Understanding Addiction

Understanding Addiction

While many have tried to identify a singular reason for the people who are addicted to one substance or another, the reality is that there are many factors that underlie an individual's addiction to drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.  It is sometimes assumed that the addict has no willpower or lacks moral principles.  

Why can't they JUST SAY NO?  It is helpful to understand the difference between a habit of using, and addiction to substances.  A drug habit is repeated substance use through choice, while addiction is use that is not only compulsive, but physically necessary just to achieve a normal level of functioning. 

If the addicted could simply choose to change their using behavior and stop indulging their compulsion to use mood altering substances, they would.  The reality is that the path to sustained recovery is a complex process that far exceeds good intentions. 

Addiction can be described as a constant need to compulsorily seek any substance, whether a mood-altering drug, alcohol, or tobacco (and quite often a combination thereof), fully knowing the destructive consequences of use to himself and to those around him.    Addiction and chronic substance use adversely impact employment, school performance, family stability, and social connectivity. 

Addiction depends upon a combination of various factors associated to the individual. Biological (such as genetic structure and gender) and environmental  (culture, peer pressure, family traditions) factors couple to create a unique and individual perspective, laying the foundation for a pattern of decision-making that is not only the beginning point of a life of addiction, but is also the necessary beginning point for recovery from addiction.

Addiction, like any other chronic disease, can be successfully managed.  After an initial detoxification treatment episode, cognitive behavioral treatments can help the individual sustain sobriety through the development of conscious decision-making skills.  It is not just possible, it is a fact-the addict can live a healthy, addiction-free life!

Florida's drug treatment system includes a strong prevention component, and targets youth and families that are at the highest risk for substance abuse and addiction.  The comprehensive system of care throughout the state has demonstrated a positive impact upon the trends of use among youth, a factor that has encouraged investment in more and better ways to address the issue for people seeking drug rehab in Florida.  

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E=MC2

E=MC2 – It’s not Rocket Science, but it is the formula for an Evidence Based Recovery

Addiction is such a complex disease – physically addiction primarily affects the brain, but also is toxic to the rest of the body and to the human spirit.  It’s also complex because of human desire for new experience and the desire to escape from the pressure and stress associated with daily life.  However we have learned over time that there are treatment approaches that are capable of bring addiction into remission and keeping it there.  We now know the basic combination of interventions that show real evidence of treating alcoholism and/or addictions to Cannabis, Crack, Cocaine, Heroin, Xanax, Lortab, Oxycontin, Methamphetamine and Synthetic drugs like K2 and Bath Salts.  

Motivation Enhancement is a treatment approach that “tips the decisional balance” in favor of abstinence over continuing to engage in the addictive behavior.  Coping Skills Training describes a variety of approaches designed to improve interpersonal skills, better regulate mood, improve the ability to cope with daily living and stressful life events and cope when confronted with substance use cues. The Community Reinforcement Approach is a treatment based in the belief that each person’s environment – family, friends, work, school, neighborhood, church and social activities - plays a key role in recovery.  12 Step Programs like AA, NA and Alanon are wonderful examples of the Community Reinforcement Approach.

Provided in combination at Vince Carter Sanctuary these three approaches mimic Einstein’s famous equation: E=MC2.  In our model E is Effectiveness and MC2 is Motivation Enhancement, Community Reinforcement and Coping Skills Training

William Miller and Reid Hester identified the superiority of these three treatment approaches in their seminal article “What works:  A summary of alcohol treatment outcome research” (2003).  Their analysis of 381 addiction treatment clinical trials ultimately ranked the effectiveness of 48 different treatment modalities. Motivational Enhancement and Community Reinforcement ranked 2 and 4 in their rankings.  Coping Skills Training approaches including a Self-Change Manual, Behavioral Self-Control Training, Behavior Contracting and Social Skills Training ranked 5,7,8 and 9. 

In contrast some of the most often used treatment approaches were ranked the lowest – Educational tapes, lectures and films 48, Psychotherapy 46, Confrontational Counseling 45, Relaxation Training 44 and Milieu Therapy 40.

At Vince Carter Sanctuary we have organized our Medical Detoxification and Intervention programs around Motivation Enhancement, Community Reinforcement and Coping Skills Training.  My blogs in the upcoming weeks will further describe the Motivational, Community Reinforcement and Coping Skills Training approaches we use at Vince Carter Sanctuary.

E=MC2.  In this case it’s not rocket science, but is the formula for an Evidence Based Recovery.

Chet Bell, MPA, CCJAP

CEO, SMA Behavioral Healthcare

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12 Step Program

12 Step Program

Drugs and Alcohol abuse as we all know have never done well to anyone; they are simply known to cause more malice in the society today. And it just doesn’t end here, they get you addicted with time, sooner than you thought thereby destroying every iota of ability that lets you think and act rationally. It’s nothing but simply a lonely illness. It isolates you from practically everything, even yourself. People have ended up destroying their lives, families, careers, friends and peers, if they have not stopped themselves well in time. So many such drug abuse cases are reported in the western countries and more so, shockingly, amongst our younger generation. Addiction help for this becomes pivotal.  

There are quite a few people who get reported for alcohol and drug abuse in Florida, what works is that the state does have many alcohol rehab centers and detox centers to check on the same. The authorities are taking steps to combat this crisis and facilitate easy and timely addiction treatment in Florida.

Various drug rehab centers and treatment programs in Florida thoroughly encourage those addicts to openly participate and co-operate in the therapy of the 12 Step Program. These treatment centers in Florida also help during and after the course of the treatment. Addiction help is their main focus and Florida drug treatment centers also offer a great deal of community level social support to these victims and patients by counseling them in order to accomplish a speedy recovery with educating them on lifestyle goals or abstinence or helping them with the 12 Step Program.

The 12 Step program, for a lot of recovery programs, has undoubtedly been a very integral process with many Florida alcohol rehabilitation centers which led them to the road of taking an initiative with acceptance along with being the prime stepping stone for a lot of recovery programs. A not so large group of alcoholics (Alcoholics Anonymous), over 60 odd years ago, thought of The 12 Step program. This group later realized that this was now not just merely a method of not drinking but a road to a newer way of life!

The 12 Step program in Florida is for strength, sobriety and stability for most rehab centers and is now adapted for the treatment of many other addictions treatments too:

1. Admit the fact; by being honest at least to yourself so that you can identify you have a problem.

2. Have full faith in the powers to bring back your sanity, have faith in yourself first.

3. Just surrender yourself and turn your addiction problem over to that spiritual power.

4. Probably the toughest, understand and look out for what is bad for you. Talk it out with your counselor - most rehab centers in Florida and across take this step seriously

5. Admit your (addict) faults; speak about them to your super power.

6. Look out for the addicts preparedness and integrity, don’t break here!

7. The addict surrenders themselves to that power and let it take over your vices.

8 and 9, Speaks of those that were hurt by you during your stint with abuse, for restitution and seeking forgiveness for your state of mental affairs.

10. This is where the addict looks for amendments and serious life changes and holds on to them.

11. Here the addict only seeks out for wellbeing and maintenance of all that he's learnt so far.

12. Finally the last stage of The 12 Step program - the addict (now not an addict) seeks for service to others and helps them in a similar situation.

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