Help For The Alcoholic!
By Kevin OLeary
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Help For The Alcoholic
by Kevin O'Leary

Question: If an alcoholic is unwilling to get help, what can you do about it?

Alcoholics don't respond very well to advice, suggestions, or threats. One would imagine that under these circumstances an alcoholic is doomed to oblivion. You must realize the alcoholic is desperate to get more and more alcohol, and he or she may lie, cheat and steal in order to do so.

Very simply, an alcoholic is a person whose life is controlled by alcohol. They are sick.

Question: If the alcoholic is sick why doesn't he or she just go to the hospital?

Because in the early stages of alcoholism, the alcoholic does not appear sick, in pain, or visibly abnormal. Alcoholics do not comprehend that they are about to become a very sick person, and neither do the people around them.

By the time an alcoholic is in the late stage, he or she is often irrational, deluded, and unable to understand what has happened. The alcoholic is simply not aware of what is going on in his or her body and is in a complete state of denial.

Being an alcoholic is not a curse. The alcoholic is a sick person and should be treated as one. Alcoholics are born with a hereditary, genetic predisposition to addiction having to do with brain chemistry. Alcoholics need to ingest alcohol before the addiction takes hold. Alcoholism is a progressive disease, and without treatment it only gets worse.

If an alcoholic is unwilling to seek help, is there any way to get them into treatment?

Sure the courts force alcoholics into treatment all the time. Rehab centers are overflowing with people who don't want to be there. The real question is, will forcing an alcoholic into treatment guarantee recovery? The answer is no.

A perfect example is the alcoholic with multiple DUI arrests. These folks have all been through one or more programs. Why didn't any of them stick? The answer is the alcoholic refused to admit to themselves they have a problem.

No alcoholic is hopeless. If you're trying to get an alcoholic sober, learn to accept the fact that the alcoholic is sick, from an illness he cannot control, and neither can you. The alcoholic is addicted and an addict cannot stop on their own volition.

The first step in treating the alcoholic is the detoxification stage. The alcoholic must truly want to stop drinking or detoxification becomes a temporary solution. The biggest symptom to overcome for an alcoholic is their denial of having a drinking problem. An alcoholic is "someone who could be helped and is worth helping only if they decide not to drink.

Once an alcoholic is in treatment, they more than likely will be asked to start attending Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings, usually daily. It is not easy to know when or if an alcoholic is "ready" for (AA). You can't make the decision for them. People bounce

SHOCKING REPORT!
Below are excerpts from a recent CASA (National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse) report. The facts speak for themselves. NEW CASA REPORT FINDS HALF OF COLLEGE STUDENTS BINGE DRINK, ABUSE PRESCRIPTION AND ILLEGAL DRUGS NEARLY ONE IN FOUR MEET MEDICAL CRITERIA FOR ALCOHOL, DRUG ABUSE AND DEPENDENCE WASHINGTON, D. C., March 15, 2007 – Forty-nine percent (3.8 million) of full time college students binge drink and/or abuse prescription and illegal drugs, according to Wasting the Best and the Brightest: Substance Abuse at America’s Colleges and Universities, a new report by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. “It’s time to get the ‘high’ out of higher education,” said Joseph A. Califano, Jr., CASA’s chairman and president and former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. “Under any circumstances acceptance by administrators, trustees, professors and parents of this college culture of alcohol and other drug abuse is inexcusable. In this world of fierce global competition, we are losing thousands of our nation’s best and brightest to alcohol and drugs, and in the process robbing them and our nation of their promising futures.” Between 1993 and 2005 the proportion of students abusing prescription drugs increased: 343 percent for opioids like Percocet, Vicodin and OxyContin 93 percent for abuse of stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall 450 percent for tranquilizers like Xanax and Valium 225 percent for sedatives like Nembutal and Seconal Between 1993 and 2005, the proportion of students who: Use marijuana daily more than doubled to 310,000 Use cocaine, heroin, and other illegal drugs (except marijuana) is up 52 percent to 636,000. In this age where popping a pill is seen as the solution to so many problems, both physical and mental, what will it take to get college students to say no to drug abuse--all drug abuse?We at Narconon International know that the best solution for the problem is effective drug education done early and done well! And that's why Narconon® drug education--booklets, videos, live presenters--continues in heavy demand worldwide. Want to help? Do the Drug Prevention Specialist Course at the International Training Center in McAlester, Oklahoma!
The First Step Program
• The person tries to escape some physical or emotional pain by taking drugs.• The person finds that drugs offer temporary relief so continues to use them.• Cells in the body become accustomed to large amounts of drug metabolites (a broken down form of the drug).• When one tries to quit, cells in the body that have become accustomed to such large amounts of metabolites are now forced to deal with much decreased amounts.• The body perceives that it needs the drug to function and demands the drug through physical cravings.• With continued use of the drug, the body's inability to completely eliminate all traces of the drug metabolites diminishes. The metabolites that remain are stored in the fatty tissues and these, released, cause cravings.• Cravings become so severe that the addict will do almost anything (in many cases abandoning all previous moral teachings) to get more of the drug.• The addict commits misdeeds against family, friends and self to satisfy these unrelenting cravings.• Because of these misdeeds, the addicts cannot face themselves and dive deeper into drugs.• They are now entrapped in full blown addiction, with two aspects of the condition. The biophysical condition and the biochemical personality. NARCONON addresses The Biochemical Side and the reasons why a person became addicted in the first place.Handling The Biochemical Side Of Addiction
The First Step Program Book
For a person addicted to drugs, be it alcohol, street drugs or prescription medications of some sort, the pains and discomforts of withdrawal are often too much to bear and prevent the person from quitting the drug. The NARCONON® First Step program has the only technology that can help to ease the withdrawal symptoms and pain experienced in coming off drugs without the use of drugs themselves. The Narconon First Step Program Book entitled An Effective Method for Drug Free Withdrawal is intended for use in real life and is being offered at the low price of $19.95. Order your copy of The First Step Program from Narconon Arrowhead, Call 800-468-6933 or e-mail info@stopaddiction.com (mailto:info@stopaddiction.com).$19.95 US (104pp.) ©2006 Narconon of Oklahoma, Inc. All Rights Reserved. NARCONON and the Narconon logo are registered trademarks and service marks owned by Association for Better Living and Education International and are used with its permission.©1990 BRIDGE PUBLICATIONS INCORPORATEDALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Printed in USA.
A New Life to be Thankful for
Just over six years ago a young man, whose family had high hopes for him and confidence in his abilities, returned from rehab in an attempt to clean up his act. Stan, as we'll call him, was just about to turn 21 and entered the treatment facility to escape charges of drunk driving. The problem was that he was doing it for reasons other than for himself.It didn't take long at all for his addiction to kick back in, in fact the flight attendant on the way home offered him a beer despite telling her that he had no money, was underage and just got out of rehab. Then, back at home his friends threw him a welcome back party where he proceeded to get drunk. I just thought I was doing what college-aged guys were supposed to do, recalled Stan of his rocky past, I didn't realize at the time how destructive my behavior was to myself and others. The next month or so Stan struggled with a meager attempt to stay clean, justifying the times he went out drinking and continuing the lie to himself that he didn't have a problem.When Thanksgiving arrived, Stan was working his first week at yet another job. Two nights before, he had taken ecstasy for the first time and was still reeling from the effects of the highly dangerous drug. He sat quietly at the table full of guilt as he made up one lie after the other to his family about how he was doing. I felt horrible, says Stan, I couldn't even look my parents in the eye and told them that I thought somebody slipped something in my drink the other night. After Thanksgiving, I drifted even further away from my family and slipped into full-blown drug and alcohol use again. This type of behavior and the consequences are typical around the Holiday Season, but it doesn't have to be. There are effective solutions available to ensure that loved ones are safe during the Holidays, getting the help they need.
I was convinced I was doomed...
I was convinced I was doomed... Before coming to Narconon Arrowhead I was convinced I was doomed to a life stuck in the vicious cycle of relapse. I couldn't accept the fact that not only could I not stop using drugs but also that other treatments just didn't work. After a short stint in in-patient treatment (approximately 21 days), followed by outpatient group counseling and the usual meetings I was still stuck in a terrible place. I was somehow able to stop for awhile but each relapse was worse than the time before. It became apparent I was either going to live or DIE. I was in a place I never thought I'd be and I was engaging in the immoral and unethical behavior consistent with addiction. I was a liar and a thief and on my way to dying.We found the Narconon Arrowhead website and after reading about the sauna program I felt something for the first time in a long time-HOPE. I knew my body was working against me, I just didn't know how to fix it. My best friend was desperate to save my life and shared the details of this program with my parents.
I'm starting to give back
I began seriously using drugs in my early to mid thirties. At this time I had a successful business and two beautiful children. By the time I was 35 the business was closed and I was using equipment to buy drugs and alcohol. I lost my two children. Luckily, they were able to be raised by their grandparents.The cycle began again in my early forties. Again I had a successful business a beautiful wife, a great new son, and another on the way. I couldn't let what happened before occur all over again.I found Narconon® and after graduating in November 2004, I am a father, husband, friend, son, and leader. I can walk tall for my family.I am starting to give back now with my first $500.00 donation to Narconon. I plan on giving a lot more.I use the technology everyday and my life couldn't be better.Best of luck to Narconon with your expansion project. You can count on me anytime!C.B.November 2004 Narconon Arrowhead Graduate
I'm Happy To Be Alive
When I came to Narconon Arrowhead I was a broken man who didn't care about life or whether I lived anymore. This program has changed my way of thinking and my life today. Today I am so happy about the way I feel and have a very positive outlook on life. I am happy to be alive and look forward to spreading this to others. J.S. – Narconon Arrowhead
Started using drugs and alcohol at 13 years of age
I started using drugs and alcohol at 13 years of age. I can clearly remember the first time that I drank alcohol. I had run away from home with a good friend of mine thinking that my home life was horrible and that running away would be a quick solution to my problems. On the way out the door my friend and I grabbed several bottles of liquor from my parents liquor cabinet and out the door we went. We stayed the night in some woods near the house in my little pop up two man tent and proceeded to think that we were grown man drinking it up and making it on our own. Well quickly within two days we decided that the home life wasn't really as bad as we thought, it sure did beat living in a tent and eating cold canned soup all day, and we quickly returned home to our parents. That night began a ten-year struggle of finding myself and drug addiction. You see I always wanted to be the popular guy in school, the captain of the football team, king of the prom and dating the head cheerleader. You know the picture perfect teen life that we all see on TV on a daily basis. I started using drugs and alcohol on a regular basis because it gave me a COOL group to be a part of and I truly thought that I had the popularity that I was looking for.
David's Story
The Narconon program helped me in many ways. The most important being that I got my life back!!! I now have respect and trust back from my family. I have things now that I never had before. I am so happy to be sober and I didn't think that I would ever be able to go with out drugs or alcohol. I now have the confidence in myself and for once in my life I can live happily without the constant use of drugs or alcohol to make me feel good. I am now working to become a counselor for Narconon Arrowhead and I truly enjoy what I am doing. I am so happy to be able to help other people who are suffering like I did. The Narconon program has given me my life back. D.S. – Narconon Graduate
Don't let another holiday be ruined by a drugs or alcohol
Family holidays can be especially difficult when a member of the family is battling with an all consuming addiction. Many of you have been through this.Chances are, a drug abuser won't even show up for Thanksgiving dinner and if they do, the visit will be uncomfortable. Students who have completed the Narconon program have told me that one of the things they feel the worst about is all the times they ruined the holidays for their families. A survey of Narconon graduates (now clean and sober) reveals the following about past holiday experiences: If they did make it to the family holiday gathering they were so much under the influence of drugs or alcohol that they were really not present and could not remember all that had happened. Other graduates have reported that if they were not high, they were uncomfortable and spent time trying to figure out how to make the visit short to get that next fix. Some describe being embarrassingly drunk and ruining the event for everyone. THIS YEAR ENJOY THE HOLIDAYSGet your family member into the Narconon program and celebrate another year of life for that person and years of happy holidays to come.The future is bright for Narconon graduates because the Narconon program works!

in and out of (AA) all the time.

The right alcohol recovery program depends upon the severity and nature of the alcoholic and most importantly their personal level of commitment and motivation. A big part of getting the alcoholic into treatment, is overcoming the hurdle they face of actually going to treatment.

Many of the hurdles are self imposed, yet like fortified brick walls - to the alcoholic they are impassible. The walls are constructed from fear, shame, embarrassment, and denial. The uncertainty of what they must face is enough to trigger enough stress that they simply refuse to go.

It may never be completely understood what causes alcoholism, and (AA) is only one of many recognized treatments for alcoholism. The difference is its track record for success. More than 700,000 Americans receive alcoholism treatment of one kind or another on any given day. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is one of the best treatment options for a recovering alcoholic.

Overcoming denial and enabling is often the first step to successful recovery for the alcoholic. Treatment only works if the alcoholic wants it. Forcing a treatment program on an alcoholic does not work. If an alcoholic is going to get anything positive out of an program, they must be a willing participant.

The (AA) membership knows the routine as far as the alcoholic is concerned. They are all recovering alcoholics too. They supply the means, knowledge, and opportunity. It's up to the alcoholic to take action. It's part of the reason why (AA) is so effective. Very simply, they understand the alcoholic is a person whose life is controlled by alcohol.

Nagging the alcoholic is not the answer to successful recovery. Or is it an effective method to get an alcoholic to stop drinking. The choice must be made by the alcoholic.

Admitting you're an alcoholic is not a requirement for membership to (AA), it is however, the #1 requirement to your recovery. Don't Drink Today - and get involved. Listen to a speaker. Hear their story. In many cases you'll find it's not all that different from yours.

If you don't like the first meeting you attend, go to a different one. It's not like they're difficult to find. Eventually you will find a meeting you like, with people who care and are will help you through the recovery process.

You can get more quality information in this 5 part mini-course called "Break Free From Alcohol Addiction - Your 5 Day Solution" http://DontDrinkToday.com

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You can get more quality information in this 5 part mini-course called "Break Free From Alcohol Addiction - Your 5 Day Solution" DontDrinkToday.com