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Perhaps a friend or a family member has a drug or alcohol problem and you’re worried about them.
You may have watched them encounter depression or face problems with their health, work/school or with money, or even an accident or DWIs related to substance use. You may also feel scared, angry, hurt, confused, or depressed. You, too, may feel very alone.
Maybe you are struggling with an alcohol or drug problem.
If so, you may feel alone, isolated, alienated, and cut-off from others. You may be filled with fear or guilt. You may have done things you feel ashamed about. Perhaps you have lied to the people that you care about the most. Or maybe you lost your job or are struggling in school. But you continue to use anyway. That is the definition of addiction – an uncontrollable, compulsive drug craving, seeking and use even in the face of negative health and social consequences.
You are not alone. Addiction is very common.
Many people struggle with the exact same problem as you.
Millions of people have a problem with alcohol and illicit drugs. And there are millions who have had to confront a loved one’s use of alcohol and drugs. If you feel like you are the only one dealing with the problems caused by substance use disorders, take some consolation in knowing that:
In 2003, an estimated 21.6 million Americans aged 12 or older, or 9.1 percent of the total population, were classified as having substance dependence or addiction.
So, 19.4 million adults are classified with dependence or addiction – that’s roughly the size of the state of New York (population 19 million). Of the 19.4 million adults, 14.9 million, or 76.8 percent, were employed. The rate of dependence or abuse was 10.1 percent in the Midwest, 9.7 percent in the West, 8.6 percent in the Northeast and 8.3 percent in the South.
So, alcohol and drug problems are not only common, but they can happen to anyone – alcohol and drugs do not discriminate. People who have the disease of addiction are individuals like you and me. Addiction cuts across all walks of life, socio-economic and cultural backgrounds – affecting men and women, teens, adults and elders, from the poor to the middle class to the affluent, from the rural towns to the suburbs to the cities, from ordinary families to the most loving homes. Addiction is not restricted to only one population group.
Addiction can happen to anyone. Fortunately, anyone can recover with help.
Many people get help and recover and return to a healthy, healthy and fulfilling life. Here are some thoughts on recovery from individuals who have been there.
“I last used heroin in 1975…My life has been full of peaks and valleys. I lost a lot of time to drugs, and as I get older I realize all the more that you can’t get that back. So I make the most of my time now.”
-- Bobby Sharp, 80, musician and songwriter
“I have devoted myself to a healthy, recovering lifestyle. Sometimes that is hard to live by but the alternative is much worse.”
-- AJ McLean, singer, the Backstreet Boys
“So on December 10, 1985, I began my sobriety and have not had a drop since. What has made this possible? Probably the most important key for me was laying out a plan of action.”
-- Willy Drinkwater, counselor and comedian
“Drugs lose their glamour quickly and in the end, they only bring sadness. When kids find something they love to do and that they're good at, then they can create a real sense of identity. Then they’re truly independent people. For me, that 'something' has been writing.” -- Abigail Vona, 19, author and student
“Ask yourself, ‘Why don’t I be the one in my family to break the chain?’ Seek help. There is always hope, and there is life after addiction. Healing my family is a slow process, and you need to be in it for the long haul. I never give up hope.”
-- Margaret E. Pierre, 78, prayer warrior, sober for 20 years
“There is hope! If I can pick myself up after losing almost everything of life -- my health, my self respect, my mind, my dreams, my spirit, my family and friends -- if I can turn that devastation around and come back to life and become a light to so many others, if I can, anyone can!”
-- Scot Anthony Robinson aka Vision Warrior, actor and motivational speaker
“My life today is a billion times better than when I was on Klonopin, and I think it’s totally due to being a part of 12-step program: being with other people who are alcoholics and addicts, working with them. Realizing addiction is a disease. That there’s nothing to feel guilty of.
-- Beth Hart, singer/songwriter
“Be open to considering that life can be different. Willingness to consider that possibility is the first step. Secrets are the core being of our addictions. They are so insidious. The more we can share and talk about our traumas, the healthier we become. Know that you're not alone.”
-- G. F. Cabrera, writer, activist, in recovery
Addiction is a disease – not a matter of will.
Most scientists now consider addiction a brain disease: a condition caused by persistent changes to the brain structure and function. Using drugs repeatedly over time changes brain structure and function in fundamental and long lasting ways that can persist long after the individual stops using them. After a certain amount of a drug is consumed – and that amount is different for everyone – it is as if a switch in the brain is flipped from normal to addict. For some the compulsion for drugs or alcohol is the equivalent to the need for taking a breath of air. Learn more about addiction.
There is another way. Addiction is treatable.
You or your loved one can get well. There have been people who have been in your shoes and who are now in recovery.
An estimated 3.3 million people aged 12 or older (1.4 percent of the population) received treatment for a problem related to alcohol or illicit drugs in year prior to a 2003 interview: 1.3 million for both alcohol and illicit drugs, 1.1 million received treatment for alcohol and 0.5 million for illicit drugs.
People with substance abuse problems can get better.
There is hope. Many people recover. With sufficient help and personal commitment, virtually anyone can recover. You can have an impact by supporting them and letting them know your concerns. Treatment can work – outcomes of treatment interventions for addiction are the same or better than those for hypertension, asthma and diabetes. There is risk (cost) to ignoring the problem. Treatment is worth the investment.
In addition to addiction, some people also have mental health problems to overcome. In these cases it is critical to treat both problems. This, too, is possible and many people do get better.
There are many types of treatment.1.9 million people attended a self help group as part of their treatment. But that is not the only way. There is a range of options for getting help:
Don’t delay. Addiction is a progressive illness. Act now.
Don’t wait until something really bad happens. People don’t have to hit bottom to be able to end their abuse of drugs or alcohol (a common misconception). It’s easier and less costly to treat abuse before it becomes addiction. If you feel there is a problem, it’s better to intervene early.
Addiction is a serious health problem. If untreated it can progress and even be fatal. Many people have lost loved ones to addiction.
The stakes are high. You must not wait. Act now. For yourself or for the person you’re concerned about. The chance of survival is greatly improved when you address the illness and act early.
How to tell if there's a problem?
Educating yourself about alcohol and drug problems is an important first step. An easy way to begin is to learn about the stages of substance use and abuse. Then get a quick online assessment for yourself or the person you’re concerned about.
Don’t give up.
There is always hope that help may be received.
Just say “Maybe.”
If you or the person you’re concerned about can say “Maybe” – maybe there is a different way, maybe I can change, maybe this can work – then you’ve already taken a major step.
Get the help you need.
You might not know who to turn to, but there are many places and people around you who are interested and want to help – even if you want anonymous advice. Addressing the problem by yourself is more stressful and more difficult than getting assistance.
You can’t get better alone – you need a support network. You deserve it. It may be hard to believe but there are people out there, people you may not even know, who are rooting for you. They may be disappointed in you but deep down they care and haven’t given up on you. You need to access these people to help you recover. Tell them that you need their help in reclaiming your life. People with substance abuse problems can get better.
If you are concerned about a loved one, be sure to take care of yourself.
You need to take care of yourself. Family members living with drinkers/drug users often neglect their own care because they become preoccupied with caring for the other person. It may be hard when you’re dealing with a person who can’t take care of themselves, but if you are not healthy and safe then there is little chance you can be strong and effective at helping others. Alcoholism and drug addiction change family relationships and routines, often in a profound way.
Don’t blame yourself. You can’t help the other person without helping yourself first. Look into Al-Anon, a free service for friends and family members of alcoholics. You’re going to need the help and support, stamina and neutrality to persist in helping your loved one. Most people in your situation find the communication with others in a similar situation to be very beneficial.
Find out more about getting help for your problem and helping others with a problem.
You have come to the right place.
Working with top experts in the field of addiction, intervention and treatment, the Partnership has put together a comprehensive website to educate and motivate you. www.intervenenow.org contains a wealth of information -- in addition to the help and support you need for yourself or for your loved one. The first step is to learn the facts.
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