty four different greater Columbia AA groups. These eighty four groups provide the Columbia area with a total of 248 AA meetings each and every week of the year. These fourteen areas and the numbers of AA groups within each area are listed below:
Balentine / Chapin / Irmo / Prosperity
9 Groups
Batesburg / Twin City
2 Groups
Cayce / West Columbia
13 Groups
Downtown Columbia
5 Groups
Dutch Square / Broad River Road
5 Groups
5 Points
5 Groups
Forrest Acres / East Columbia
12 Groups
Gaston / Swansea
1 Group
Lexington / Gilbert
8 Groups
North / Northeast Cola / Pontiac
10 Groups
Shandon
5 Groups
Newberry
2 Groups
Winnsboro / Ridgeway
2 Groups
Lugoff / Camden
5 Groups
Further details and schedules for each of these areas and individual groups can be found at the Columbia Alcoholics Anonymous Intergroups office located at: 3014 Devine Street, Room 103 Columbia SC 29205 (803) 254-5301 or on the internet at:
www.area62.org
Balentine / Chapin / Irmo / Prosperity
9 Groups
Batesburg / Twin City
2 Groups
Cayce / West Columbia
13 Groups
Downtown Columbia
5 Groups
Dutch Square / Broad River Road
5 Groups
5 Points
5 Groups
Forrest Acres / East Columbia
12 Groups
Gaston / Swansea
1 Group
Lexington / Gilbert
8 Groups
North / Northeast Cola / Pontiac
10 Groups
Shandon
5 Groups
Newberry
2 Groups
Winnsboro / Ridgeway
2 Groups
Lugoff / Camden
5 Groups
Further details and schedules for each of these areas and individual groups can be found at the Columbia Alcoholics Anonymous Intergroups office located at: 3014 Devine Street, Room 103 Columbia SC 29205 (803) 254-5301 or on the internet at:
www.area62.org
Alcoholism – What is an AA birthday?
Various treatment and recovery institutions will often have traditions or practices that in some way “mark time” during the recovery process of an addict or alcoholic. This is usually some visible emblem that can be carried and shown off by the recovering person and denotes some amount or block of time. The item is a visual of the “clean and sober” time accumulated by the affected person.
In Alcoholics Anonymous, this practice is a “chip system” that denotes periods of time. When the length of time reaches annual periods, the time slice becomes known as an AA birthday. Chips are provided for earlier and shorter periods of time as the early days of sobriety for all addicts and alcoholics passes quite slowly.
Different recovery groups will provide various colors of plastic or tin chips for short periods of time. For instance, most AA groups will have a chip for the first 24 hours and in South Carolina, this chip is a white plastic chip resembling a common poker chip. In other states, this same chip is sometimes a tin silver chip but the meaning is the same in all groups.
Within the first year of sobriety, several other colors of chips are used for different blocks of time such as; thirty days, sixty, ninety or six months, nine months and the colors may be red, green, yellow, blue or purple.
When an individual reaches one year of continuous sobriety, recovery groups will begin supplying “birthday chips”. These birthday chips have a very distinct meaning for recovering addicts and alcoholics far beyond the shorter term chips described above. In order for a person to have life time and permanent sobriety, alcoholics anonymous states they must undergo a “psychic” change. The annual birthday chip is denoting AA birthdays from the first day of sobriety or the “psychic” change for an individual. This AA birthday is in contrast to a person’s original birth birthday. As time passes in the recovering person’s life, associates often notice a completely different person in the sober person’s life and this transformation, at least within AA, is often thought of as a miracle!
AA Chips and literature can be purchased for cost at Columbia’s Intergroup office located at:
3014 Devine Street, Room 103
Columbia SC 29205
(803) 254-5301
www.area62.org
In Alcoholics Anonymous, this practice is a “chip system” that denotes periods of time. When the length of time reaches annual periods, the time slice becomes known as an AA birthday. Chips are provided for earlier and shorter periods of time as the early days of sobriety for all addicts and alcoholics passes quite slowly.
Different recovery groups will provide various colors of plastic or tin chips for short periods of time. For instance, most AA groups will have a chip for the first 24 hours and in South Carolina, this chip is a white plastic chip resembling a common poker chip. In other states, this same chip is sometimes a tin silver chip but the meaning is the same in all groups.
Within the first year of sobriety, several other colors of chips are used for different blocks of time such as; thirty days, sixty, ninety or six months, nine months and the colors may be red, green, yellow, blue or purple.
When an individual reaches one year of continuous sobriety, recovery groups will begin supplying “birthday chips”. These birthday chips have a very distinct meaning for recovering addicts and alcoholics far beyond the shorter term chips described above. In order for a person to have life time and permanent sobriety, alcoholics anonymous states they must undergo a “psychic” change. The annual birthday chip is denoting AA birthdays from the first day of sobriety or the “psychic” change for an individual. This AA birthday is in contrast to a person’s original birth birthday. As time passes in the recovering person’s life, associates often notice a completely different person in the sober person’s life and this transformation, at least within AA, is often thought of as a miracle!
AA Chips and literature can be purchased for cost at Columbia’s Intergroup office located at:
3014 Devine Street, Room 103
Columbia SC 29205
(803) 254-5301
www.area62.org
Alcoholism – Is there a SAFE drink?
How often have you heard, “Oh don’t worry, were only allowing beer and wine at this party”? In our modern society, many are mistakenly led to believe there are certain “safe drinks”. Our conditioning in this way of thinking has been thoroughly hammered home by the many years of intense marketing within our culture. Haven’t we all heard, “You only go around once in life”? Well who wouldn’t want to experience all the “gusto” we are entitled to, right?
Although subtle differences in bourbon, whiskey, vodka, beer, wine may have some moderate differences for the tempered drinker, there is no difference for the alcoholic in any of these drinks. Now isn’t that peculiar? Why do we not hear more about this? Why are our children not taught more? Why don’t we demand better for our families?
The addictive component of any “drink” is ethyl alcohol. It is the effects from ethyl alcohol that alcoholics unwittingly seek. It is ethyl alcohol that alcoholics are first romanced by and it is ethyl alcohol that alcoholics pursue with every drink thereafter. In time, it matters not what the container is ethyl alcohol comes in as ethyl alcohol truly becomes the seductive mistress for every alcoholic. When one becomes educated to these facts, one will soon realize ethyl alcohol is in a broad range of products in common use today. A sampling of these products would be items like mouth washes, cold and cough medications, and cleaning items just to name a few. Many people do not realize mouth wash is 26% ethyl alcohol, far more alcohol content than any beer or wine on the market today!
Although subtle differences in bourbon, whiskey, vodka, beer, wine may have some moderate differences for the tempered drinker, there is no difference for the alcoholic in any of these drinks. Now isn’t that peculiar? Why do we not hear more about this? Why are our children not taught more? Why don’t we demand better for our families?
The addictive component of any “drink” is ethyl alcohol. It is the effects from ethyl alcohol that alcoholics unwittingly seek. It is ethyl alcohol that alcoholics are first romanced by and it is ethyl alcohol that alcoholics pursue with every drink thereafter. In time, it matters not what the container is ethyl alcohol comes in as ethyl alcohol truly becomes the seductive mistress for every alcoholic. When one becomes educated to these facts, one will soon realize ethyl alcohol is in a broad range of products in common use today. A sampling of these products would be items like mouth washes, cold and cough medications, and cleaning items just to name a few. Many people do not realize mouth wash is 26% ethyl alcohol, far more alcohol content than any beer or wine on the market today!
Monday, May 23, 2011
Alcoholism – Is there really REAL help?
The debate regarding treatment for addiction and/or alcoholism and which institutions are more helpful has been argued a long time. A large variety of institutions are available to choose from when seeking assistance with chemical dependence. As a matter of fact, treatment is often big business and quite competitive between many institutions. Regardless of anyone’s opinions regarding this issue, it is hard to argue with a successful track record over many years. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has consistently helped millions over many years now to live day to day lives without drinking alcohol.
Alcoholics Anonymous can be found throughout the world in almost every venue. No matter where one might find themselves, an AA meeting can be found nearby should one choose to seek that resource. Columbia SC, for instance, has 248 meetings occurring all throughout the greater city in any given week.
Alcoholics Anonymous is organized in such a way that in large urban areas, an “umbrella” organizational structure is usually available to coordinate the many resources and meetings in an area. This organizational group is called, “Intergroup” and in Columbia SC, the local Intergroup can be found at:
AA Intergroup
3014 Devine Street, Room 103
Columbia SC 29205
(803) 254-5301
By possessing this one contact number, a single phone call can be made and the caller will be connected with a helpful attendant. The people answering telephones for Intergroup are very knowledgeable and respectful. Questions regarding nearby meetings, available treatment resources, literature and virtually any comments regarding alcoholism or addiction can be discussed with satisfactory conversation. Personnel answering Intergroup phones are aware of all area meetings and groups as well as local area treatment facilities, both private and public institutions. Your journey for “Help” want end at Intergroup but it is a great place to start when seeking “help” and often at a time of not knowing where to turn for advice.
No one would ever want to make this contact. No one wants to be an alcoholic or addict. For those of us that have walked this path, we each began with a footstep such as described herein. Fearful though it may be, HOPE can truly be found here for all. It would be advisable to keep this contact information as most families, at some point in there lives, often cross paths with this deadly issue.
Alcoholics Anonymous can be found throughout the world in almost every venue. No matter where one might find themselves, an AA meeting can be found nearby should one choose to seek that resource. Columbia SC, for instance, has 248 meetings occurring all throughout the greater city in any given week.
Alcoholics Anonymous is organized in such a way that in large urban areas, an “umbrella” organizational structure is usually available to coordinate the many resources and meetings in an area. This organizational group is called, “Intergroup” and in Columbia SC, the local Intergroup can be found at:
AA Intergroup
3014 Devine Street, Room 103
Columbia SC 29205
(803) 254-5301
By possessing this one contact number, a single phone call can be made and the caller will be connected with a helpful attendant. The people answering telephones for Intergroup are very knowledgeable and respectful. Questions regarding nearby meetings, available treatment resources, literature and virtually any comments regarding alcoholism or addiction can be discussed with satisfactory conversation. Personnel answering Intergroup phones are aware of all area meetings and groups as well as local area treatment facilities, both private and public institutions. Your journey for “Help” want end at Intergroup but it is a great place to start when seeking “help” and often at a time of not knowing where to turn for advice.
No one would ever want to make this contact. No one wants to be an alcoholic or addict. For those of us that have walked this path, we each began with a footstep such as described herein. Fearful though it may be, HOPE can truly be found here for all. It would be advisable to keep this contact information as most families, at some point in there lives, often cross paths with this deadly issue.
Alcoholism: What is it? How did I get it? How do I get rid of it?
Wikipedia defines alcoholism as:
“A disabling addictive disorder characterized by the compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcohol”
Big deal right? While the above statement may technically “define” alcoholism, the simplistic sentence gives one little direction, let alone hope, in facing what is arguably the worlds most difficult and deadly issue since grapes were first crushed.
Alcoholics Anonymous provides a little more insight:
“Men and women drink because they like the effect produced by alcohol. They are irritable, restless and
discontented unless they can again experience the sense of ease and comfort which comes by taking a few drinks”.
AA goes on to say:
“Once they have succumbed to a few drinks, the phenomenon of craving develops”.
Although the actual experiences of any one alcoholic can be as different and unique as people on the planet, the AA definition provides a beginning to start ones “way of thinking” in regards to this deadly subject.
How did I get it?
Every alcoholic spends days with deep academic, analytical research in pursuit of this highly intellectual question or perhaps they will ask, “Why me”? The truth is people die waiting on this answer which typically comes right after many days of denial. Perhaps a better question would be “Does it really matter”?
How do I get rid of it?
Isn’t this the real question? Don’t we all want to get rid of every problem and then be able to continue living just like we always have? Without any effort? Without any pain or discomfort? Don’t we all want to walk into “some place” and shortly thereafter, walk away “cured”?
More important than “getting rid of alcoholism” and rushing back to our familiar way of life is the discovery of the miracle that allows us to actually learn how to live sober and to live without the overpowering obsession to drink alcohol. Believe it or not, the “trick” is possible for every single person regardless of age, gender, race, religeon or any other perceived obstacle and no one is ever “to far gone”. The miracle begins like a dim beam of an old flashlight with worn out batteries but on the darkest of nights, one can see that faint light. This dim light of hope will lead to a path of living sober. The beginnings of this path is within each of us and yes, it is within you as well.
“A disabling addictive disorder characterized by the compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcohol”
Big deal right? While the above statement may technically “define” alcoholism, the simplistic sentence gives one little direction, let alone hope, in facing what is arguably the worlds most difficult and deadly issue since grapes were first crushed.
Alcoholics Anonymous provides a little more insight:
“Men and women drink because they like the effect produced by alcohol. They are irritable, restless and
discontented unless they can again experience the sense of ease and comfort which comes by taking a few drinks”.
AA goes on to say:
“Once they have succumbed to a few drinks, the phenomenon of craving develops”.
Although the actual experiences of any one alcoholic can be as different and unique as people on the planet, the AA definition provides a beginning to start ones “way of thinking” in regards to this deadly subject.
How did I get it?
Every alcoholic spends days with deep academic, analytical research in pursuit of this highly intellectual question or perhaps they will ask, “Why me”? The truth is people die waiting on this answer which typically comes right after many days of denial. Perhaps a better question would be “Does it really matter”?
How do I get rid of it?
Isn’t this the real question? Don’t we all want to get rid of every problem and then be able to continue living just like we always have? Without any effort? Without any pain or discomfort? Don’t we all want to walk into “some place” and shortly thereafter, walk away “cured”?
More important than “getting rid of alcoholism” and rushing back to our familiar way of life is the discovery of the miracle that allows us to actually learn how to live sober and to live without the overpowering obsession to drink alcohol. Believe it or not, the “trick” is possible for every single person regardless of age, gender, race, religeon or any other perceived obstacle and no one is ever “to far gone”. The miracle begins like a dim beam of an old flashlight with worn out batteries but on the darkest of nights, one can see that faint light. This dim light of hope will lead to a path of living sober. The beginnings of this path is within each of us and yes, it is within you as well.
Will my child become an alcoholic?
Of all the possible horrors a parent can face during child raising years, losing a child to addiction or alcoholism simply has to rank near the top of anyone’s list. Can I get this child to adulthood without addictions? What is the secret? In today’s world, the challenges we face are ferocious.
In seeking suggestions during challenging times, it can often be helpful to draw from the successful examples of others in life. In doing so, a story can be encouraging:
Once upon a time both father and son lived in a typical middle class house in a middle class neighborhood experiencing middle class lives. The father was usually very busy with middle class work and caring for the middle class home. The twelve year old son busied himself as best he could.
One bright spring day the father paused from his labors and peered out toward the neighborhood. The father noticed his son sitting on a curb in the crowded neighborhood near a busy neighborhood intersection. The son looked bored but soon other neighborhood children began to gather around the son sitting on the roadside curb.
Suddenly the father was filled with horror as his mind saw his son’s future filled with dreadful misbehavior. The father thought “I’m loosing my son”.
The father gathered his son and the two drove to a motorcycle retail store and the pair went inside. Neither father nor son had ever ridden a motorcycle before but soon they both owned an off-road dirt bike.
Neither father nor son had any prior skill of dirt biking but both entered into the hobby with enthusiasm. The pair learned to ride motorcycles through trails in the woods together watching each other make mistakes. The two became a father and son dirt biking team and over the following years created many adventures and memories together. The day finally arrived the son was more interested in girls than his father or motorcycles and the duo faded.
As the years passed, the father saw his son graduate from high school, pursue further education, marry, begin a career as a civil employee in a federal job, purchase and upgrade three houses and become the proud father of three children himself.
The father learned the greatest gift to our children was not “things” but our TIME is what matters most.
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