Bill

Again some great points. Especially in regards to “willingness” (how a person ends up with that first month sober matters not at all…it’s what they do once their head is clear and they are able to make healthy decisions that will determine the outcome.)

Your point regarding the myth that a person becomes addicted due to choice could be made even stronger (in my opinion). The two fastest growing segments of the population becoming addicted enough to warrant inpatient treatment are teens and the elderly. And it’s for the same family of substances. In fact for the first time ever, marijuana is no longer the “gateway drug” for teens…its vicodin, oxycontin or other narcotic pain pills. The difference is that the elderly, due to a fall or an accident, usually will begin by taking their meds as prescribed, however an M.D. that went to school for between 6-8 years receives a total of about 8 hours of chemical dependency training. Before you know it, Grandma is feeling better than she has in years-she simply doesn’t hurt anymore.

Teens are acquiring medication on the Internet-usually with Mom or Dads credit card, and while ignorance is not an excuse, it also was not a conscious choice to become addicted…same with Grandma.

The real culprit? The Pharmacy companies who spend billions just visiting Doctors and providing samples. When the Doctor starts someone on a new drug (or any drug) when the samples run out, the patient will, quite naturally, request a prescription. And we’re off to the races as it can take less than a 7 day script of Oxycontin to become physically addicted…10-14 days for Vicodin or Percodan.

And you’ll just have to believe me when I tell you that the detox is as bad, if not worse, than heroin. One last point-detoxing from heroin or opiates makes you wish you were dead…an alcohol detox can actually kill you.

Stay well.

Jon Heller
AddictionNewsNetwork.com