Substance Abuse- Part I

The warning signs of substance abuse had been numerous and could be traced
back to his early adult years. His family and friends often encouraged him to get help over the years, but usually they found that their efforts were rejected and he frequently accused them of intruding and nagging. His first marriage ended in divorce, largely due to the lifestyle he led which included verbal abuse toward his wife, a poor relationship with his children, frequent financial problems, poor employment history, and legal difficulties including driving while intoxicated. When health problems developed related to his substance abuse, he stopped drinking briefly, but resumed when he began feeling better.

Alcoholism has often been called “the disease of denial.” Often individuals do not face the truth about their chemical dependency until after there are major business, medical, family, social, or legal consequences. Sometimes total destruction must occur before chemical dependency is acknowledged by the abuser.

Alcoholism has been labeled a habit, a compulsion, a pattern of behavior, a disease, a weakness, or a result of insecurity. Authorities disagree as to the root cause of alcoholism and there is some disagreement as to the most effective treatment methods. Few alcoholics fit the mold of being the “town drunkard.” Often, alcoholics continue to follow the pattern of abuse and dependency for many years before recovery takes place, and most chemically dependent individuals suffer relapses several times before they achieve a sustained recovery.

Alcoholism knows no ethnic, gender, economic, educational, or occupational boundaries. Many individuals addicted to alcohol also suffer from substance abuse problems with other drugs and interaction between alcohol and these drugs can lead to fatal consequences.

On the way to recovery the following pattern may occur: abusive drinking, attempts to control the quantity of intake, trying to control drinking by changing the type of alcoholic beverage, periods of abstinence with the goal of returning to drinking, cessation of drinking with no efforts to change lifestyle, and finally, making the decision to enter recovery and totally modify one’s life style.

Next week I will continue this discussion of the tragedy of alcoholism and the possible triumph over the disease.

Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 2004