The Road Out Blog

Factors which MUST be addressed when overcoming addiction:

1. First and foremost, drug use must cease.

This seems so obvious that it need not be mentioned. This might require medical help during the initial withdrawal, but usually can be accomplished comfortably and without using dangerous drugs.

2. Poisonous drug and drug residues must be removed from the body.

This is called detox. But the word detox has wrongly come to mean just staying off drugs for a short period. That does not did the body of all the toxins built up over years of drug abuse. Never settle for anything less that complete cleansing of the body.

All drugs of abuse, but especially the more addictive drugs set up in the mind of the addict an entirely new set of priorities, desires and very selective attention spans. While a normal person is alert to responsibilities and required activities, even as basic and eating and sleeping, the addict is following another set of commands

The drug addict is running on automatic, in a very real way. What you say and what they hear is not the same. Normal communications are filtered through the altered perceptions of the drug haze and come out differently, sometimes completely different.

Putting addiction to drugs behind you is great, but you had better put something in its place!   Just quitting drugs is not much of a goal.

I know, that sounds strange,  but a goal needs to be a gain, an addition to your life, like getting a new house, or finally getting the job you always wanted. Even putting the car back on the road after it has been out of commission is a goal. When it has been reached, you have something.

Social Withdrawal

Persons abusing and becoming addicted to prescription drugs, legal or illegal, have a need to conceal what is happening. Increased contact with others simply increases the chance of discovery, and so is avoided. As the need to conceal what is happening gets stronger, so does the need to withdraw.