The Insanity of Addiction
Addiction is a one of the most talked about and mysterious conditions that can affect us as human beings. To see someone compulsively use substances and engage in self-destructive behaviors over and over again, despite receiving major adverse consequences is upsetting and troubling, to say the least.
To the casual observer, and addict looks insane. Quite honestly, they are insane, if only temporarily. Drugs are the one thing that can truly bring a person to their knees; that desperation for another hit, the willingness to forgo one’s own moral and ethical code to buy a few more bags, that feeling of being a slave to an otherwise innocent-looking powder or pill. It’s a living nightmare, but hope is out there and people do recover once finding that right type of treatment that can crack their case and help them figure out what it is that they’re working so hard at running away from.
Drugs are a solution to a problem. To some, drugs give them energy, handle their anxiety or low self-esteem or momentarily alleviate depression. For many, the present, the “here-and-now” is too uncomfortable to confront, driving them to seek solace in the warm, loving arms of painkillers, heroin, cocaine, or meth. The temporary reprieve is too good and drives them further into the world of addiction. The addict needs drugs to get by. The need to get high before, during, and after work. Even dinner with their parents requires a mixture of alcohol and Xanax.
Drugs become their God. They rule them, own them, but not necessarily forever. Some make it out alive and go on to lead happy, productive lives. Not everyone becomes a statistic of the drug crisis. Some become positive statistics; statistics of recovery.
Here’s what one of Narconon Suncoast’s recent graduates had to say about his journey out of addiction and into sobriety:
“When I came to Narconon Suncoast, I was a total mess both physically and mentally. I literally was at the end of my rope. I started out kicking drugs and going through the drug-free withdrawal and quickly felt better and moved onto the sauna detox.
“The New Life Detoxification was great! It got me feeling physically better than I ever have and I was able to successfully sweat out all the drugs and toxins I had put into my body over the years.
“I moved onto the Objectives course, which was tough, but that foggy haze in my head from years of drug abuse lifted as a result of this part of the program. I finally came into present time and become very aware of my surroundings.
“Life Skills was by far the hardest part of the program for me. I got to handle all the things that drove my addiction and get out all the garbage from years of burying everything deep inside myself. I also was able to learn valuable tools for my future and I feel completely confident that I can live a drug-free lifestyle.
“I am so happy I came to Narconon Suncoast and finished the program. I feel great mentally and physically and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for me.”
J.B.—Narconon Suncoast Graduate
