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Kids & Family

When Enough's Enough: Drug Addiction and Treatment

How to encourage and convince a loved one that addiction treatment is the only way.

What do Whitney Houston, Anna Nicole Smith, Heath Ledger, Amy Winehouse and Michael Jackson have in common? Besides top celebrity status, each individual lost his or her battle with drug and alcohol addiction within the last five years. Of course, you need not be a superstar to fall victim to this cunning and very powerful disease. From young to old, poor to rich, male to female, addiction doesn't discriminate. Its deathly grip is fierce and unrelenting, often requiring professional help in order to break free.

According to a five-year national study conducted by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA Columbia), 40 million Americans ages 12 and older struggle with addiction involving nicotine, alcohol or other drugs. Released on June 26, 2012, the study also reports that of the 40 million, only 10 percent seek addiction treatment. This population is in desperate need of help.

Character Flaw or Medical Condition?

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Unfortunately, it seems the medical community has made little progress since Bridging the Gap Between Practice and Research: Forging Partnerships with Community-Based Drug and Alcohol Treatment, which was released on January 1, 1998. This report noted the gap between research findings on addiction and actual treatment practices. The stigma surrounding substance abuse was still present, and many people in the medical field were skeptical of the disease model of addiction.

Fast-forward to the report by CASA Columbia that was released in June of this year and not much has changed. Today, addiction treatment is largely separated from the rest of the medical community. Despite the staggering number of Americans that battle addiction (40 million), many people—including medical professionals—still question the validity of the disease concept.

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Jim Seckman, MAC, CACII, CCS, clinical director of MARR, an addiction treatment center in Doraville, explains the disconnect between the health care industry and addiction treatment. "Addiction is not an easy disease to treat. It is not 'fixable' by a pill, and it requires a more holistic approach that many in the medical field aren't trained to consider. Addiction is a disease that is characterized by a cycle of relapse and remission. It is often very frustrating to work with the denial system of an addict, and much of the medical community simply does not want to put forth the effort that it takes," he says.

Seckman points out that many people still consider addiction to be a moral problem or a character flaw, largely due to the fact that addiction is primarily observed through behaviors. "Society tends to have an idea that people should be in control of their behaviors. As a result, addiction is viewed as a weakness because the disease will often drive the addict to do things he or she would not do otherwise, or to engage in behaviors that are considered morally wrong," he says.

While scientists have made headway in defining how the brain of an addict is structured differently than that of a non-addicted person, health care providers rarely screen for signs of chemical dependency, let alone refer their patients to a facility that specializes in addiction treatment. Oftentimes, a family intervention is appropriate and essential for getting the addicted loved one the help he or she needs.

Intervention: A Family Affair

Many families affected by addiction are uncertain about the best time for an intervention. If the loved one's substance abuse has reached the point where an intervention is under consideration, it's time. Addiction is a progressive disease; waiting for the addict to hit 'rock bottom' could mean the difference between life and death.

According to Janet Fluker, MEd, MS, LPC, director of MARR's Family Recovery Center, "It is always acceptable to insist that an addicted loved one seek treatment. Some specific times may be when the family no longer feels safe in their own home; when the addict is emotionally, physically and/or verbally abusive; and when the family can no longer live with the chaos and feel completely burned out."

More often than not, family members have tried other tactics, including yelling, screaming, begging, bargaining, persuading, crying hysterically, threatening, punishing and completely ignoring the addict. Enlisting the help of a professional interventionist is a step in the right direction. The goal of a family intervention is to convince the addict that addiction treatment is the only solution to recovery and healing. Pulling together as a unified front, in the presence of a third party, not only lets the addict know that his or her behavior is no longer acceptable, but also empowers the family to set healthy boundaries.

An intervention should always be led by a qualified and trained professional who can offer guidance for the family members, facilitate effective communication and help the addict see the benefit of getting treatment immediately. The interventionist is not emotionally invested and can get past the addict's manipulative behavior, helping him or her realize there is a better way of life. Most addicts who agree to treatment don't necessarily want it, and that's okay; as long as they maintain the mindset that they are recovering for their loved ones, they are on the right track. Recovery takes time.

Choosing the Best Drug and Alcohol Rehab

Before the intervention takes place, the interventionist will discuss various treatment options with the family, particularly ones that best suit the addict's needs. Long-term addiction treatment (90 days or more) offers a greater chance of lasting recovery. "Because addiction so radically affects the brain, it needs ample time to heal and return to more normal levels of functioning. Long-term treatment provides an opportunity for the addict to learn how to think and live without drugs and alcohol, including how to function within a community and society and live 'life on life's terms,'" Seckman notes.

Facilities that offer gender-specific programs are also beneficial. Addiction affects men and women in different ways—physically, emotionally and relationally. The differences in men and women and the effect that addiction has had on them must be respected and treated accordingly. Of course, the chosen drug and alcohol rehab center should also include family support services that help families take charge of their own recovery. For those who are weary of the destruction addiction has caused in their family lives, it's time to ask for help. Hope and healing await.

If you've been affected by an active alcoholic and/or drug addict, MARR offers Loving Someone with Addiction—a one-day seminar that is open to the community and educates families about the theories of addiction, addictive thinking and the need for treatment. Participants will learn how to establish healthy personal boundaries as a primary tool to detach from addictive behaviors, while maintaining a loving relationship with the addict. Cost is $100 per family.

For more information, call 678-805-5118 or email janet.fluker@marrinc.org.

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