The Accidental Addict: Prime Candidate for Formal Addiction Treatment

by charlesarmstrong

The Accidental Addict: Prime Candidate For Formal Addiction Treatment

Alcoholics and drug addicts alike all suffer from the delusion that they are unique – unique in their problems, unique in their issues, and (worst of all for their recovery) unique in their ability to find solutions to problems. This attitude is often reinforced by the fact that many alcoholics and addicts are frequently people of above-average intelligence. Alcoholics and drug addicts are not just the bums one might think of, sleeping on the bench at the bus stop, or the pitiful, skinny, strung-out guy who approaches one on the street, trying to sell a DVD player for ten bucks. Their ranks include doctors, lawyers, and accountants, and come from every level of society, from housewives to corporate presidents. Many of these people are often excellent problem-solvers and people who are accustomed to being able to handle whatever situations are presented to them in their regular lives.

Then along came alcohol or drugs. Perhaps at first, these substances were not much of a problem. A casual drink here helped one person to relax away that work stress. A few pills there gave another one the strength to keep working all night when deadlines were looming. But as time went on, a casual drink became a daily drink, then that became a couple a days, and then somehow, this person found himself taking an occasional drink in the morning, while no one was looking. Soon, he found himself keeping a few bottles hidden right in his office, because he needed to have a sip every little while just to function. He was afraid he might get caught and loses his job, but he was more afraid of going without that drink, and he began to wonder how it had come to this. And perhaps the other one found that over time, he needed to pop a pill a little more often to keep up that same level of energy. He finally found himself running out of his own pills, and seeking ways to get pills from other people. He was afraid of getting into trouble, but he was more afraid of running out of pills. And he, too, began to wonder how it had come to this.

These “accidental addicts” are some of the best candidates for alcohol rehabilitation or drug rehabilitation, because they have fruitful and fulfilling lives to return to if ever one can convince them to entertain the notion that they need outside help. However, it is this kind of alcoholic and addict who are the most difficult to convince. Instead, they may attempt to impose various limits on themselves, cutting back, changing their patterns of use, changing the substance they use. This may work for a while, but because they have the addictive personality, they will never conquer their problems on their own. Each will go on, progressing in his disease, while obstinately thinking that there must be a solution that he alone can come up with to deal with the problem. In truth, the only solution lies in pursuing a program of recovery, starting with a treatment program.

At Narconon Vistabay, we strategically mold our individualized treatment programs that will lead our patients successfully to the road of recovery.