Drug Addiction Blog

Jul 24, Drug-induced Enlightenment

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 20:40:30 GMT

Drug-induced Enlightenment I remember the 1960s when this was why people started using LSD...

Jul 22, Drugs Not Glamorous

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:22:56 GMT

Drugs Not Glamorous and there is nothing glamorous about using drugs either...

Jul 21, Recovery Now Drug Addiction Treatment Audio Program

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:49:19 GMT

This week Recovery Now! will focus on the Treatment for drug addiction. Many people struggling with drug addiction have trouble figuring out which treatment option is best for their needs. We explore that issue on today's show. Subscribe to Drug Addiction Blog by Email

Jul 18, Recreational Use Of Heroin

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:14:29 GMT

Recreational Use Of Heroin is an oxymoron...

Jul 15, Bad Night for Atheist

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:08:09 GMT

Bad Night for Atheist because professional baseball player Josh Hamilton has proven miracles are possible...

Jul 14, Drug Addiction Symptoms -- Recovery Now! Audio Program

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:21:04 GMT

This week Recovery Now! will focus on the SYMPTOMS of drug addiction. Many people struggling with drug addiction say: "Leave me alone, I'm only hurting myself" Is this true? Are you only hurting yourself? Should people leave you/them alone? Click here to listen to today's show...

Jul 9, You Need I Take

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:02:55 GMT

You Need I Take; a story of a husband taking a wifes pills...

Jul 7, Drug Addiction Definition -- Recovery Now! Audio Program

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 23:58:46 GMT

What is Addiction? Why is addiction so hard to overcome? This 30 minute program discusses the definition of addiction and why it is so difficult to deal with.

Jul 7, All of a Sudden

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:04:47 GMT

All of a Sudden it was there, his son was an addict and nothing will ever be the same...

Jul 2, Options for Opiate Addiction

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:36:35 GMT

Options for Opiate Addiction treatment include Suboxone and Subutex read more...

Jun 30, A Very Close Call

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:42:47 GMT

A Very Close Call tells of a cocaine addiction and a spiritual awakening...

Jun 27, The End Came All Too Soon

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:29:58 GMT

The End Came All Too Soon read why...

Jun 23, Get Sick To Feel Better

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:29:05 GMT

Get Sick To Feel Better a sad but true story of addiction and alcoholism.

Jun 19, Recovery Now

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:14:36 GMT

Recovery Now is a weekly radio program focused on helping you and your loved ones acheive recovery.

Jun 16, On The Go, Constantly!

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:25:58 GMT

On The GoConstantly drug addiction can start because someone has no time to sleep.

Jun 14, Double Whammy: Adolescent Brain and the Adolescent brain on Drugs

Sat, 14 Jun 2008 14:10:53 GMT

Double Whammy: Adolescent Brain and the Adolescent brain on Drugs

Jun 12, Recovery is like Discipleship

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:31:08 GMT

Recovery is like Discipleship learn how these very different things are related.

Jun 6, Addiction Is Like Drowning

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 13:28:03 GMT

Addiction Is Like Drowning describes almost drowning is the same felling you have when you're addicticed.

Jun 2, The Unexpected Consequences of Meth Addiction

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 19:10:07 GMT

The Unexpected Consequences of Meth Addiction.

May 30, Drug Addiction Treatment

Fri, 30 May 2008 19:55:26 GMT

Drug Addiction Treatment is Serious Work though modern culture protrays rehab as anything but.

May 26, Illegal Drugs Are Big Business

Mon, 26 May 2008 17:44:44 GMT

Illegal Drugs Are Big Business -- you never know what you might find in a house in a quiet, suburban neighborhood.

May 22, Field Testing for DUI Not That Easy

Thu, 22 May 2008 23:32:58 GMT

Field Testing for DUI Not That Easy, find out what makes it SO difficult!

May 20, Is Incarceration the Answer for Repeat DUI?

Tue, 20 May 2008 13:25:28 GMT

Is Incarceration the Answer for Repeat DUI what to do about this HUGE problem!

May 16, Religious Symbolism

Fri, 16 May 2008 00:07:31 GMT

The Power of Religious Symbolism and how it helps people overcome drug addiction.

May 15, Drug Addictions Victims

Thu, 15 May 2008 23:43:30 GMT

Drug Addictions Victims tells a sad tale of drug addiction that happened close to home.

May 12, Addiction Crosses Generations

Mon, 12 May 2008 18:02:03 GMT

The Current of Addiction Crosses Generations; read an example that shows one way this happens.

May 9, Drug Addiction Treatment, drug abuse

Fri, 09 May 2008 18:21:11 GMT

This page answers the question: What if I need drug addiction treatment but I don't have any money or insurance to cover it?

May 8, Science and Religion

Thu, 08 May 2008 23:43:39 GMT

Are Science and Religion Mutually Exclusive?

May 6, Potential Stolen Away

Tue, 06 May 2008 00:32:33 GMT

Addiction steals away any potential that a persons has.

May 2, Humor Makes Its Point

Fri, 02 May 2008 12:10:55 GMT

When going through the 12-Steps with clients for the first time, its easy to get caught up in the medical aspects of drug abuse, the social aspects of addiction, the debate over whether or not God exists and the merits of even trying 12-Step. Our initial discussions can be rather lively at times, but well worth while to answer questions and put people at ease. Id like to think that the sessions are well organized and effective, but for some reason, near the end, when we share the "12-Steps in Reverse", a lot of what we had been talking about takes shape. Humor is an excellent tool, and I personally think the 12-Steps in Reverse is a hoot. I got this version from a friend, who got it from someone else. I dont know the author. There is a 12-Step in Reverse version on 12-Step.com, which is close to the following one and very funny. They think it might have come from AA Grapevine. We dedicate this version to the person who thought of it. "12-Step Program in Reverse" Step 1: I stated that I could handle my liquor and was master of my fate. Step 2: I firmly believed that I was entirely rational and sane in every respect. Step 3: I made a decision to run my own life and be successful in all my undertakings. Step 4: I made a searching and thorough inventory of my fellow man and found him lacking. Step 5: I admitted to no one, including God and myself, that there was anything wrong with me. Step 6: I sought through alcohol to overcome my responsibilities and escape the realities of life. Step 7: I got drunk to remove these shortcomings. Step 8: I made a list of all persons who had harmed me, whether imaginary or real, and swore to get even. Step 9: I got even whenever possible, except when to do so would further injure me. Step 10: I continued to find fault with the world and the people in it, and when I was right, promptly admitted it. Step 11: I sought through conniving and hypocrisy to improve myself materially at the expense of my fellow man, as I misunderstood him, asking only for the means to get or stay drunk and escape the realities of life. Step 12: After having had s complete moral, financial and physical breakdown, I tried to drag those who were dear to me down to my level and to practice this reasoning in all my affairs. These reverse steps always leave people laughing and the number one most common statement in response is, This is more true than you know. Ned Wicker is the Addictions Recovery Chaplain at Waukesha Memorial Hospital Lawrence Center

Apr 25, Drug Addiction Recovery

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:32:53 GMT

The human touch, the human connection is so vital to drug addiction recovery. Read some of their stories.

Apr 22, Busted and Going Downward

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:35:18 GMT

By Rev. Ned Wicker,

http://Drug-Addiction-Support.org

It was one of those sad stories that made no sense to me at the time. I was a young man, serving in the Navy overseas at the Naval Communications Station-Philippines. As the story goes, he got involved with a Filipino girl and failed to show up for duty for several days. That was only part of it. Chief Petty Officers are very important people in the Navy. Why would a man in his position do something that reckless? What were the underlying factors? Why would he do something that he KNEW would get him busted?

In the short time I knew this man, I felt profoundly sorry for him. Being too young and inexperienced, I did not understand his behavior, nor did I understand his pain. I have had nearly 40 years to process my observations. It wasnt the girl who caused him to go over the wall, it was drugs and alcohol. All of the signs were there, but I didnt know what I was seeing.

His life was a cycle of drinking until he passed out, taking bennies with his coffee the next morning to wake up, working his shift and going directly to the saloon to start all over again. He talked about how he was going to get his hat back, meaning he would be reinstated as a chief. But he knew that wasnt going to happen in the near future. Nevertheless, it was always a leading topic for discussion.

He knew where to get the really good dope from the local supplier, and told stories of his rendezvous at opium dens. But the Navy had done him wrong. It was not his fault. He was busted because somebody else was out to get him. He never talked about the girl. She was merely a stage prop in his tragedy.

I knew there was something wrong, something missing, but I didnt know at the time what it was. All the signs pointed to addiction. He used drugs and alcohol to numb his emotional pain. He used people and abused his friendships. The rest was an act, a venire to mask his true self from the outside world. He was a bully, but he wasnt tough.

He didnt need to be punished for his behavior, he needed treatment. I only knew him for a few months and never saw him again. But I might have been in a position to help, only I had no idea what I was dealing with. To the Navy, at the time, he was a guy busted for being absent without leave, shacked up with a girl. To me, looking back 40 years ago, he was a hurting man with a disease; if I only knew then what I know now.

Is there someone in your life who is showing the signs of addiction? If they are please try to help them; dont wait forty years.

Apr 16, Many Theories for Causes of Drug Addiction

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 20:18:38 GMT

By Rev. Ned Wicker,

Drug-Addiction-Support.org

It has always fascinated me that people of good will, people of letters, qualified people who study and earnestly try to understand the nature of addiction, can so often completely disagree with each other. Is drug addiction caused by a human beings response to pain? Is it genetic? Is it socio-economic? Is it caused by a lack of love?

The Mayo Clinic offers a scientific explanation of when drug addiction occurs, stating, Physical addiction appears to occur when repeated use of a drug alters reward pathways in your brain. The addicting drug causes physical changes to some nerve cells (neurons) in your brain. Neurons use chemicals called neurotransmitters to communicate.

Narcotics Anonymous sees the addiction as being caused partially by the self-esteem of the individual. People who have low self-concepts, who feel bad about themselves, have a higher rate of addiction. People with low self-concepts use psychoactive substances either to enhance or create pleasure in their lives, or to decrease the constant emotional pain they live with. The better a person feels about himself, the less likely he will be to use or abuse psychoactive substances. A society that has easy access to drugs that has a population that is "addiction-prone" due to genetics or emotional pain, and that has pro-use or unclear norms, is a society prone to addiction.

Another approach to the cause of drug addiction is presented by Dr. Greg Baer, a former ophthalmologist, who asserts that the primary cause of addiction is a response to pain, emptiness and the lack of what he calls real love. He does not ascribe to the theory that addiction is a disease. After extensive interviews with thousands of addicts, says Dr. Baer, less than one percent of them fail to respond enthusiastically to this definition of addiction and the clarification of the causes of drug addiction, whereas most of them have had serious problems with the usual definitions and explanations.

There are countless explanations of the cause of drug addiction. I chose these three because they offered different viewpoints. Humans are prone to excess. There is never enough, or its not good enough, or its not available soon enough. We push the limits, as Adam and Eve did in Genesis 3. When we push the limits of something, there are consequences, both medical and psychological. We search to get our fill of whats missing in our lives.

In the absence of God, there are few options. Power, wealth and pleasure, in varying degrees, are options for most people. Few people make the real love connection with God. Dr. Baer tries to make love connection, but without God. The human condition in most mandates that we accept God on our own terms, that we get to define God, that we set the limitations on just how close God is allowed to come.

What is the cause of addiction? It is a lack of allowing God in our lives.

Apr 8, An Answer to Prayer

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:49:50 GMT

by Rev. Ned Wicker

http://Drug-Addiction-Support.org

Janet sat in her car, motor running, in front of the small liquor store. She wrestled with the idea of going inside to buy a quart of vodka. Its not how she planned to spend her evening, but the urge to take a drink, just to get the edge off, was powerful. She was only home for a couple of days, having spent nearly four months in a residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. She was doing well and got a three-day pass to go home and see her mother. But there she was.

The recovery process had not been easy for her, as Janet struggled with the idea of going through a 12-Step program. Its not that she objected to the 12-Step, its more like she just did not understand or fully grasp the idea of turning her will and her life over to the care of God, as she understood Him. Janet felt that some power other than her own will was needed to help her through recovery, but exactly what that power was, or who that power was, kept her searching for answers. God who? She was making progress, but bouncing around the steps a little. The God thing was a difficult hurdle.

By her own admission, she did not know how long she sat in her car, debating with herself. She had gone into liquor stores before, many times, so it was no great fete to buy a bottle. But things were different now. She wanted to continue her recovery at the rehab center, and she didnt want to take any unnecessary steps backward. She decided to take a bold step and ask for help. Although she did not comprehend God in the way many others at the rehab center did, she started praying for help. There was nothing fancy about her request, just Please God I dont want to drink. Help me.

She put her car in gear, pulled out on the street and drove two blocks, turned left and there it was, the small community center where the local Alcoholics Anonymous meeting was about to take place. She had been trying to find it, but couldnt. She drove around for nearly 45 minutes and was ready to quit. She saw the liquor store and pulled over.

Its a true story. In a very real moment in time, for a very real purpose, a very real God answered her prayer for help. When she returned to rehab, she was convinced of a real and personal God. Janet took a major step forward after that experience, knowing that a real and loving God was there for her to call upon. Its not so much that a person has gone to church every week, or knows Bible verses, or is conversant in theology. What is important is the personal relationship with God. Everything else will fall into place. Janet made sure all of her friends knew that.

Apr 3, Popping Pills

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:31:58 GMT

By: Rev. Ned Wicker

http://Drug-Addiction-Support.org

Judy was participating in a long-term residential drug treatment program, and was three months into a six-month scheduled stay. She had sustained an injury to her right knee, which required a surgical intervention. The surgery, which was supposed to fix the problem, only made her life worse, as her mobility and the accompanying pain made routine movement a painful experience. She needed more and more of the prescription pain medication in order to manage her pain, and soon her life began to spiral out of control.

Soon, Judy was visiting several doctors to get pain medication prescriptions. While insurance would normally pay for a reasonable amount of the needed medicine, Judy had to come up with cleaver schemes to pay for hers. She began to steal things from her own house, and even slid to the point where she robbed her own children.

Judy said there was some attempt to curb her need for the prescription meds, but the treatment was ineffective no long-term management skills were learned. By the time she left town to check into long-term rehab, the husband was filing for divorce and telling their two children that mommy didnt love us anymore. What might have made matters worse is the fact that the husband was a law enforcement officer, and certainly having a drug addict for a wife would not do his career any good. Still he tried to be supportive, but by this time the fabric of their marriage had been ripped apart.

While working the 12-Step program, Judy rediscovered her spiritual side and began an intense study of her faith. She had been raised a Lutheran, but other than attending church at Christmas and Easter, there was no commitment by either Judy or her husband. She attended a Tuesday night Bible study at the treatment facility.

It was in those studies that Judy began to see herself in the real light of day, and saw the destruction of her marriage and family relationships. She began to understand the power of other drug addiction stories she heard about.

The 12-Step process calls for the addict to turn their will over to God, as they understand Him. During the next month an amazing transformation took place in Judys drug addiction stories, as Judy was no longer a victim of drug addiction, but took responsibility for her actions and started to really work the program with a new seriousness and energy. She began to bring others to the Bible studies and organized a weekly communion service for the residents.

A month, Judy was released and went into another treatment facility closer to her home. When she left she had no idea what would happen to her marriage, if she would be allowed to see her kids, or if there was any shred of a normal life waiting for her, but through her experiences, she discovered herself.

Apr 1, Easy Access

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:46:34 GMT

by Rev. Ned Wicker

www.Drug-Addiction-Support.org

Kevin was a registered nurse and participating in a short-term out-patient recovery program. Unlike many people who come into rehab, Kevin knew he had a problem, knew that the problem was left unchecked it would likely ruin his family life, his career and he was highly motivated to do his part.

Kevin had gotten into trouble at work by supplementing his prescribed pain medication with other medications found in the medicine room in the unit. Aside from the obvious, Kevin could have faced far worse consequences had he been caught stealing these drugs, and at minimum his nursing license would have been removed.
Kevin shuffled along in his treatment, spending long periods of time alone in his hotel room, but participated in all of the group sessions and in his individual treatment time.
During a Bible study, Kevin told one of the members of the group that he was a baseball umpire, and had ascended through the ranks to work NCAA games. As it turned out, another member was also an umpire just getting started. The two struck up a conversation and soon it was decided that if the local member could find work for Kevin, the two would work a game together. The day came and the local umpire had to throw together a uniform for Kevin and the two went off to the game, some 40 miles from the treatment center.
There was nothing unusual about the game, a mens league event, played at a nicely manicured minor league baseball park. The new umpire worked behind the plate and Kevin took the bases, using the between innings moments to encourage, instruct and coach his partner. For three hours on a Sunday afternoon, Kevin was not a drug addict, but the crew chief at a mens baseball game. The new umpire experienced Kevin as highly skilled, confident and very experienced.
In the next few days, Kevins progress accelerated, and that raised some concern with one of the therapists, who believed that Kevins attitude was too good, that so much change had taken place that something else had to be going on. They say Im depressed, Kevin told his friend. Im not at all depressed. Im quite the opposite. For the first time, I feel like Im getting better.
Soon after the game, Kevin was discharged, but upon returning home called his umpiring buddy and told him, A friend of mine here said that God would put somebody in my life at the treatment center and that person would have more to do with my recovery than anyone else. That was you.
Recovering addicts cant do it alone. It takes support, relationships. A few hours of frivolity on a Sunday afternoon, a sense of normalcy and a loving hand up from a friend made all the difference.

Mar 28, The most unworthy of these

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:11:06 GMT

By Rev. Ned Wicker,
http://Drug-Addiction-Support.org
The nurses were all talking about the two brothers. Its was at the daily morning meeting, when the interdisciplinary team gathered to discuss the status of each patient in the hospital. The nurses were exchanging notes on each patient and when the two brothers came up for review, the entire mood of the meeting changed.
I have found nurses to be professional and compassionate. Everything was always on a professional level with our group, but this day was different. The gloves were coming off and the two brothers were the cause of it all. Lets call them Bill and Bob. The nurses hated going into their rooms. Both were in at the same time, having been discovered by a social worker, who went to their house to check up on them, having not heard anything for a month. The social worker said they were living in filth. Bill and Bob were literally so deeply involved with drugs that they did not take time to get up off the couch for bodily functions. The description of the house staggered my imagination.
After detox, the brothers were assigned rooms. They treated their stay at the hospital like incarceration. They were rude, vulgar and upon seeing them myself, I could understand the nursing staffs disgust and irritation. There was nothing lovable about them. They had sheer distain for anybody else and the only thing that mattered to them was to get back to their house and continue using drugs. They had no use for me, of course, but it struck me that they needed to be loved and cared for, even if they want no part of it. Addiction did that to them. I wondered what they were like before, or what happened to bring them to this state. The more vial and defiant they were, the more I was moved to compassion.
The two brothers were going to die if left to their own devices. You can argue against that I suppose, but there was no indication that they had any ability to stop using, or any desire to stop using. Living as they did, being in the condition they were in, it was only a matter of time. Drug addiction is insidious. These brothers were not going to get better, because they had no capacity to connect all the dots. Intervention, albeit forced, was the only thing that prevented death from having its say. They were 48 and 46 years old, but they looked 20 years older.
From a Christian worldview, the story of these two brothers is heartbreaking because drug addiction has robbed them of their humanity. We see two nasty and disgusting men, but men who are dearly loved by God. For that fact alone, they are worthy. The lesson I learned was recovery from drug addiction is all about restoration of ones humanity.

Mar 26, Graduation Day?

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:26:08 GMT

By Rev. Ned Wicker, Drug-Addiction-Support.org
The group session on spirituality was just wrapping up when one of the staffers opened the door and asked Are you almost finished? For Janice, one of four women in the group, it was time to go home. She had finished a five-day stay at the residential drug and alcohol treatment center, and this day, as she put it, was graduation day.
It was a strange, almost surreal moment. After a stay in the hospital or treatment center, it should be good to go home and be with your. People, given they are medically stable and out of danger, heel better at home. Going home should be a good move. But was it?
Out in the lobby, her husband and pre-teen son waited. Now if my wife had been in treatment and was getting to go back home, Id be excited. A big part of my life would have been missing, but in his case, the expression on his face told the whole story. Words cant express the look. OK, its time to take the addict home. The son sat in a chair, head down, and when his mother came out, he didnt seem at all enthusiastic about seeing her. In a moment, the family situation became very clear.
Drug addiction tears up families, as those watching their loved one struggle with the disease will bear the emotional scars long after the addiction is under control. What might have been concern for the addict at one point in time sadly can turn to anger and resentment. Its a kind of Look what youve done to us mentality and nobody has to say anything. You can read it immediately. The family goes down the addiction path too, playing their roles. Organizations like Nar-Anon and Al-Anon/Alateen are there just for families. Just as the 12-Steps were created by addicts for addicts, those principles were the basis for family groups. And just like the addict, the family member is not alone. There is help and support. Janice gathered up her things. There was a short re-uniting in the lobby as she signed out. The moment was not joyous, no kisses, no I love you and it was like the husband was picking her up from work. His look told the whole story. She was leaving the structure and security of the treatment center and going back into the environment she was in while using. Graduation Day should be celebratory, but something was missing. In treatment, Janice received compassion and understanding from the other patients. In group it is obvious that they all can relate to each other. There is human connection on a surprisingly deep level, even though the people in treatment may only see each other for a few days. That was going to be missing. Perhaps she had resources lined up and could call on them at a moments notice. My sense was she did not. Graduation day didnt look so good.

Mar 20, Drug Addiction is a Disease

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 13:08:51 GMT

By Rev. Ned Wicker,
Drug-Addiction-Support.org
Admitting that drug addiction is a disease seems trite on the surface, but people look at drug addiction differently than they view heart disease, or cancer, or the common cold. There is always blame attached to drug addiction. There is always an accusatory finger to be pointed at the one who suffers from drug addiction disease.
Many in society assert that the addict is entirely to blame. There is not the same kind of sympathy for drug addicts that there is for smokers with cancer, or people with diabetes and heart disease. They are not viewed as people suffering from a disease.
The reasoning for society not being sympathetic to the addict is simple. People get hooked because they chose to take the drug in the first place. John Q. Public sees it that way and he can take the moral high ground because he didnt take drugs and somebody else did. Maybe John Q. took the drugs but didnt get hooked. People seeking a thrill might try a street drug like crack cocaine, methamphetamine, or heroin because of the rush, the high they produce and chronic users are those who have developed a need far beyond merely wanting a thrill.
Prescription medications that are abused, such as OxyContin, are coveted because the effect is intense and even greater than the heroin they get on the street. Even if they dont want a thrill, people can still become addicted to prescription medications just because they take more than the prescribed amount to feel better. In either case, nobody asked for their life to be ruined.
It may start innocently enough, but people get out of control. What started as a lark ends up as an albatross around their neck. It hangs there and the user cant get rid of it. Regardless of how the disease started, the person is no longer in control of it and cannot break free of the diseases power. People may have a few drinks, or enjoy a couple of trips to the buffet table, but sooner or later their body says its time to stop. With the addict, that thing that says stop isnt there. They dont get enough and continue, even long after another person has stopped. Its the inability to stop that causes so much pain and suffering.
Whatever the drug of choice, intervention and treatment are necessary for the addict to return to a healthy lifestyle. The problem for the addict is that society has attached a stigma to the disease. Bad people are drug addicts. Weak people are drug addicts. Undesirable people are drug addicts. No, people become addicts; good people, nice people. The well-educated, the blue collar, the rich, the poor, all colors and types are all potential addicts. They can all contract the disease. No one is exempt.
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Mar 17, What makes drug addiction start?

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 19:51:32 GMT

By Rev. Ned Wicker, drug-addiction-support.org
People do not set out to become addicts. Its not like going to the gym to change your body to promote health and fitness. Its not like people take crack cocaine for the first time because they truly believe its the best possible way to a better life. They take it for its effect. They want to get high. The problem is that the high is captivating.
Even if addiction does not set in, getting high becomes an alternative to experiencing life as it is. Users want to feel good, so they get high. Some users want to escape the realities of life, so they get high. They numb the pain. In either case, there is something missing. There is a hole in their heart and they try to fill it.
Our experience of life holds the key to understanding what is missing. We go through life gathering information and storing it in our memory. The information we gather is filtered by our mind and we add our interpretation of the event on to the event itself. It is how we interpret the event that assigns negative or positive to the experience. For example, I fail a test in school. I can either interpret this as an opportunity to improve and do better next time, or I can chose to dwell on the failure and perhaps even turn the event into a crisis. In both cases, my interpretation of the present is determined largely by our past.
Addiction disease may require a medical intervention, but there is also a spiritual component to it, and that spiritual component deals directly with the interpretation of life events. The need to use may be locked in a distant memory, or event a series of memories. Thats where psychotherapy comes in. Like unpeeling an onion, the task is to find the original memory. In his book, When Feelings Dont Come Easy, therapist Craig A. Miller talks about the necessity for people to find their feelings, and express those feelings. As an adult, one may look back at a childhood event and relive the emotions of the event, and through that reliving of the event learn to interpret as an adult. The Apostle Paul said that when he was a child, he thought like a child. As an adult, he thinks like an adult. Through reliving events, people can find the truth about those events and receive healing for the hurts.
The value of therapy to unlock feelings is enormous. As a pastor and chaplain, I firmly believe in a Christian-based approach to the therapy, based upon accepted psychotherapeutic theories and techniques. I have seen too many religious quacks, spewing out a toxic faith that leads to doing more damage. Remember, we are body, mind and spirit, and so trained professionals in each area are best suited to help people get in touch with their memories and the feelings that accompany them.

Mar 13, The most compassionate counselors

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 22:13:03 GMT

By Rev. Ned Wicker,
drug-addiction-support.org

The executive director of a residential drug treatment center was meeting with the board of directors and talking about the qualifications of the staff. There was a long laundry list of administrative topics to be covered, as the group plowed through the manual on employment policies for the facility. Most of the talking points were rather dull, until the director came to legal issuesthe criminal background check.

The director noted that background checks were standard procedure for any potential employee, but that many of the staff of the facility would not exactly do well. Unlike many of the other professions represented around the conference table; clergy, office administration, executive, the counselors working with the residents were all former addicts, who had come through the tunnel and now giving back to the community. The combined arrest records for drug possession would be long and diverse. But who better to do that kind of work.

I few years ago I met a man who had really been through the mill. His entire adult life was filled with arrests, overdoses, broken relationships and serious health issues. His story read like a clinical piece on the hazards of drug addiction. He had been through it all. He took his job very seriously, as he was genuinely grateful for a second chance in life and more than enthusiastic about helping someone else. He knew all of the tricks, all of the excuses all of the psychology of addiction, and none of the addicts in recovery could pull the wool over his eyes. Moreover, he loved them. As a recovering addict himself, he had a kind of compassion borne only of experience. He understood completely and he cared.

But he didnt always get along with staff members who did not share his experience with addiction. The staff did not always agree with his methods, thinking he was too harsh when he confronted patients concerning their attitudes and behavior. There was a nurse who seemed to go out of her way to voice her disapproval. He couldnt seem to help head-butting with her, but when telling the story of an encounter with her, he would try to acknowledge her concerns while maintaining the validity of his approach. The psychotherapists didnt quarrel with him, or the unit manager, just that one nurse. Like many counselors in treatment centers, he was a little rough around the edges and he was quick to admit that he needed work on his people skills.

Still, who better to treat recovering addicts, who better to share their fears and frustrations, who better to encourage them to work through the program. Those who have been there and done that are often perfect for the job. The problem is, as our director pointed out, if you read the criminal background report and stick to the rules, youd probably miss them entirely. That would be a huge loss.

Mar 11, Parents need to take the lead against drug abuse

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 18:19:28 GMT

By Rev. Ned Wicker, drug-addiction-support.org
I remember a conversation I had with a police detective some 35 years ago. He was telling me about what a mother had told him over the phone about her teenaged son. Once hes out of the house, hes not our problem. The detective, who served an upscale suburban community, was explaining to me that parents can be irresponsible and in his mind almost criminal in their neglect of children.
Parents are the most important people in a childs life. They set the tone for everything. If parents abuse drugs, the children are likely to abuse drugs. If husbands beat their wives, their sons will likely be wife beaters too. If parents divorce and abandon their children, those children are not likely to become model parents either. Parents are the front line in the prevention of drug abuse and theres so much they can do to try to secure the best possible future for their children.
The trouble is parents want schools to do everything. Teachers become parents, because once hes out of the house hes not our problem. What happens in the home is more important than what happens in the classroom. Parents can set the example by being informed. That begins with understanding the dangers of prescription medication. What is in your medicine cabinet? Do you know what medications are in the house, and how much of that medication you have? Are medications out of date?
Take an inventory and keep track of what is in the house.
If a medication runs out too quickly, that is a sign that someone might be abusing that drug. Talk to your kids and make this a family project.
Teens especially will experiment with drugs. They hear about the experiences of their friends. They want to be cool and part of the crowd. If they experiment with the drugs in your house, what will happen? If you have a pain medication, what will that do? If you have a stimulant of some kind, what will that do? What are the dangers of overdose? Ask yourself, what are the dangers to my child?
Take control. Be the parent, the adult. Have an open conversation with your children about drugs, especially the drugs in your house. Stay on top of it and know the inventory. Make connections with principals and teachers at the school, with your family doctor and pharmacist, and with local law enforcement officials.
Be savvy. Know what is in your house, in the community and the potential negative impact it will have on your family. Drug abuse prevention starts in the home with responsible parents. Having this family discussion and having a plan about how to handle the medications in your home will be an effective preventative measure.

Mar 8, Who knew this would happen?

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 21:52:53 GMT

By Rev. Ned Wicker, drug-addiction-support.org

This is a story about a beautiful, bright and intelligent girl. She was the best player on her eighth grade basketball team and she appeared to have all of the requisite talent to excel in high school and perhaps earn an athletic scholarship. But she never went out for the high school team. Too much time commitment was her reasoning and she never played again.

That might have raised a red flag for some parents, but mom and dad supported her decision to drop basketball, and there was no cause for alarm because her grades were exceptional. She was a gifted student and even as a toddler, she surprised everyone by speaking in complete sentences. Articulate and intelligent, she was always an amazing child. She graduated at the head of the class.

But something happened. There was something disconnected in her life. There were no major signs of something wrong, at least on the surface. All teens rebel, its a part of growing up, but with her there was an uncomfortable, underlying militancy. Its like she never grew out of her teenage rebellion. She began to withdraw socially. Her circle of friends changed.

She went off to college. Mom and dad paid for everything. Some kids get homesick and have difficulty adjusting. Some love college life and they embrace the experience. She did neither. She got a job on campus, but did not enjoy campus life. She refused to allow her parents to see her grades at the end of the semester. She was a very bright student, so there should not have been any academic problems, so her parents allowed it. As it turned out, she was not going to class at all. She just took her parents money.

Her life became a series of bizarre events, too numerous to mention. All of the signs were there, but her family didnt see it. They didnt suspect drug use. They didnt know what to look for. They didnt believe it. Parents all over the country are in the same situation, they know theres something not right, but they just cant put their finger on it.

The days of Leave It to Beaver are over and parents need to be savvy, to recognize the signs of drug use. Yes, parents do have the right to pry into the lives of their children, especially if they have a concern they do not understand. Be proactive and learn the warning signs of drug abuse. Your beautiful, bright and intelligent girl might be in trouble, and you wont see it.

Mar 3, Bad things often start from good ones

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:21:25 GMT

By Rev. Ned Wicker, drug-addiction-support.org

Its human nature to test the limits of just about anything. Look at the inquisitive mind of a two year-old, or the daring bicycle leap of a ten year-old. We explore the limits of everything. John F. Kennedy talked about putting a man on the moon in his inaugural address, which was given just a few years after the discovery of a vaccine for polio.

Americans marveled at the speed and efficiency of the steam locomotive in the 1800s, and some even complained that the noise and break-neck speed of 25 miles per hour was a disturbance to cattle and horses. But that soon gave way to faster trains, then flight. We always test the limits.

Human nature also seeks pleasure. We want to feel good and have a good time. We stretch the limits. The pleasurable sip of a good Scotch whiskey turns into alcohol dependence. The relief from pain we receive from a prescription drugs can turn into a health-destroying lifestyle.

We push the limits.

We make decisions based on what we want or what we think we need.

For example, OxyContin, is an effective pain management medication when taken as directed under the care of a physician. The active ingredient in this drug is oxycodone, which is a synthetic opiate. It is derived from morphine. But the drug is popular on the street for recreation.

When I was working at a large urban medical center, emergency room doctors and nurses would often tell me about patients who not only were asking for these drugs, but demanding them. The abuse of the emergency rooms around the country is rampant. They want the drug so they can grid it up and snort it.

People who abuse this drug say that the effect, the rush is better than heroin.

Sadly, even people who take the medicine according to prescribed direction can fall victim to its addictive nature. Without intentionally abusing it, OxyContin users can get into trouble, but Hanson wrote that patients who use the drug properly and follow their doctors directions rarely become addicted.

Its the pleasure seeker that gets into trouble. In my work with drug rehab patients, the numbers of people abusing and/or addicted to oxycotton is similar to those addicted to crack or heroin. Its easy to get. Online pharmacies will sometimes offer the drug, even if the seeker doesnt have a prescription.

Who is to blame? Purdue Pharma, the drugs manufacturer? Doctors? Pharmacies? Abusers? Or do we blame our own human nature and our own inclination to test the limits? Information on drugs is readily available. The possibility for addiction to OxyContin because of abuse is well documented. What is intended for good can easily be twisted for evil. Human nature has been doing that since the beginning.

Feb 28, Nothing new under the sun

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:27:34 GMT

By Rev. Ned Wicker, drug-addiction-support.org

The Book of Ecclesiastes, nestled in the Old Testament between Proverbs and Song of Songs, offers us some insight as to who we are and where we came from. Ecclesiastes 1:9 states, What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. There is nothing new under the sun about addiction to opiates.

An old hymn, Oh God and Father of Mankind borrowed from John Greenleaf Whittiers poem, The Brewing of Soma, which was written as a response to the use of morphine during the Civil War. Whittier recognized the struggle to cope with pain, brokenness and limitation experience by those suffering from the clutches of morphine. He wrote:

Dear Lord and Father of Mankind,
Forgive us our foolish ways!
Reclothe us in our rightful mind,
In purer lives Thy service fine,
In deeper reverence praise.

Drop Thy still of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls,
The storm and stress,
And let our ordered lives
The beauty of Thy peace.

Breathe through the hearts of our desire
Thy coolness and Thy balm;
Let sense be numb, let flesh retire;
Speak through the earthquake, wind and fire,
O still, small voice of calm.

Morphine, developed in Germany around 1810, found its way to the United States in the 1850s and was widely used during the Civil War, touted by the medical community for its ability to block pain. The unintended consequences of morphine use was the problem of addiction, and by the end of the war there were tens of thousands of addicted Union and Confederate soldiers. With no control over its distribution, morphine was everywhere. Laudanum was a mixture of morphine and alcohol and even given to children.

German scientists found a solution. They believed the new drug would deliver all of benefits of morphine and be safe and non-addictive. In 1874 they came up with heroin.

Derived from morphine, heroin was going to be the answer. The United States Congress passed the Dangerous Drug Act in 1920, but by then, the cow was already far out of the barn, so the effort was too little, too late. By 1925, an estimated 200,000 people were addicted to heroin. It continues today.

Opiate addiction is nothing new. Treatments for this addiction cab be very effective, and all credit goes to those who fight against this addiction every day by coming up with innovative ways of combating it. But Ecclesiastes warns there is nothing new under the sun. They may develop new drugs, but the human nature that leads to the abuse of those drugs will not change. The problem persists because of human nature. Its nothing new.

Feb 25, Prescription Drugs: Doctor prescribed addiction?

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:14:46 GMT

You cant get away from them. Prescription drugs are all over the television, every channel is filled with ads for pills; pills that will make our lives better.

Feb 22, Success is addictive

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 16:22:00 GMT

By Rev. Ned Wicker, drug-addiction-support.org
The starting of Spring Training activities in Florida and Arizona were over shadowed by the recent testimonies before a congressional committee by Major League Baseball superstar Roger Clemens and his former trainer Brian McNamee concerning the Mitchell Report findings of steroid use. We dont always think of steroids as being addictive, but addiction takes on many faces and professional athletes are lured by the potential upside of using an illegal substance.
Whether a player took steroids to gain a competitive edge, or recover from an injury, the craving or need for success and financial gain is very powerful. In the case of the players the drug is not so much steroids as it is fame and fortune.
From the time they are small boys, professional baseball players are told how good they are, how great they are. They are set apart. Even high school players are all too often playing by a different set of rules, because they have that potential for greatness.
Somehow its ok to get the edge, especially when everybody else is doing it. Fathers live vicariously through their sons and turn the other way, even though steroid use may inflict serious health consequences on their sons. They arent thinking about the potential for liver cancer, heart attacks, or the premature stopping of bone growth in teens. Hepatitis and HIV are also serious risks, as are depression and suicide. Its all about success and getting to the show.
The experience of professional athletes, who use steroids to gain an edge or recover from injury, despite the health risks, is very similar to any addict who uses to feel better or remove the pain. I am reminded of the 12-Step process as I comb through the media coverage of the hearings. When it comes to drugs, has Major League Baseball gone through the steps as an organization? Has MLB made a fearless and moral inventory of itself? I doubt that MLB sees steroids in terms of addiction. They see it as a mark on the sport, a public relations problem. Would baseball even be able to go through the steps at all? Even when players admit they took steroids, in most cases they fall short of really sincere apologies, so how could they navigate through Steps 8 and 9, making a list of persons they harmed and be willing to make amends?
Steroid use in sports is another indication of our inclination, as a people, to abuse drugs and avoid the responsibility of our actions. There may be no legal or health ramifications, but our addictive nature sits there, waiting for another opportunity. We need to deal with our inclination towards drug abuse, long before we take drugs. While this latest chapter is about baseball players and a trainer, if you take a step back and see the broader picture, its about human nature. Its about all of us.

Feb 18, God bless the bad guy

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:06:03 GMT

By Rev. Ned Wicker, drug-addiction-support.org
When it comes to delivering a message, or taking even the most appropriate and necessary action, nobody really likes to be the bad guy. In the case of addiction, the bad guy is the one who takes action and intercedes on behalf of a friend or loved one. God bless the bad guy, who sees a problem, tries to help, and in so many cases may wind up saving a life.
A couple of years ago I was on-call at the emergency room of the hospital, I noticed a man getting out of his car in front of the door. He was in his early 40s and very fit. He had an athletic build and was muscular like a football player. He walked to the triage nurse and said he was seeking help for his friend. He explained that he had called his friend, but got no answer. Worried, he went over to his friends apartment and found him in a rundown physical stake.
The man brought his friend, Frank into the hospital. Frank was a mess. He smelled of alcohol and urine, and it was obvious he had not had any interest in taking care of himself. He probably weighed 130-140 pounds, but was nearly six feet tall. Skinny does not adequately describe him, as his bones stuck out and his dim, dark eyes were deep set in his face. He looked like someone coming out of a Nazi concentration camp.
As the medical team tended to Frank, his friend, Scott and I had a chat and he told me an amazing story.
Frank is an old friend. He used to be my training partner and believe it or not, he used to look like me, Scott explained. We used to do triathlons together and it wasnt that long ago. But then I moved to another town and we sort of drifted apart. We talked on the phone, but I never expected this.
He went on to explain that Frank didnt want help, but agreed to a check-up, just to see if he was ill. After a while the nurse invited us into the examining room. The doctor said that Frank in trouble, that the disease was probably going to kill him unless there was something done to reverse the direction it was taking.
Frank by this time was sensing that the hospital staff wanted to keep him there. He didnt want treatment, he didnt want to stay and he became angry. By this time Frank was not speaking to his friend, the bad guy who turned him in.
Frank was admitted and stayed a few days, as his friend contacted Franks family. I recall Franks father telling me that Scott was responsible for saving Franks life. The father was so grateful and expressing his feelings to me brought him to tears. Scott did save a life that day.

Feb 13, 12-Steps without God?

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:58:51 GMT

By Ned Wicker, drug-addiction-support.org
I recently encountered a devout atheist during a drug and alcohol spirituality group at a rehabilitation center. The one-hour session is intended to be an introduction to the spiritual aspects of recovery, centered on 12-Step, and not a religious lecture. From the start, he communicated his lack of enthusiasm.
Because of time constraint, we limit the discussion to the first three steps. He seemed to be somewhat in agreement with our discussion of the first step, but when we got to the third step, turning our will and our lives over to the care of God, as WE understand him, his resistance to the material was staunch. I should have known, as his displeasure with the discussion of Step 2 was obvious, as he did not agree that there was the possibility of a power greater than ourselves. He glared at me the whole time.
In my role as group facilitator, I have no problem with atheists or agnostics, because they are often the most honest people in the group about their addiction. They tell me what they are thinking and feeling, not what they think I want to hear. In the case of this young man, he was certain that addiction recovery was a solo operation and that no relationship, either with the God he did not believe in, or with another person, was going to have any serious impact on his health. You have to do this by your own strength, he said. There was no other way to recovery and he was adamant about that. He was also angry about being at the treatment center, being in a spirituality group and being in the unenviable throws of addiction.
However, I sensed he felt a connection to the other people in the group and as the hour wore on, and he began to relax and accept the possibility that he was not alone. The other members of the group were gentle and understanding. They understood him. They accepted him. I recall Bill Ws struggle with God, as documented in the Big Book. Bills struggle is so much like that of this young man. If there was the possibility of a God, what would he be like? Could it be that God works through the people we know, so we dont have to go through our struggles alone?
There are so many people who suffer through situations alone, not having any sense that a power greater than themselves is there to help. The stories from addicts over the years have reassured me of a personal and present God, as through them I get a glimpse of how God loves us. I hope the young man in my group discovers that for himself very soon.

Feb 11, Accidental, but not uncommon

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 03:34:48 GMT

Actor Brad Renfros fatal overdose is a sad reminder that heroin use can lead to devastating consequences. Its an even sadder reminder that no matter how much money and resources are pumped into drug education programs, the message still doesnt get out. Its not like this is a new phenomenon.

Renfro, who died on January 15, was only 25. Most young users seek the rush that the drug gives. People who use heroin regularly develop a tolerance to it and that leads to abuse. Abusers need more and more heroin to get the same rush and as the amount of heroin needed grows, the dependence on the drug takes hold. Addicts need the drug because their bodies have become used to the drug being present, as if it were supposed to be there in order for everything to function. The body can become fooled into thinking it needs the heroin. That is what leads to overdose.

We know about this young mans death because he was famous, a child film star. But there are thousands whom we do not know, kids who have run away from home, or are looking for a thrill. Young people have that feeling of invincibility, with no real awareness of their own mortality. It wont happen to me. Hospital emergency rooms deal with heroin every day. It does happen to you.

The Los Angeles coroners office said there was no foul play, but there was. The illegal manufacturing, distribution and sale of heroin is foul play. Heroin is highly addictive, and even with court-ordered drug rehabilitation in 2006, and three years of probation, the lure of the drug was too powerful for Renfro to resist.

Knowing the addictive and potentially deadly nature of heroin may not be enough to keep a young person from trying it for the first time. Perhaps Renfro was exposed to the D.A.R.E. Program (drug addiction resistance education), or something similar when he was in school. Entertainment icons like Janis Joplin came to an untimely end because of heroin. Its been around. Its nothing new. Yet the message is lost on some people.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction please enroll in a local drug addiction recovery program before its too late and the drug takes control!