Substance Abuse Doesn't Have to Ruin Your Life

...if you don't want it to.

What is substance abuse (and the subsequent progression to dependence/addiction)?

Substance Abuse-Some say it is an avoidance of consciousness. Most use the words substance abuse interchangeably with addiction. Technically, substance abuse has the implied meaning that if someone is abusing a substance such as alcohol or drugs then they are addicted, or chemically dependent. Actually, it is possible to abuse a substance but not be dependent or addicted. HOWEVER, if one consistently abuses drugs or alcohol then there is a very good chance that they will become addicted or dependent. This is because of the nature of the disease. It does progress over time and become worse; in essence the illness of addiction is a progressive one.

The avoidance of consciousness is clearly evident in problems of substance abuse and addiction. The avoidance of pain, both mental and physical can become a driving force when an individual uses and abuses psychoactive (affecting the mind) substances. In today's world, we aren't speaking simply of drugs like marijuana, heroin, or crack (even alcohol). Prescription drug use is on the rise and IMO, the MOST dangerous. When we start mixing pills with other pills and other drugs we can inadvertently ingest a dangerous cocktail that could ultimately kill us. The recent media exposure has proven this to be true (allegedly with Michael Jackson, Billy Mays, Ana Nicole Smith-countless non-celebrities). When we become addicted to alcohol or drugs, the implicit intention is invariably to ameliorate anxiety and pain--to escape awareness of one's core feelings of powerlessness and suffering. What we become addicted to are substances that can relax us and ease our pain. Anxiety and pain are not extinguished, they are merely rendered less conscious. Since they inevitably resurface with still greater intensity, larger and larger doses of the substance (more beer, more liquor, more cocaine, more pot, more Xan

ax, more Oxycontin) are needed to keep consciousness at bay. This is the nature of substance abuse and ultimately addiction. It is a terrible deadly cycle that can only be stopped by abstinence and a good, solid, recovery plan.

Substance Abuse-Denial

To the victims of drug abuse denial is a strong factor. Denial, in essence, is the refusal to admit or "see" the truth. I once was teaching clients on substance abuse and came across a cool acronym for denial to drive this point home: D-E-N-I-A-L (Don't Even Know I Am Lying). When an individual is abusing a drug or is chemically dependent, they will go through progressive stages of denial. At first, when they start using, they may have one or two life problems but refuse to believe that the substance abuse is the cause of the problems. As they progress from use to abuse to dependence (addiction), their denial grows as the illness does. Denial is an enormous problem for addicts as it will stop them from getting the help that they need. The addict in denial will truly convince themselves that though they have lost their job (or jobs), been thrown in jail, and possibly become homeless, they do not have a problem with drugs or alcohol. Even scarier, they typically ultimately lose any loved ones they had and still don't believe they have a problem despite friends, families, and others telling them they do.

Substance Abuse, Anxiety, and Mood Disorders Co-Occur

Bottom line if your life is a wreck due to substance abuse I urge you to get help quick!

Find a 12-step program to suit your addiction. Please, enlist the help of a counselor. If you are at a point that you feel you need to be hospitalized, find a hospital to go to and do yourself and your loved ones a favor. GET HELP! Otherwise the matter will just get worse. Come participate in our  online support group! Support is the greatest way to muddle your way through the problem of addiction and drug abuse.

I will give you all of the support that I can at the Find the Light website but depending on your circumstances you may probably need a lot more help than that, especially if you are truly addicted or chemically dependent.

Last updated February 1, 2010

Alcoholics Anonymous           Narcotics Anonymous

Recovery Resources Online- Soberrecovery.com

 Arizona 12 Step Alternative Treatment Program

Office of National Drug Control Policy

 SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Treatment

NIDA-National Institution of Drug Abuse