Substance Abuse- Part II

Last week I began a discussion of the tragedy of alcoholism. Most authorities consider alcoholism a disease and recognize that willpower, self discipline, morality, and weakness are not underlying causes of the alcoholic’s problem.

Some researchers believe that alcoholism runs in families, as evidenced by the
occurrence of problematic drinking behavior over multiple generations.

The goal of most substance abuse programs is not to “cure” the problem of abuse and addiction but rather to help the individual enter into a recovery process and maintain this recovery.

Most treatment models do not consider moderation of alcohol intake to be an effective goal. Instead, recovery is defined as the life long abstinence from alcohol use.

Although chronic alcoholism can produce many physical problems to the body, reversal of these damages can often be accomplished when drinking is stopped and a healthy lifestyle is adopted.

A stable supportive environment provides the optimum conditions for recovery. During the early months of recovery, a predictable routine fosters a sense of control and can reduce stress. Significant changes involving emotional, physical, and social re-orientation occur during this time, especially during the first several months of recovery. Such changes include almost every area of life including relationships, memory, work related issues and physical functioning.

Willpower alone is seldom sufficient to carry out the decision to quit drinking.
Knowledge about the disease is helpful to the family so that expectations will be realistic.

Equally important for the alcoholic is an examination of his or her environment for chronically stressful activities which may need assistance concurrent with the substance abuse rehabilitation efforts.

A formal rehabilitation program and/or support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous often are helpful when the alcoholic begins the recovery process. In some early stages of recovery, inpatient treatment may be necessary but often, outpatient rehabilitation efforts provide the recovering alcoholic with the necessary environment to start the recovery process.

It has been said that the difference between being sober and being dry is that a person who is dry has merely stopped drinking, but a sober person has stopped drinking and has achieved piece of mind. An effective treatment effort should allow the alcoholic to experience a feeling of personal control and a sense of inner-serenity without the use of alcohol.

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