Liquid Interventions

Learning About Addictions

Why is it so difficult for someone to stop drinking or using drugs?

The Big Book of AA accurately describes the spiritual dilemma of alcoholism. Note we are NOT describing the alcoholic or addict but rather the disease itself:

Liquid Interventions

Cunning

Shrewdness, artfulness, wiliness, trickery, finesse, intrigue, slyness, deception. Cunning implies a shrewd, often instinctive skill in concealing or disguising the real purposes of one's actions; a clever, unscrupulous ruse used to mislead others; a successful artifice to conceal one's motives. It also suggests underhanded methods and the use of deceptive devices and tricks to attain one's ends: craft and deceitfulness in every act. the art or process of gaining the advantage in situations by means of crafty or ingenious ploys.

Baffling

1. To frustrate or check (a person) as by confusing or perplexing; stymie.
2. To impede the force or movement of.

n. confusion, bewilderment, and perplexity--constant frustration in attempts to simply have normal relationships with loved ones, which are thwarted by the creation of confusion or bewilderment to meet the needs of the addiction.

Powerful

The force of addiction is strong, powerful, mighty, potent. Powerful suggests capability of exerting great force or overcoming strong resistance--a powerful machine such as a bulldozer. Mighty, overwhelming strength of power--a mighty army. Potent implies great natural or inherent power--influential, convincing, forcible, cogent, effective.

It’s important to fully realize what we are dealing with when dealing with addiction. We often underestimate both the power of the disease and its ability to deceive as we wade in to try to help. This is where experience, training and extreme flexibility can make a huge difference in outcome.

Quick facts about Addictions

A typical treatment center in 1995 would have 80% of the patients in the age group of 40 to 60 years of age. Today we have an epidemic within our younger people. Prescription drugs are the new “dealer”. Once the kids have run out of the prescription drugs they turn to the street drugs- heroine. Now, in 2009, you will see in treatment programs the ages flipped around to 80% are 18 to 25 yrs old.
One of every eight Americans has a significant problem with alcohol or drugs, with 40 percent of the group having a "dual diagnosis," or concurrent mental/nervous disorder.
Approximately 27 million Americans either use illicit drugs regularly or are "heavy drinkers." Of these almost 16 million are estimated to need immediate treatment.
By age eighteen, almost 12 percent of all young people are illicit drug users.
An untreated alcoholic's medical costs are approximately 300 percent higher than non-alcoholic's medical costs.
Approximately 70 percent of illegal drug users are employed and contribute significantly to workplace absenteeism, accidents and injuries, decreased productivity, increased insurance expenses, employee turnover costs and on-the-job violence.
The estimated annual direct cost to our society resulting from substance abuse is more than 250 billion dollars.
It is generally accepted that chemical dependency, along with associated mental health disorders, has become one of the most severe health and social problems facing the United States.*

* Source: SAMHSA (U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)