Narcotics Anonymous - Why Are We Here?

For many drug addicts, they find lasting recovery with the program of Narcotics Anonymous. Many drug addicts will in some way or another, identify with the excerpt below, taken from the Basic Text of Narcotics Anonymous.

Chapter Three
Why Are We Here?
"Before coming to the Fellowship of N.A., we could not manage our own lives. We could not live and enjoy life as other people do. We had to have something different and we thought we had found it in drugs. We placed their use ahead of the welfare of our families, our wives, husbands, and our children. We had to have drugs at all costs. We did many people great harm, but most of all we harmed ourselves. Through our inability to accept personal responsibilities we were actually creating our own problems. We seemed to be incapable of facing life on its own terms.
Most of us realized that in our addiction we were slowly committing suicide, but addiction is such a cunning enemy of life that we had lost the power to do anything about it. Many of us ended up in jail, or sought help through medicine, religion and psychiatry. None of these methods was sufficient for us. Our disease always resurfaced or continued to progress until in desperation, we sought help from each other in Narcotics Anonymous.
After coming to N.A. we realized we were sick people. We suffered from a disease from which there is no known cure. It can, however, be arrested at some point, and recovery is then possible."

If you or a loved one suffers from drug addiction, there is hope. Please call our 24 hour help line at 1-866-478-9898.

Restoring the Drug Addict to Sanity

For those suffering from drug addiction, the last thing they want to admit is that their drugging has caused them to be "insane" The definition of insanity, to many, is repeating the same behavior over and over again, expecting different results. For example, the addict who needs a fix, a smoke, the pipe first thing in the morning, may find that by taking that first drug only results in progressive using throughout the day, into the night until they run out of money or the like. As insane as addicts can be when in the grips of the disease of addiction, the addict may really believe they can still have that first fix the next morning, hoping to yield a different result, maybe they believe they can stop after the first fix or two, maybe they believe they can continue using "normally" and not to excess that eventually leads to dire consequences. Most times, the addict will not be successful in their attempts to control their using. That is what we call "insanity".
Many addicts have found the answer through the 12 steps of Narcotics Anonymous. Restoring the addict to sanity is practiced through Step Two of Narcotics Anonymous.

"We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity."

As the addict approaches this step, they begin to consider that maybe, just maybe, there is a Power Greater than themselves - a Power capable of healing their hurt, calming their confusion, and restoring their sanity. The addict learns and understands that finding this "Higher Power" doesn't mean they have to be religious. That's far from the truth, the addict learns that the 12 Steps of Narcotics Anonymous is a spiritual, not religious program. As the addict remains clean and continues to work Step Two, they discover that no matter how long their addiction has gone on and how far their insanity has progressed, there is no limit to the ability of a "Higher Power" restoring them to sanity. There is help for the drug addict.

The Disease of Addiction

What makes the addict is the disease of addiction - not the drugs, not the alcohol, not the behavior, but the disease. There is "something" within the alcoholic/drug addict that makes it impossible to control the use of drugs or alcohol. This same "something" also makes them prone to obsession and compulsion in other areas of their lives. How can one tell when the disease is active? When the alcoholic/drug addict becomes trapped in obsessive, compulsive, self-centered routines, endless loops that lead nowhere but to physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional decay.

The disease of addiction can manifest itself in many ways. When the alcoholic/drug addict first realizes their problem, they think it's just the drugs or alcohol that is the culprit of their problems. Later to find out that their addiction is wreaking havoc in their lives in any number of ways.

It is suggested that working through the twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous can help the addict/alcoholic identify and understand their disease. Help the addict/alcoholic find freedom from active addiction.

Denial of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction - Take the Test

Denial...the part of the alcoholism disease or drug addiction disease that tells them they don't have a disease. How many times have you heard about the alcoholic or drug addict minimizing the effects of their disease, not wanting to see the reality of their addiction to drugs or alcohol.

Here's an easy way to tell if you or a loved one may be in denial of alcoholism or drug addiction, as taken from excerpts in the Narcotics Anonymous step working guide:

1. Have you or the alcoholic or drug addict given plausible but untrue reasons for you or their behavior?

2. Have you or the alcoholic or drug addict compulsively acted on an obsession, and then acted as if you or they had actually planned to act that way?

3. How have you or the alcoholic or drug addict blamed other people for you or their behavior?

4. How have you or the alcoholic or drug addict compared you or their addiction or alcoholism with others' addiction or alcoholism?

5. Are you or the alcoholic or drug addict avoiding action because you or they are afraid to be ashamed when facing the results of alcoholism or drug addiction? Are you or the alcoholic or drug addict avoiding taking action because of what others may think?

The list can go on, however these are the key elements of denial that those with alcoholism and drug addiction contend with. This is both a test for alcoholism and a test for drug addiction, they may be a different substance, however the disease manifests itself the same.

If you or a loved one answers "yes" to more than one question, you may want to look into alcohol treatment or drug treatment, also referred to as alcohol rehab or drug rehab. There, professionals will be helpful in unraveling the disease of alcoholism and drug addiction, starting you on your path of sustained recovery.

Blessings to you.....

How important is spirituality in addiction recovery?

The decision to confront an addiction, whether alcohol, drugs, sex, or gambling requires a great deal of personal inventory, discovery, and/or re-discovery. In most addicts lives, running from core issues in our lives (e.g. feelings of worthlessness, childhood trauma, grief/loss, mood swings, etc.)helps to maintain the addiction and the numbing effects of the drug or process addiction.

Recovery requires nothing less than transformation! I often say this as a "mantra" when greeting new clients to Paradise Recovery. For certain, the addiction required your full and undivided attention, so recovery will ask for nothing less.

Spirituality is a key component to recovery. Notice, I'm not saying, "religion". Spirituality means having to do with your inner world and how your inner world connects with the inner world of another or some other thing. Often the aim of spirituality is peace and inner serenity. However, spirituality has aided many women and men through rough times and when life appears hopeless. Spirituality is both the container and the items in the container. You partner with spirituality to become the most authentic and happy person you can become...you thrive!

The self-help movement of alcoholics anonymous (AA)and more recently narcotics anonymous (NA) has been described as the most powerful spiritual movement of our time. The authentic connections, sharings, tears, laughter, coffee, etc. are all ingredients to a spirituality that works for many people who buy-in to the transformation concept.

Each person needs to find out for themselves what and how spirituality will bring them to the inner peace and serenity, while not running anymore from the "black pains" in our lives. Obviously, spirituality is very important. It is the ongoing relationship with yourself. You becoming YOU!

If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction, please do not hesitate to seek help. The transformation required cannot be accomplished alone! Call our HelpLine at (866) 478-9898.

Recuperatio Primoris.