Resources and help for alcoholism

Treatment for alcohol and drug addiction in South Carolina is changing all the time. As times change, treatment, facilities and needs change that afford a person suffering a better chance at making a full recovery. Treatment centers are now changing the look and feel of the treatment environment and offering a wider range of help, even financing for those who desperately need treatment. If you live in South Carolina and are struggling yourself with addiction or a loved one is an alcoholic, the time is now. See: Narconon Freedom Center of South Carolina. This site sports a wonderful home like facility and also claims to have a 70% success rate. For more articles on alcoholism, news and support, see the links below.

How to Identify The Alcoholic In Your Family

What alcohol can do to the body

What is a functioning alcoholic?

Jani Lane's sister believes alcohol played a part in singers death

Harry Potter star opens up about alcoholism

Detoxing naturally for the recovering alcoholic

Mental illness and alcoholism

How to identify the alcoholic in the family

For family members, it is a hard road to walk when someone you love is in trouble and addicted to alcohol and drugs. If you need additional information on other drugs and help, visit a site just for family members, The Addicted Family. This site provides help, hope and advice on how to cope, and deal with your loved one's addiction.

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What is a functioning alcoholic?

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In simple terms, a functioning alcoholic is the one that typically flies under everyone's radar for a long time. They fly under radars because many of them are still holding down jobs, even careers and never seem overly intoxicated. They usually stick to a pattern or set specific times and to drink. Because they seem so in control and can maintain a lifestyle that mimics successful living, many people look the other way or may not even know that they are dealing with an alcoholic at all. If you live in South Carolina, and believe someone in your family may be an alcoholic, time is of the essence, see: South Carolina Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors.

Realistically, most drunk-on-the-floor alcoholics were once "functioning" within their disease. This for some is a fleeting stage of the addiction, but for many it can mean "functioning" for years. They give the "appearance" of having control over their drinking which is far from the truth. Over time, the "functioning alcoholic" will cease to be "functioning". Where once they may have seemed the fun loving person that nursed a few at a party, to the one that has to be dragged out and taken to jail to sober up for the night. Rest assured, all of them were once "functioning" and all of them will succumb to the drink eventually.

Functioning alcoholics use a wide range of excuses and reasons for their drinking, and because they appear to be holding everything together and only do it at certain times, their loved ones have a hard time finding fault with their reasoning. The "I only drink on the weekends to unwind because I work so hard..." is a typical reply once their drinking comes into question. In their eyes they are just rewarding themselves for their hard work. The problem is, anything that a person "has" to do, on a "regular" basis that is a known cause of "addiction" is a problem. What starts out as "only after work" or "only on the weekends" will progress to "sometimes during work" and weekends will suddenly start on "Thursday."

A functioning alcoholic can only fly under your radar as long as you chose to overlook or ignore it. Do not fall for their rationale and do not ignore the problem. It will get worse. Take steps to seek treatment before they become "non-functioning". Once they enter this phase in their addiction-and they ALL do,

it is extremely difficult to reason with them or get them into treatment. It is only a matter of time before the disease has their talons set deep into your loved one and nothing short of a miracle will save them from it. Tackling it early can only be a good thing, for you, your loved one, family, friends and the innocent person on the road when that "functioning" alcoholic decides to take a drive.

For additional information and support on all kinds of addiction, see: The Addicted Family.

Related articles by this author:

• Harry Potter star opens up about alcoholism
• Dealing with more than one addiction
• Support for addiction in the family
• When your love isn't enough, how to deal with an addict

What makes some people become an addict?

Image by nicolas - نيكولس via Flickr

Addiction doesn't encroach on every life of every person, however, most people

know of at least one person either socially or in their own family that struggle with addiction of some kind. If you live in Orangeburg, SC and need help with addiction, see : William J. McCord Center for further help.

Common factors for addiction are listed here:

Genes: Genetics play a significant role: having parents with alcoholism, for instance, makes you four times more likely than other children to become alcoholics. More than 60 percent of alcoholics have family histories of alcoholism. There is a debate however, that genes may not play as big of a role as formerly believed. It has been argued that while most addicts do report having family members that were addicts, it is the environmental conditioning that had the key role in the future addiction of the child of an addict. A child that has been exposed to addiction repeatedly may be more accepting of the behavior and thus partake themselves. This same argument has been presented for obesity in children, citing that the child's continuous exposure to bad eating habits and unhealthy foods resulted in a lifetime of obesity. Whenever children are exposed to any repeated behavior they are very likely to continue it in their own adulthood. This goes for children that grow up to become smokers as well. This would also explain why children that grow up in a home filled with violence, ie: father abuses mother, will sometimes grow up and mimic the behavior in their own lives.
Mental illness: Many addicted people also suffer from mental health disorders, especially anxiety, depression or mood illnesses.
Early use of drugs: The earlier a person begins to use drugs the more likely they are to progress to more serious abuse.
Social environment: People who live, work or go to school in an environment in which the use of alcohol and other drugs is common - such as a workplace in which people see heavy drinking as an important way to bond with coworkers - are more likely to abuse drugs.
Childhood trauma: Scientists know that abuse or neglect of children, persistent conflict in the family, sexual abuse and other traumatic childhood experiences can shape a child's brain chemistry and subsequent vulnerability to addiction. There is a small percentage of addicts that do not fit into any of these molds, this addict may have just had a momentary lapse in judgement and decided to partake in a highly addictive drug. Drugs that are highly addictive have been known to cause addiction after just one use. These types of drugs are often considered the most damaging, lethal and hardest to overcome. For more information on addiction, see: The Addicted Family

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The effects of drug use on the family

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There is no easy way to describe the devastation and sense of loss that is felt by family members when they are faced with the addiction of a loved one. The predominant feeling that encompasses many families is a feeling of loss very similar experiencing a loved ones death. Except the dead are gone, and the addict is a living nightmare that causes a similar grief to the family and friends that are caught in their own hell.
The uphill challenges that many family members have to face is how to live a happy life with an addict in the family whether they get treatment or not. It is almost inconceivable to think of. Happiness with an addict in the family? How can I? They have taken possession of all of our emotions our lives? My happiness always is dependant on their happiness. They are miserable, I am miserable. In walks classic co-dependency.
This is why it is vital that families that have been affected by addiction find support services in their area to help them have the tools they will need to over come this co dependency, this emotional prison they are trapped in. Counselling services are available that will assist families in combating their addicts control, by giving them resources and guidelines to avoid enabling their addict, as well as finding interventionists that can assist with getting your loved one the help they desperately need.
The key thing to keep in mind is there is no better day than today. There is no ideal moment or time, it is now. Addiction will not be easier tomorrow than it is today. Freedom and happiness and the saving of your loved one's life is not on stand by, it must occur today.
If you live in South Carolina, visit South Carolina Intervention. You can also call at 1-877-728-1122.
If you need help in your state please visit:
National Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Information Center for help in your state. Or you may call 1-800-784-6776

Why do addicts refuse help?

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There are a number of reasons an addict refuses to get help, or accept help from others. Unfortunately, the most prevalent reason help is not sought out or accepted is due to the fact the addict is being enabled in their addiction.  This means they are not shouldering the burden of their addiction alone, but distributing it amongst many friends and family. As long as their "problem" isn't entirely their "problem" they have a successful enabling system to help their life work addicted. This is why it is so important that interventions take place. Family and friends often need additional support and tools to learn how to stop the enabling process and give the addict the choice to quit with a list of consequences if they don't. It's finding a way to hand the problem back to the addict. It may involve extreme changes in everyone's thinking, and lifestyle but the sooner an addict realizes his safety net is gone, the chances of him getting the help he needs increases.
Additional reasons may be the addict is self medicating with the use of drugs and alcohol to mask an underlying problem. These problems can be deep seated emotional issues, current physical problems and in some cases mental illness can be the cause. Addicts become addicts because they are very good at being in denial. When the human mind is caught in emotionally traumatic situations, it will try to find defense mechanisms to cope with the trauma. It is different with everyone, but for addicts the coping mechanism initially is denial. Once that mechanism is in place, there is usually a mental breakdown, as the mind can only remain in states of denial for so long before it needs help from an outside source. In walks alcohol, and drugs. Now add to this  guilt, and pain, and you have a perfect recipe for addiction. Most alcoholics and addicts were exposed in their lifetime to alcoholism and addiction, and in some cases they suffered abuse by family members under the influence. This is why the condition breeds out of control. Addiction casts a long shadow over many lives. Lastly, fear could be a major factor in why an addict will not seek or accept help. Remember an addict has forsaken the ability to think and feel rationally and fear of quiting something that has been used to modify feelings, emotions and personal responsibility is a scary thing. Its like giving up a medicine that you are sure is helping you...an addict will think there is much that is sacrificed to "feel" better, but they are certain it is worth it. Many also believe they can quit if they "need" to. Unfortunately they don't have the rationale to realize that "need". There are, with all addicts,  many layers that must be dealt with to really understand and get them on the road to recovery. Friends and family will have to assume the role of doing the thinking for the addict, get them into treatment asap, with or without their cooperation. It may mean getting them arrested, refusing to assist with any more financial support or anything else that has been done to assist them in their life. One thing is for certain, addicts can not stay addicted with out help. They also wont live long with out help. Its what kind of "help" you are going to give them that will make the difference.

Family in crisis, when you love an addict

Image via WikipediaFamily in crisis, when you love an addict

Addiction is a widespread plague across the globe. The odds of you or someone you love coming into contact with an addict are about 1 in 3. Sadly almost every American family has at least one person that is affected by an addict. Many carry the burden in silence, hoping no one will find out. Fear of being judged, or looking like a failure are but a few of the reasons help isn't sought out sooner.

An addict in the family is like having a poison spread among you. Slowly but surely each member is impacted, changed, and hurt. Some may say they have shut the door on the situation, or washed their hands of it, but deep inside damage has already been done, whether they realize it or not. You are never really free of the impact it has had on you. Finding support is a difficult process as so many family members with friends or loved ones that are addicted are ashamed and embarrassed to bring their problem up. What has to be remembered, is that almost every person you know, whether it is your preacher, doctor, friend, co-worker has someone in their life with your problem. They may even have it themselves. Once the shame can be put aside, and this terrible problem brought out, you will more than likely find tons of support. When it comes to addiction, shame is guilt's ugly cousin. Shame is a waste of time, and a way for the disease to conquer all of it's victims one by one.

Keeping your burden to yourself is a way of protecting an addict, and yourself. However, in the long run it is silently enabling a situation to flourish. The time to stop the progress and affect of this disease begins with opening up. You will be amazed at the outpouring of love and support you will get. Not just from your immediate family, but online, from complete strangers. There is a whole world of people suffering right along with you, and many have even gone through worse. Share your experience, reach out to others, and also remember to help another in your search for support. Just because you are going through this terrible time, doesn't mean you can't offer help to someone else. They may be at a different place than you are, so whatever you've learned can be of a great help to them. Giving of yourself is a part of healing.

Please check out these links for further information, support and guidance: 


Addiction to non food items


Supportive Addiction articles


Finding support, overcoming the shame

The addict beside you

Image via WikipediaWhen we think of addicts, we tend to visualize some wino on the corner of a street with a brown paper bag in hand, muttering possibly to themselves. Maybe we see in our minds eye a homeless person desperately getting a fix in a back alley somewhere.

What about the addict that is sitting in your living room, watching television? The addict that you have known and loved for years? It is a different picture, but nonetheless, just as accurate as any other image your may have conjured up  in your mind.

Addicts in the family, are often in disguise and under the cloak of your own loving eyes. We tend not to recognize the problem until it is in full swing. We may notice odd things like weight loss, unusual breathing and snoring at night, or unexplained nervous behavior. We as family members or friends, we never make the assumption initially that this person is an addict. Could they be ill? Dying of some horrible disease like cancer? Why do they look so bad? Months may go by, as your concern grows. At some point you may even ask, "are you on drugs?". You are met with a look of disbelief, and a strong "no".

Knowing those ever so subtle symptoms early on is extremely crucial. Of course you could be wrong, however, better to err on the side of caution, then let too much time pass, and allow what may have been a mild problem flourish into a full blown addiction. Depending on the drug, this can happen quickly so time is always of the essence.

Look for these not so well known symptoms: Restlessness, and restless sleeping with disturbed breathing, glassy eyes and large pupils, sweating for no apparent reason, nervousness or paranoia, sleeping often, personality changes, inability to stay in any one area for any length of time, irritability, unreasonable, argumentative, disinterest in things they used to enjoy or care about,lack or concern for personal hygiene, and open sores on the skin or bad complexion, suddenly consuming alcohol on a regular basis, hiding or withdrawing from family,missing money, missed work.

If you know someone that is showing these signs or symptoms of substance abuse seek help immediately. Consult with your family doctor to discuss possible causes, strategies and treatment. Many family doctors know of additional resources and support that you may not have considered. You have to ask for the help first. Arm yourself for the battle if addiction is present. You are in the fight of your life. Gather all available information and get help today, tomorrow may never come. Please see:  Drug Treatment Addressed During National Drug Fact Week .

Held hostage by addiction

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When a friend or family member is battling addiction, the whole family becomes engulfed in the problem and in essence is held hostage. Trapped in the addicts world, you either succumb to their addiction by becoming an enabler, or you abandon the addict and withdraw waiting for that one phone call that says it is over.
Family members often become overwhelmed with feelings of guilt, shame, depression and a type of grief is experienced very similar to losing a loved one entirely. The addicts family often defines their happiness by the type of day the addict is having. This is a classic form of co-dependency.

Co-dependency as defined by Merriam Webster’s Dictionary is "a psychological condition or a relationship in which a person is controlled or manipulated by another who is affected with a pathological condition (as an addiction to alcohol or heroin); broadly : dependence on the needs of or control by another".

Breaking the hold that the addict has over the family is a difficult task. The addict is driven by the urges taking place bio chemically in his body and uses many forms of manipulation to continue to gain support for his lifestyle. It is not beyond an addict to use psychological abuse, guilt, blame and threats to get their family and friends to succumb to their wishes. This is why so often the family is unsuccessful at "curing" or helping an addict on their own.

Finding help for an addict requires doing the one thing that probably many families have tried to avoid. Admitting to someone outside the family that there is a problem. Many families hide and protect the addict and their addiction and go to great lengths to keep it a closely guarded secret. There are many ways to discreetly find help and one resource is online. There are many support groups, and information on the particular addiction you are dealing with. For great resources and help, please visit: Guide for Living.

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