Addictions

Addictions and Recovery

While many alcoholics and drug addicts have been able to overcome physical addictions, it seems that many aspects of their lives had been changed forever. Addictions affect many aspects of a person’s life. Booth (1991) notes that the stages of addiction begin simply with the use of the offending substance. For instance, the person will engage in social drinking or eat as a part of social circumstances (1991). At first, the increased enjoyment of an activity is pleasant. One may eat, work, drink, use drugs or whatever they end up doing compulsively, in socially acceptable ways. However, as time goes on, there is a shift in focus; for example, an alcoholic will not go to a party without first having a drink or if one’s focus is on food, they may wonder if they will have enough to eat before they go out (1991).
One can see that as they go through the various stages, the substance or thing they crave becomes important. Thus, it will of course affect relationships. For example, if someone is thinking about when their next meal will be, or when they will have another drink, the addiction takes precedence over relationships. Their thoughts begin to turn to the next fix as opposed to what the plan is for the day or the weekend. A husband may be planning a fishing trip for the family while his alcoholic wife may be planning where she will hide liquor on the boat. Clearly, the attention away from the family is a part of the effects of addiction.
During the middle stages of alcoholism, for example, the addict will lose interest in other things and there is often a deterioration of the family relationship (Booth, 1991). The alcoholic fails at trying to control his or her drinking and often, loses their job (1991). Along with that comes a moral and physical deterioration (1991). It is common for an alcoholic, who would otherwise have been a faithful spouse, to cheap while binging. They may disappear for a few days. They begin to neglect health and signs of malnutrition sometimes begin to show. Obviously ,the addiction affects every aspect of such a person’s material, spiritual, emotional and physiological life. Everything snowballs and at the end stages of the disease, the alcoholic goes downhill and loses everything.
While relationships deteriorate during addiction, they surprisingly are affected during recovery too. One would think that because the addict has gotten help, their family relationships would simply fall into place. However, because a certain family dynamic had replaced normalcy, the opposite is the case. In other words, the spouse of an addict may take the role of co-dependent. He or she will have fallen into a particular behavior pattern that also fit into his or her psychological needs profile. Thus, it is often said that alcoholism is a family disease. An alcoholic who chooses to stop drinking will have to involve his or her family in the cure. Of course, while the alcoholic is used as an example, many other addictions take the same course.
Relationships seem to be what are considered the biggest changes in recovery (“Relationships,” 1997). One study showed that 40% (1997, p.5) of alumni of Hazelden, a Minnesota-based addiction treatment program, said that their personal relationships were altered significantly after alcoholism treatment. More than half of the respondents to a national survey said that regular attendance at twelve step meetings was a necessary source of strength and support so that they would not go back to drinking (1997). Even after ten years, it has been reported that over half of recovering addicts still attend meetings on a weekly basis (1997). About 24% (1997, p.5) of participants surveyed said that their families were a source of strength. Meditation proved to be helpful for 17% (1997, p.5) of those surveyed and friends were found to be a source of strength for 13% (1997, p.5). While many found their friends and family helpful, there are sometimes problems, particularly when other addicts are involved. Some recovering addicts find that their friends and family who continue to drink, mock recovery programs and even encourage the addict to have a drink or to smoke a joint. Other problems emanate from the new behavior of the recovering addict. Twelve step programs advocate certain behavior patterns which are found to be objectionable by others in the larger society. For example, at Alcoholics Anonymous, the importance of the meeting is stressed. A member may forgo an important family event, perhaps a wedding, while in recovery. This decision may create problems. Thus, part of the problems in recovery are the very programs which are designed to help the addiction. As the person stops taking the addictive substance, there is a psychological reliance on group meetings, sponsors and routines. Thus, in a sense, one type of behavior is replaced by another.
Addicts, whether in recovery or not, face significant social and physical problems. Perhaps AA association exacerbates the problems someone experiences with their relationships when they quit drinking. However, most in the field of addiction generally recommend such programs. The reason is because AA came into being at a time when modern methods of therapy and the like were practically non-existent in the field of addictions treatment (Lemanski, 1997). Thus, AA filled the void (1997). Today, a number of groups have evolved as well as more varied types of medical and psychological treatments for physical and psychological addictions.
While other alternatives are available, twelve step programs are often at the top of the list for places people can go to get help. Many attend AA and similar programs even after having been in an in-patient treatment facility. And for those who cannot afford proper treatment, AA is totally free. However, there are problems with the treatment. For instance, if an individual in AA doesn’t make adequate progress, they are accused of not “working the program” (Lemanski, 1997). Rather than getting another type of help, they are told to attend more meetings as it is assumed that the program can never be the problem (1997). Also of interest is the fact that in general, most addictions counselors enter the field as a result of a personal need for treatment (1997). Thus, the health of the addictions field is questionable (1997) as most of those in charge have been through AA themselves. Such therapists usually lack the emotional and psychological detachment necessary to maintain objectivity when treating clients (1997). Thus, in seeking treatment for addictions, it is important to choose facilities wisely and interview the therapist before hiring. A background check is certainly in order to evaluate just what kind of care one will be getting.
One shouldn’t completely eliminate the twelve step paradigm from their plan in obtaining help for any type of addiction, but one should be cautioned. While the twelve step programs have literally saved many lives, one unfortunate byproduct of its use in treatment has been the exclusion of research and critical thinking (Babcock and Taleff, 1994). While twelve-stepping and the adoption of such concepts in ones daily life may prove beneficial in treating an addiction, it is important to realize that it is not ones only alternative. While serious problems sometimes require drastic measures, some tactics used in the addiction recovery field may do more harm than good, such as in the case of intervention, where supposed addicts are given little choice but to go along with treatment. If someone finds themselves overusing substances, or working too much, or having sex indiscriminately, or engaging in any seemingly addictive or problematic behaviors, they should seek help. But they should do so cautiously.