Addiction advice thread

joelus said:
Thanks for the links. I don't, however, see any evidence or references to studies showing that addiction is a disease in them.

The following page is reserved for evidence supporting the disease theory of addiction:
http://www.rational.org/index.php?id=47

(and by the way "There is one who has all power, that one is God: may you find Him now!" is not considered an effective way of treating disease - as found in the last link you posted)
Click to expand...

"If we can understand how the brain's circuitry changes in association with drug abuse, it could potentially suggest ways to medically counteract the effects of dependency," Scott Steffensen.

Link: http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/05/28/protein-involved-in-addiction-changes-brain.html
 
On the PMB list of treatments covered off my medical scheme..

ALTERNATIVES TO HOSPITALISATION:
(Benefit provided in lieu of hospitalisation Subject to prior approval by the Scheme)
Step down nursing facilities
Private nursing
Hospice
Rehabilitation centres 100% of MT (subject to overall hospital limit to a maximum of R13 000 per family)
 
@ BipolarDude.. I can understand why they call it a "disease" and apply the disease model... I however am of the view that the practice is not good. If you asked me I would say that its not a disease, but irrespective of whether it is or it isn't a disease, calling it that in some gives addicts some kind of excuse.

A cousin of mine is in rehab at the moment. He is young, and is very quick to tell you that addiction is a disease. From this you get the feeling that he thinks he is the innocent victim, almost like he caught this disease when someone sneezed in his face one day. He got the disease, and now he is an addict. That can never be the case, but I can't help think that other people like him, not everyone, feel that its not their fault.

Being addicted to a drug is always the addicts fault. Unless you get tied up and given drugs till your addicted. They need to know that its their fault and that they got themselves into it, and they need to get themselves out. My cousin doesn't know its his fault.. but it is.. I can maybe understand that through a pure medical definition stand point addiction may be a disease, but the use of that kind of language should not find its way into the rehabilitation arena.
 
the disease concept is not about absolving the addict of responsibility, it's the complete opposite. Many of the posts in this thread are taking the most literal view of the disease model without giving it much thought. The AA/NA/Minnesota model has the highest recovery rate of any type of addiction treatment.

If an addict believes that the disease model lets them off the hook they have got it all wrong, the NA/AA program is very much about taking responsibility for one's actions, right down to paying back and making amends for all the problems caused during addiction. It's about owning one's responsibility. The disease concept merely states that the way to treat addiction is abstinence... ie one has the disease of addiction and therefore must not take drugs... pretty simple, has NOTHING do do with fobbing off responsibility. It's comparable to diabetes - don't eat sugar!

The program also has a strong spiritual emphasis which does scare many people off, they see the word god and get judgemental. This is another misinterpretation of the program and is another discussion alltogether. I'm of the opinion that spirituality should be an integral part of daily living, however one chooses to practice it, and wether or not one is an 'addict'
 
Natas said:
@ BipolarDude.. I can understand why they call it a "disease" and apply the disease model... I however am of the view that the practice is not good. If you asked me I would say that its not a disease, but irrespective of whether it is or it isn't a disease, calling it that in some gives addicts some kind of excuse.

A cousin of mine is in rehab at the moment. He is young, and is very quick to tell you that addiction is a disease. From this you get the feeling that he thinks he is the innocent victim, almost like he caught this disease when someone sneezed in his face one day. He got the disease, and now he is an addict. That can never be the case, but I can't help think that other people like him, not everyone, feel that its not their fault.

Being addicted to a drug is always the addicts fault. Unless you get tied up and given drugs till your addicted. They need to know that its their fault and that they got themselves into it, and they need to get themselves out. My cousin doesn't know its his fault.. but it is.. I can maybe understand that through a pure medical definition stand point addiction may be a disease, but the use of that kind of language should not find its way into the rehabilitation arena.
Click to expand...

You are absolutely correct...
I have been in and out of rehab and in every institution addiction is treated as a disease....This does not imply that the addict "had no choice"....He brought the illness on himself and knows the causes....Negating from using the terminology and calling it a treatable disease won't change anything.
AIDS is a disease and if you have unprotected sex with someone you might just catch the disease...Experimenting with drugs is like having unprotected sex...If you catch AIDS it was because you CHOSE to have unprotected sex...Doesn't change the fact that you now have the disease...

Cause and effect...Using drugs could lead to addiction which is then classified as a disease and treated as such...Not using a condom could lead to HIV infection and the disease will be treated accordingly.

The term "disease" does not absolve the addict of all responsabillity.
 
Addicted persons are the part of our society and we should help them. Am I wrong?
 
BipolarDude.ADHD said:
They have to "want" help first...But yes...They can't get clean alone...We should help them..If they want to be helped.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately many addicts in active addiction who have either relapsed or who have never been treated are in such a state of denial and many of these present with dual diagnosis which complicates matters further in that there is a cognitive impairment. It then becomes not a matter of them wanting to be helped- because it will be on their terms, which is useless.
 
Hosehead said:
Unfortunately many addicts in active addiction who have either relapsed or who have never been treated are in such a state of denial and many of these present with dual diagnosis which complicates matters further in that there is a cognitive impairment. It then becomes not a matter of them wanting to be helped- because it will be on their terms, which is useless.
Click to expand...

Sometimes an intervention is required and as what happened to a friend of mine the family can admit and "sign over" the person to a state facillity.

My friend belonged to the state for 4 months and has been clean for almost 2 years since her release..

Sometimes drastic measures are required, but only the family can do this.
 
BipolarDude.ADHD said:
Sometimes an intervention is required and as what happened to a friend of mine the family can admit and "sign over" the person to a state facillity.

My friend belonged to the state for 4 months and has been clean for almost 2 years since her release..

Sometimes drastic measures are required, but only the family can do this.
Click to expand...

Interventions can and do fail. I've seen it. I've also seen the family reluclant to "sign over" the addict because of existing codependency issues, enabling issues, and ongoing manipulation by the addict. It is particularly difficult when the addict has young children-in the case of say, a mother addict, for the family to sign this addict over, especially if the addict has not "hit bottom"
 
Hosehead said:
Interventions can and do fail. I've seen it. I've also seen the family reluclant to "sign over" the addict because of existing codependency issues, enabling issues, and ongoing manipulation by the addict. It is particularly difficult when the addict has young children-in the case of say, a mother addict, for the family to sign this addict over, especially if the addict has not "hit bottom"
Click to expand...

Very true...These are hectic situations and seem hopeless...Many people just don't come clean...
Famillies get ripped apart by addiction all the time and often "hitting bottom" is too late and the damage done is irrepairable...But I still think that people should have hope and try their best to help.
 
Hosehead said:
Interventions can and do fail. I've seen it. I've also seen the family reluclant to "sign over" the addict because of existing codependency issues, enabling issues, and ongoing manipulation by the addict. It is particularly difficult when the addict has young children-in the case of say, a mother addict, for the family to sign this addict over, especially if the addict has not "hit bottom"
Click to expand...

As I previously stated on this thread my ex-wife was addicted to benzos...

The situation was bad but it could have been worse...She admitted to having a problem and we set plans in motion...
I asked her to get proffessional help and go to a clinic...She agreed...She didn't, however, go immediately and we waited 2 months until I could take my annual leave...we have 2 children and at the time my youngest was 2 and the oldest 5....She was admitted and I cared for the children...

We also had medical aid, which paid 100% of her 21 day stay....I took the kids to see her every day during visiting hours and she came clean and has stayed clean....

My situation was different as my ex went voluntarilly and we were financially able to deal with the problem...The centre she went to has an excellent program and it worked for her.

She is now stable and functioning well and has become a good mom....

"Where there's a will there's a way".....But agreed...some situations are so dire that nothing can be done....Hence the terrible stats on addiction...
 
BipolarDude.ADHD said:
We also had medical aid, which paid 100% of her 21 day stay..
Click to expand...

Most medical aids pay up to 21 days, unfortunately the actual programs are 30 days and then there are often referrals offsite to extended primary or secondary inpatient facilities then Tiertary (halfway house) care.

Insurance pays nothing in this country except the first 21 days of primary. So treating an addict privately is a daunting financial preposition for most families.
 
Hosehead said:
Most medical aids pay up to 21 days, unfortunately the actual programs are 30 days and then there are often referrals offsite to extended primary or secondary inpatient facilities then Tiertary (halfway house) care.

Insurance pays nothing in this country except the first 21 days of primary. So treating an addict privately is a daunting financial preposition for most families.
Click to expand...

Yup....But there is help in the public sector...Might not be cushy...But could still help...
 
I have another nic, but don't want everyone to know I an alcoholic :o

From my point of view you are the only person who can get over the addiction.

Your friends and family can give you support, but at the end of the day it is up to you to decide what is most important for you.

I have been to the AA as well as a counsellor and it did not help. Not saying it won't help for other people, but on a personal level that was not the route for me. Rehab and support institutions cannot help you unless YOU have decided you want to stop.

If you are an addict. Ask yourself the questions
a) Is this the life I want?
b) Can I live with what it is doing to my family/friends?

I have only been sober now for just over 2 months. It is a daily battle. I look at it with humour and joke with my family about it. I have gone months, but never years on my dry streak, however after my last "bottom" I hit, I have made the choice to a better, more fulfilling life.
 
Alter Ego said:
I have another nic, but don't want everyone to know I an alcoholic :o

From my point of view you are the only person who can get over the addiction.

Your friends and family can give you support, but at the end of the day it is up to you to decide what is most important for you.

I have been to the AA as well as a counsellor and it did not help. Not saying it won't help for other people, but on a personal level that was not the route for me. Rehab and support institutions cannot help you unless YOU have decided you want to stop.

If you are an addict. Ask yourself the questions
a) Is this the life I want?
b) Can I live with what it is doing to my family/friends?

I have only been sober now for just over 2 months. It is a daily battle. I look at it with humour and joke with my family about it. I have gone months, but never years on my dry streak, however after my last "bottom" I hit, I have made the choice to a better, more fulfilling life.
Click to expand...

Good for you. We wish you luck in your recovery. It is your only choice.

Your post is generally true, except for those addicts or alcoholics who are still in denial and for those who still continue to bring devastation and carnage to all those around them- they cannot make the choice you made until they hit their "bottom". Most of them, anyway.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X