My name is Kelly K. I took 7 years of sobriety on October 5TH this year. My experience with the disease of addiction is quite extensive (being both an alcoholic and drug addict myself).
Kelly K
My experience with the disease of alcoholism includes having been raised in one of the wealthiest families in South Florida only to end up completely homeless 38 years later. I finally get sober at age 38 and have worked in treatment for the last 6.5 years which has been an intense recovery process that includes watching addicts and alcoholics come to us for help. I watch time after time the same mistakes I made at the numerous different treatment attempts through the years.
Thank goodness there have been many success stories as well.
The Truth about Addiction
I have been given the “green light” to write about anything I would like to.
So here goes the truth, but before I start, I will make it clear that this is not a attempt to scare anyone straight. This is one category 4 alcoholic and drug addict telling the facts of why people do not recover.
I will make this as simple as possible.
Fact 1
We can all agree that addiction takes too many lives and affects to many families/friends and employers and our government each year.
Fact 2
Drug addicts and alcoholics (and their families or loved ones) can be their own worst enemies when it comes to recovery.
Fact 3
There is a solution for alcohol and drug addiction.
Lets talk about fact 1 – addiction takes too many lives. Whether it is a doctors prescription, or a bottle of cheap wine, or a glass of Cristal, or a $2.00 hit of crack off the street, the disease is the same. Once an alcoholic or drug addict takes that first drink, hit, snort, or injection, the phenomenon of craving starts. The addicted person begins suffering from an allergy of the body and an obsession of the mind. He will not stop again for any real length of time until he is locked up in jail, or are sent to treatment or psych ward (or they die).
Lets talk about fact 2 – Drug addicts and alcoholics (and their families or loved ones) can be their own worst enemies. Alcoholism and drug addiction are family diseases. The family wants to believe that their son or daughter, wife or husband, friend or colleague is telling the truth. The problem is that alcoholics and drug addicts suffer from a 100 forms of fear and self delusion, self seeking and self pity. Many believe their own lies and now others who are close to them get wrapped up in the deception.
Lets talk about fact 3 – there is a solution for alcohol and drug addiction. Have you ever heard of a Band Aid job? If your loved one came to you dying of cancer, would anyone listen to their self diagnosis? Or would you seek professional advice. Also, (very important) once they received the advice – would they then ignore it?
Yes there is a solution to alcoholism and drug addiction it is called a psychic change that is obtained through action and maintained on a daily basis.
Becoming self supporting through our own contributions is a major part of our recovery. Too often it is ignored. Self esteem is obtained by doing estimable acts.
Too often I will see a client talk their parents into leaving treatment and then the parent agrees and then gets them an apartment and a car because they believe the untreated addict or alcoholic. Time after time it is proven that untreated alcoholism and or drug addiction leads to jails, institutions, and death. No one ever thinks it will be their loved one.
As addicts we have been telling family members we can change we would get a job and be self supporting. A good treatment center (like Sober Living by the Sea) can help them show them – in 9 months to a year. (That is a good investment)
Its time to “show them” not “tell them.” If a recovering individual agrees stay with us until they get a job, we will help them get roommates and they pay their part of the bills (and Sober Living by the Sea would get paid to monitor and test). Show us and your family that you can hold a job and pay bills and make your meetings and work with you sponsor for 6 to 12 months. THEN, you can tell your loved ones that you have changed. But you showed them, not just more promises. That is a mature investment.
Longer Treatment is More Effective
When people come to treatment, ideally they will leave with a psychic change and be self supporting through their own contributions. How long do you think something like this takes? I suggest AT LEAST 9 months and up to 2 years.
If your son or daughter or girl friend or husband wants to leave before that – the answer needs to be “ok ,leave. But do not expect money from us.”
We will support you in treatment with the goal being that when you leave you are completely self supporting and have a healthy daily sober routine. Then we can talk.
I mentioned the family often being the addicts worst enemy, by co-signing and going against the treatment plan. This never ends well. Addiction does not get magically better. It never did in the past and it never will in the future.
People recover through a series of action. I could write 20 pages on this subject though I am trying to keep this as simple as possible.
Full time work is essential in most all cases before leaving treatment for many different reasons. 9 months to 2 years is the required time frame I agree with. For a person to make these imperative changes.
People spend a lot of money on cars ect. If people want to really help their loved ones (and most likely save their life) get them into a one year program (or more) and then back off. Leave it up to the professionals. Let your loved one gain confidence in their own program and get used to working and paying their own bills.
Some people call it tough love – I call it the only thing that really works for real alcoholics and drug addicts.
If anyone has any questions about this – please contact me any time by calling 800-647-0042 and asking for Kelly.
Thanks
Kelly K