Over the past couple of weeks the heroin epidemic has hit very close to home and has stirred up some old emotions. My heart weeps for those whose lives have been destroyed by this horrible disease.
Over the years I’ve watched hundreds if not thousands of lives torn apart by various addictions.
Most addictions are born from fear. It could be a fear of not being good enough or not being OK with ourselves, or a fear of handling the demands of reality.
Some chemical addictions begin because of innocent experimentation or by receiving a legal prescription for pain or other disorders.
My experience tells me there are people who are predisposed to having addiction problems. I have also found some addictions to be more addictive and destructive than others.
Whatever the case, addictions are hard to understand and even harder to whip. Less than 10% achieve recovery from an opiate/heroin addiction.
Beating an addiction takes a lot of work and has nothing to do with will power. I have plenty of will power but could not “will” myself to stop taking pain killers (opiates) once I crossed the line into addiction. My affinity for pain killers was immediate and I became addicted almost overnight.
By the time I admitted I had a problem, it was too late. For several years I got up every morning promising myself I was not going to use and then I would break that promise within an hour.
My addiction insidiously bankrupted me mentally, physically and spiritually and had turned me into a con, thief and liar. In essence it had infiltrated every cell of my body and took my brain hostage.
My addiction to opiates took away my ability to make logical decisions. This is not an excuse, it is simply fact. Addiction defies all logic. It’s a horrible condition to be in when you know what the right choice is, and you want to make it, but you can’t. This is pure insanity and I had become insane.
Today I know insanity sets in once the addict steps across the “line” into addiction. The “line” is what separates a bad habit from an uncontrollable disease. To make matters worse, none of us know where our “line” is.
Addiction is a disease that requires extended, if not life-time treatment. No different than Insulin-dependent diabetes, addiction never goes away, but can be held in check as long as it is treated.
For the past 29.5 years my treatment has consisted of always trying to do the next right thing, prayerfully walking with God, and following the suggestions made to me a long time ago by counselors and fellow addicts who learned how to live sober. I’m cured as long as I don’t pick up and my chances of not picking up are increased significantly when I am doing all the above–one day at a time.
Some thoughts for the addict:
- Seek professional help, preferably in an inpatient program or an intensive outpatient program. Addiction cannot be whipped alone. The withdrawal/detox from opiates is best done under supervision of health care professionals.
- Find a Higher Power and constantly pray for Him or Her to give you the willingness and desire to get sober and to stay sober. Our cure is a spiritual cure. My Higher Power is Jesus.
- Hang out with and listen to the suggestions of those who’ve learned how to live sober.
- Remove yourself from people, places and things which may negatively impact your sobriety.
- Learn to live one day at a time knowing today is the only day you need to stay sober.
Some thoughts for those of you dealing with an addict:
- Don’t trust an active addict as they become really good at lying. You know an active addict is lying when his or her lips are moving.
- An addict will only get help if they truly want help. You cannot change an addict.
- Prayer is the most powerful tool when dealing with an addict. Pray for yourself and pray for the addict as often as you are able.
- Get help for yourself. Talk to others who’ve walked your journey. The devil’s goal with addiction is to not only take down the addict, but to take down everyone around him. Your health MUST come first.
One thought for everyone:
- Pray, pray, pray for God to conquer this evil epidemic. There is so much power in prayer and The Light always conquers darkness.
John 8:12, “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'”
P.E.A.C.E.
Jay@EagleLaunch.com
