Topic: recognizing addiction

We’re brought up to view a pattern of problems with alcohol or drugs as the result of a variety of other factors— psychological issues, or lack of willpower, or moral weakness, or some terrible past experience. That makes it difficult for most of us to switch over to the view of addiction as a chronic illness.

Always good to collect opinions from others. But when you feel you’ve talked to enough people, try applying ‘impact analysis’ to the issue.

One large survey of alcoholics found that some 14% had actually become dependent within a year of the first drink. The percentage almost doubled when the time period was extended to two years.

That doesn’t mean you need a program that treats senior exclusively. It does suggest that you should concentrate your efforts on programs with access to physician care beyond simple detox.

Suffering victim and destructive asshole, all wound up in the same person. That’s the “alcoholic/addictive” personality. But who is the “real person” underneath the disease?

Anybody who lives or works with an active alcoholic is likely to hear a lot of excuses, along with protests that they are not, in fact, excuses.

Problems with alcohol are better defined in terms of the problems themselves than some arbitrary amount consumed.

For these and other common procedures referred to in the study, we might not even know what the doctor prescribes Mom or Dad afterward.

If you’re happy with your program of recovery, find another therapist who believes in letting the client direct the course of therapy.

The medical professions have been dealing with alcoholism and alcoholics for thousands of years, and this experience has led to some pretty hard and fast views on the subject.