Addiction

One does not have to spend much time in recovery circles before hearing the term “hitting rock bottom.” While the words have an easily perceptible connotation, “rock bottom” may mean different things to different people. Certainly, in the earliest days of treatment for addictions, “rock bottom” may have implied the stereotypical town drunk slugging down booze from a bottle in a brown paper bag, or an addict raging and sweating, barely able to hang on until the next fix. While those images still hold true in some cases, “hitting rock bottom” applies to physical, mental and emotional depravity and despair.

When The Haven Detox received its recent accreditation from The Joint Commission (JCAHO), our staff and friends of our organization eagerly began to spread the word. And why not? The Gold Seal of Approval we now proudly bear means we are among the most well qualified behavioral health care providers in the United States. Receiving national recognition is something to shout about. That’s why we want to share our story. We want our current and prospective clients and their families to know what JCAHO is all about.

In 2009, more than 600,000 people over the age of 12 had tried heroin in the U.S. according to statistics released by SAMHSA. Moreover, NIDA estimates that at least 9 million individuals struggle with addiction to the drug. Tragically, half the drug overdoses in this country are related to heroin abuse.

It is excoriating to watch someone you love in any kind of pain, especially the pain associated with addiction. Most of us would do anything to help our loved ones, but we feel a sense of helplessness. There are many ways that people with good intentions are actually displaying enabling behaviors which in turn harm addiction recovery.

Individuals who display addictive behaviors and struggle with substance abuse tend to be in denial about their disease and may be hesitant or unwilling to seek professional treatment. When a friend or family member is suffering from substance abuse, it can be difficult to help that person understand how their destructive behavior is affecting those around them and it can be challenging to have an open conversation about the situation.

Misconception #1: It can’t be a disease. It’s a lack of willpower. The Truth: Diseases are scary, so no one wants to think about them. Some diseases you inherit a tendency for, like high blood pressure or heart disease. Some develop over time, such as asthma or diabetes. And others develop over time for a lot of different reasons, like numerous cancers. Addiction is just like that. It is a disease.

When you think of someone being “clean and sober” what comes to mind? Perhaps you think of someone who no longer uses drugs or alcohol, and you would be right. Now, what about the phrase “living in sobriety” or “recovery.” What does that mean to you? While treatment and twelve-step programs are not the only way to get clean and sober, they are often the best. Why? Because they don’t just help you stop using, they also help you start living a life of peace, gratitude and fulfillment. That is recovery.

For so long people have lived bound by addiction, not knowing that there is another way. Day after day, so many are dependent on a substance to get going, to stay going, and in search for the strength to face the world that is waiting on them. Fear paralyzes even the strongest person’s ability to do what so many believe to be such a simple thing.