In this blog we are going to take a hard look at mind and brain altering drugs that are capable of turning people in addicts.  I am often amazed by how many people who regularly use these substances know so little about what they do to the brain and the mind to produce the desired effect.

The bran and mind-altering substances that can activate abuse or addiction include alcohol, certain prescription drugs, illegal drugs, and certain over-the-counter drugs that alter mood and behavior.  First let’s look at what causes people to want to experiment with brain and mind altering drugs in the first place.

Relief from Stress or Pain: Most of us use alcohol and other drugs to get relief from pain and stress, to fit in socially, and to have unique feelings and experiences that we can’t get without the drugs.  The most abused drugs provide a thing call instant gratification;

People who like to use alcohol and other drugs are usually looking for a quick fix.  They want something that will change their mood quickly and dramatically.  They want to use drugs that work fast and pack a big punch.  They want to feel better – NOW!

This need to feel better now is called instant gratification.  One recovering person put it this way:  “The problem with instant gratification is that it’s not fast enough.”  This need for a quick fix means that the most frequently abused drugs will produce an intense mood altering effect in a short period of time.   These fast acting substances are called drugs of abuse.  People like them so much that they can easily abuse them or get addicted to them.

There are different types of brain and mind altering drugs that create different subjective effects.  Most people like some of the drug effects and not others.  We will discuss this in a future blog entitled drug of choice.  Before we can go any farther, however, we must come up with an easy to understand working definition of addictive drugs and a simple classification system based upon how they tend to make people feel.  That will be the subject of the next Gorski Blog.

Recovery from chemical dependency requires accurate information about the disease of addiction, recovery, relapse prevention, and recovery resources.  These are four vital areas of information that recovering people and their families need to know to maximize their chances of staying sober.  Let’s briefly review these three areas.

1.    Chemical Dependency as a Biopsychosocial Disease
Chemically dependent people suffer from the after-effects of chronic alcohol and drug poisoning to the brain.  As a result, brain function becomes impaired and people cannot think clearly, manage their feelings and emotions effectively, or remember things well.  This short-term brain dysfunction causes personality disorganization and changes value systems.  This leads to a disruption in social systems such as work, friendships, family, and intimate functioning.  Understanding the physical, psychological, and social symptoms of chemical dependency is the first  step of recognizing and accepting that you are chemically dependent.

2.    Understanding the Recovery Process
Once chemically dependent people recognize that they are addicted and make a decision to recover, they need to understand recovery as an ongoing developmental process.  There are six stages in the recovery process.  In the transition stage, people recognize they are chemically dependent and make a commitment to abstinence.  In the stabilization stage, people recover from the physical, psychological, and social crisis that follow them into recovery.  In the early recovery stage, people change addictive thoughts, feelings , and actions.  In the middle recovery stage, they balance out their lifestyle and repair lifestyle damage that was caused by the addition.  In the late recovery stage, a person resolves family of origin problems that lower the quality of recovery.  In the maintenance stage, people continue a program of personal growth and development.  Understanding these progressive stages, the  tasks associated with each, and the common relapse warning signs are essential to keep moving ahead in a efficient recovery process.  (A latter blog will cover these stages in greater detail).

The first three stages of recovery can be summarized as Stage I Recovery.  Here people learn the basic skills of understanding, recognizing, and accepting their addiction, and learn the basic principles of recovery planning.

The second three stages of recovery can be summarized as Stage II Recovery.  They encompass the middle, late, and maintenance stages of recovery.  It is here that people need to deal with learning how to develop a meaningful and satisfying lifestyle.  They need to set goals and objectives for themselves, and need to deal with personal problems that interfere with their ability to be happy.

3.    Understanding Relapse Prevention
Each stage of recovery carries with it specific warning signs that the person is in trouble.  It is important to understand the generalized warning signs that lead from stable recovery back to chemical use, and then to look at each stage of recovery to understand the stage-specific warning signs that can act as     clues or triggers that a person’s recovery is in jeopardy.

Once people understand their relapse warning signs, they can learn how to develop a relapse prevention plan that allows them to identify and manage those warning signs before they return to alcohol or drug use.  Should they return to chemical use, they can develop a relapse early intervention plan which trains friends, relatives, and fellow members of the recovery program in how toeffectively and efficiently intervene and help them to stop drinking and drugging and get back into recovery.

A thorough understanding of these three areas of recovery will give people a road map for sobriety.  It will help chemically dependent people todevelop a checklist and answer the question, “What do I need to do to stay clean and sober and to have a healthy and happy lifestyle?”

4.    Recovery Resources
The final critical information that people need to avoid relapse is to know what resources are available in their communities that that can help us to stay clean and sober.  Nearly every community has Twelve Step Meeting including Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and Alanon.  There are also a number of treatment centers that provide medical detoxification, primary rehabilitation, extended treatment, and sober living. Most of these resources are listed in the telephone book or can be obtained by calling the local AA or NA.  the internet can also give vital information about recovery services available in your community.