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5/25/2009 8:15 PM UTC
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Recovery Now! is weekly radio show for people struggling with addiction in themselves or their loved ones. It discusses the process of recovery including features on addiction causes, symptoms, stories, programs, spiritual support, and treatments.
dawicker104
Date / Time: 12/14/2009 9:00 PM UTC
Category: Health
Call-in Number: (646) 727-2939
Joins us as we review all of the 12 steps and give you insights about getting the most out of the program and because a new person in recovery!
Upcoming Episodes
12/21/2009 9:00 PM UTC - Learning how to recover from alcohol and drug addiction
12/28/2009 9:00 PM UTC - Learning how to recover from alcohol and drug addiction
1/4/2010 9:00 PM UTC - Learning how to recover from alcohol and drug addiction
Date / Time: 9/30/2009 4:30 PM UTC
Drug treatment centers are all over the country and ads for these facilities are everywhere. The Google ads you read on this web page are probably for drug treatment centers, offering a variety of approaches to help addicts get through withdrawal and back to health.
But the old saying "the best things in life are free" is more than appropriate when it comes to the recovery phase of addiction. Organizations like Narcotics Anonymous aren't looking for dollars, just the desire to get healthy. There are no dues, no mandatory contributions to the cause, just support from people who know addiction and more importantly understand what the addict is experiencing.
NA grew out of the Alcoholics Anonymous movement of the late 1930's, offering a recovery process and support network. Instead of saying alcohol in its 12-Steps, NA used "addiction" to reflect its membership. Like AA, NA has its own book, published originally in 1983.
The NA website says the book is published in 34 different languages, and 16 more are to be added in the future. I share this with you because I've met people who are all too quick to dismiss organizations like NA and AA, even though there has been documented success and continued expansion.
Its literature states, "NA is a nonprofit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. We meet regularly to help each other stay clean. We are not interested in what or how much you used, but only in what you want to do about your problem and how we can help."
All local groups are autonomous and no membership fee is required. Like AA, the purity of the NA mission is uncontaminated by the need for constant fund raising, or the urge to ask members for money.
Still, people will look for a sinister motive. They will claim a religious bias, or some other divisive force is at work. They confuse religion with the practice of spiritual principles.
Members may examine their own spiritual beliefs and learn to gain a greater understanding of those beliefs, without pressure to adhere to any religious doctrine, practice or tradition. With no proclamation of specific beliefs among members, no requirement of cash, it is hardly a target to be called a "cult," yet those accusations persist. The fact that it's free may irritate those who believe that there is the necessity to pay your own way.
Another popular target of criticism for NA and AA, is the encouragement for its members to abstain from drugs and alcohol. For some, the idea of treatment is limited to getting well enough to use again without getting sick.
But the NA and AA approach is more holistic, regarding body, mind and spirit as being equally as important, and so drugs and alcohol get in the way. The organization is made up of people who have walked through the tunnel and who desire to help people overcome their addiction and lead a fulfilling life. It takes no stand on prescribed medications, so taking such medications under the care of a physician is not seen as a compromise to the goal of abstinence.
NA and AA do not endorse or oppose the positions of other groups concerning their methodology or philosophy. They do not weigh in on other issues relating to addiction, such as the law, public health, political dialog on drug legalization, etc. They are concerned only for the support and well being of addicts.
Some will claim that NA is ineffective in helping members through the recovery process. Because no dues are needed, because attendance is not taken at meetings and because there is no strict control over membership, it is difficult to determine the exact number of people who have overcome through NA participation. Some may remain active for years, helping others and spreading the message. Others may just go back to living their lives.
If freedom is the only goal and statistics are unnecessary; if money is not the object and membership rolls are immaterial; if the activities and practices of any other group is not their concern, then it is all too easy to merely dismiss and marginalize NA. If someone has walked through the tunnel and come out the other side alive and well, that says enough for NA.
Ned Wicker is the Addictions Recovery Chaplain at Waukesha Memorial Hospital Lawrence Center. He author's a website for addiction support:
Drug-Addiction-Support.org or
Drug Addiction Symptoms
Date / Time: 9/30/2009 4:10 PM UTC
There they were; all the bottles of pills in "Wanda's" kitchen. There was medication for any number of medical conditions and each had a different dosage and a different frequency of use.
She had one of those daily pill dispensers, but keeping everything straight was a chore, mainly because she was taking medication at various times of the day, so the possibility of mixing up pills and the times to take them was beyond possible and teetering on probable. Still she does the best she can.
Among senior citizens, alcohol remains as the most abused drug, but for many the trouble lies in the large number of medications that they may need and getting confused on the dosage and frequency.
People live longer, and so the population ages. Wanda is not a drinker and never has been, but little did she realize that prescription medications would be come an issue. She had hip replacement surgery and started to develop a dependence on the pain medication prescribed by her doctor. She was lucky. She knew something was going on and sought her physician's advice.
Times have changed. There are on-line pharmacies and the easy-access to drugs, even opiates, is a problem because seniors who want immediate satisfaction can, in effect, cut their physician out of the loop. Seniors become their own doctor. The doctor may prescribe a specific drug, in specific amounts, to be taken for a specific period of time to treat pain, or another condition.
If a third party severs her doctor/patient relationship, the possibilities for serious abuse are staggering. On top of that, seniors who may have trouble remembering what they took and when, and innocently go beyond a prescribed amount, are in jeopardy at best of developing a dependence, or at worst taking a potentially fatal amount of the drug.
Wanda is aware of her limitations, but many aren't. Just as an alcoholic may be in denial about his/her drinking, seniors may push off any growing dependency on a drug out of denial, or the mere shame of the idea of being "hooked."
I remember a scene from the comedy "What's Up Doc" when Barbara Streisand's character is in court. Her father is the judge. He lays out all these pills on his bench and laments to the bailiff, "I take the red pill to remind me to take the blue pill. Do you see this pill? I don't know what it's for and that scares me."
Keeping track of medications and having control measures in place is important for seniors, who will become greater in number and in needs as the years roll on. Just because somebody is older and wiser does not mean they are exempt.
Ned Wicker is the Addictions Recovery Chaplain at Waukesha Memorial Hospital Lawrence Center He author's a website for addiction support:
Drug-Addiction-Support.org
Date / Time: 9/30/2009 3:31 PM UTC
When parents discover a small amount of marijuana in their teenager's bedroom, there are a couple of common reactions-like panic and anger, or perhaps mom and dad are a little more laid back and take a more "we need to have a chat" approach. Either way there is a kind of confrontation. However, "Dorothy" is one of those teens who never got caught. She was always bright, popular, got A's in school and she was the model perfect citizen. Mom and dad never knew.
It started her sophomore year in high school, with some beer at a party, then one day a friend brought some "grass" and gang shared a couple of joints. It was all very "harmless," sort of a teenage "right of passage" sort of thing. But for Dorothy is was just the beginning of a secret life.
Some of her friends got caught by their parents, who viewed the activity as anything but harmless, and took action. Dorothy's parents were relieved that their daughter wasn't one of "those" kind of kids and could take comfort knowing that she would never get in with the wrong crowd, and they were especially proud when she was accepted by a fancy eastern college.
Her college years were productive in terms of academics, but the "six-pack" beer parties of her high school days were tame compared to the endless stream of on-campus and off-campus blowouts that always offered an opportunity for more daring experimentation.
Her marijuana use was a regular "weekend" activity, which soon gave way to three times a week and more. She was never much of a drinker, so the beer keg was not a magnet for her. But then she tried cocaine. Call the cocaine encounter a second beginning for her, as her drug use would now go to an entirely different level.
Her use of cocaine was somewhat "moderate" and she graduated with a solid grade point average and found exciting employment before she even finished her last final. Her career was fast-paced and energizing. She got married to a client seven years later and their combined income was substantial.
Her husband was a light, social drinker and did not approve of anything beyond a beer or a glass of wine. Not wanting to jeopardize that relationship, Dorothy's cocaine use, which she could now afford, was done in secret. Her ability to hide her drug use was remarkable. What it took to hide a little beer and marijuana use was nothing compared to hiding a cocaine habit, being a model wife, and maintaining professional standards.
It was a secret life. It lasted for more than 40 years. She knew her cocaine use was a problem, so from time to time, she would stop using. By sheer will power and determination, she would abstain from her drug of choice, all the while keeping up appearances. Sometimes, she'd abstain for months, and once she went for several years without using, mainly because she had three kids and did not want to harm her babies. But the problem was, she was an addict. There was never any treatment and no recovery process for her.
When her youngest child was in the third grade, her mother died. She returned to using, wanting the effect of the cocaine to give her a lift. She'd stop using again for a time, but always went back. The years went on, and her cocaine use came in cycles, almost like the changing of the seasons. Her ability to mask her habit never gave any hints of her problem.
The years of on again, off again use came to a head when her youngest daughter and two grandchildren, were killed in an auto accident. She turned once again to the cocaine, which gave her a kind of comfort that she did not believe her husband or family could give. It was her way of coping with the world, an escape from the tragedy and pain.
She was now 63 years old and for the first time in her life, somebody noticed that something was wrong. Her husband, who had never suspected anything, was now noticing changes in her daily habits and appearance.
In her youth, Dorothy was able to put on a rather convincing show, but now that she was older, she didn't have the energy to do all that and something had to give. She had denied any need for treatment for over 40 years, electing instead to play her game, even taking pride in her ability to abstain for long periods of time.
But she always knew that the cocaine was going to win. She decided to drop the act and seek help. She was motivated, had the support of her husband, and she was able to learn how to manage her addiction.
For Dorothy, getting the cocaine addiction out into the light of day made the difference. There was no more secret life, no more keeping up appearances, and no more lie to perpetuate. For the first time since her high school days, there was only Dorothy, not the act.
Original Air Date: 9/28/2009 8:00 PM UTC
Date / Time: 9/27/2009 12:51 AM UTC
It is always interesting to hear reactions from people when asked about their attitudes towards others dealing with addiction. The responses range from the extremely negative, to the few who display unconditional positive regard and understanding. What fascinates me is our ability to separate what we want for ourselves and what we want for other people.
If I do wrong, I want mercy. If somebody else does wrong, I want justice. Be honest, isn't that true? If I run afoul with the law, I get an attorney and hopefully he'll get me off. The fact that I am guilty doesn't enter into it, because I am only concerned about minimizing the inconvenience to my life. If my son or daughter gets into trouble, there I am to protect them and ease the blow. Better yet, if I can blame somebody else, that's all the better. But, if it's somebody else that gets into trouble, oh boy, throw the book at them.
The idea of mercy is difficult, because it's hard to understand in the context of consequences. If someone I love, a family member, is struggling with alcoholism or substance abuse or addiction, my first inclination is to protect my own emotional health, or enable their addiction by denying it. After all it's a problem they have to overcome.
But addiction is a family disease and therefore their addiction is my addiction. If I sweep the issue under the rug, I am contributing to the perpetuation of the disease. If I get angry or in some way alienate the other person, I likewise contribute to the feeding of the disease. I say this because as a teen I could not deal with my mother's drinking. It was her problem and being the pristine example of love and compassion, I knew it was all about me and how her health issues were affecting my life. Her disease was a family disease, only we chose not to recognize our role in a sad story.
Mercy does not instruct us to avoid the problem, or give the addict a pass. Appeasement is not a good strategy. Mercy calls us to action, to face the problem and accept our own responsibilities, all the while holding tight to the one who is struggling. Mercy says we reach out and take an outward focus, regardless of the possibility of person pain. It's not their problem, it's our problem and together we will walk on this path.
Imagine yourself up atop a hill, looking down on a valley where a battle wages. You can see all of the players and it's sort of like playing chess. If you were in the middle of the fight, it would be difficult at best to see the entire picture. But with a higher perspective on the conflict below, you can see the solution.
Your loved one is in that battle and can't see a clear cut way to victory. In the thick of the battle, in the moment, I have compassion for the addict. I want to comfort, to soothe to somehow make it better. But the second step says a "power greater than ourselves" can intervene and provide the way out. Therefore, we need to look to the top of the hill. The addict can't necessarily see that, as addiction is myopic and will not allow it, or at least doesn't want it.
Family members become the tools of God's mercy to the addict by allowing themselves to be moved by the master chess player. In the New Testament, Matthew 5:7 states, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." To be merciful to someone, we must first come to grips with our own frailty, understanding that the human condition is universal and that we are all, in some way or another, broken. In my youth I did not understand this and therefore I cut my mother off emotionally.
It's is that brokenness that both facilitates our connection to God, or in quite the opposite direction, causes us to turn away from Him and find our own solution to life's turbulence. On the one hand, knowing that I am broken, knowing that I am seriously flawed, I can, through the grace of God, accept that brokenness in others and journey with them. On the other hand, if I am blinded from the truth of my own frailty, if I deny the problems, I have cut myself off from the care of God, and therefore deny myself the solution. I am left to find my own way, or worse yet, the one I love is cut off.
The Apostle Paul talked of his "thorn in the flesh," that part of his human condition that reminded him of God's sovereignty. He understood that in his own weakness, the strength of God could carry the day. If we know that we are all in the human condition and need the mercy of God, as we understand Him, and that He is our strength, we can have greater impact on the one we love because we can be merciful, while allowing God to direct the recovery process.
Ned Wicker is the Addictions Chaplain at Waukesha Memorial Hospital Lawrence Center
Date / Time: 9/27/2009 12:49 AM UTC
What's the difference between "wanting" something, and being "willing" to do what it takes to accomplish the goal? It is an important question because many people are "wanting" to escape the misery of alcoholism or drug addiction, but they may not be "willing" to do everything it takes to get on the road to recovery. A person's "willingness" to do what it takes is the difference between being compliant and surrendering.
What is compliance? It starts with the successful navigation of Step 1, the place where we admitted that we were powerless over (substance), that our lives had become unmanageable. It's the "Ok, you got me, now what do I do?" Step 1 is a key to beginning the process as it identifies a problem. If there is no problem there is no solution. In this case, a person admits that they are powerless.
Compliance begins to take form in Step 2, as "we came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity." The understanding that something outside of ourselves would generate the necessary power to deal with the problem, in this case restore us to sanity, does not necessarily assure us of a good outcome. It is mere intellectual ascent. I have a broken leg, so I go to the doctor because I believe the doctor can fix it.
What is surrender? Now we start dealing with being "willing." That is the line dividing Steps 2 and 3. In Step 3, we "made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God, as we understood him," and this is different because we are letting go of our own agenda and allowing someone else to handle the details. We allow the doctor to set the leg and put it into a cast. We don't tell the doctor how to do it, nor do we set all of the terms of treatment. We submit to the doctor's experience and professional talents.
Surrender may not be what you think it is. The word implies defeat, like General Lee handing his sword to General Grant at Appomattox Court House, the action ending hostilities between the army of Northern Virginia and U.S. forces, under Grant's command, in the Civil War. There were terms and conditions, negotiated in a series of letters exchanged between the two commanders.
Once the conditions were met, the southern soldiers and officers were allowed to simply go home. Actually, Lee's action in accepting the terms set by Grant was more compliance. Both sides wanted peace, and both sides were grieved by the loss of life and neither really wanted to continue. It must also be mentioned that Lee's agreement to Grant's terms came as a result of a southern supply train being captured by a northern cavalry unit, under the command of General Phillip Sheridan. If Lee got his supplies, the fight would have continued. Under the circumstances following Sheridan's success, the inevitability of the defeat ahead was obvious. They negotiated a cease to hostilities and Lee complied.
What if surrender was not surrender at all, but empowerment? I can see why a person would believe surrender to be foolish. Surrender? Surrender to what? In Step 2, that power greater than ourselves could be many things, such as the relationship with loved ones, the energy one receives from a group of supportive people, or something else that has personal meaning.
However, in Step 3, the operative phrase is "care of God, as we understood Him." It implies that we are turning our will and lives over to something that is known to us. In many cases of Old Testament army battles, it is God who does the fighting, not the Israelites. God parted the Red Sea and swallowed up the Egyptian army. God brought down the walls of Jericho. The people were compliant, in that they did as God commanded, but they surrendered their own idea and allowed God to act. We also see Old Testament examples of when people turned from God in favor of their own path.
Surrender is the "willingness" to allow one self to receive help. It is staying out of the way while that "Power greater than ourselves" goes to work, restoring our sanity, and caring for us. It is the beginning of a relationship with God, "as we understood Him."
The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, "That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." He has admitted his own weakness in the human condition, knows that a power greater than himself will win his battles and in turning over his will and his life to the care of God, has become powerful himself, by allowing God to provide the strength.
Compliance is one thing. Many are compliant. But surrender is another. Not all find their strength and power to overcome, because they won't allow it.
Date / Time: 9/27/2009 12:46 AM UTC
Every thing that glitters is not gold, and not everything sold over the counter, supposedly harmless and perfectly legal, is a good idea for your teenage child to take.
Snurf pills are the latest rage, and parents probably do not have a firm understanding of the potential dangers of these "harmless" pills. Not all parents are going to log on to web sites, like WebMD, to learn the details. But earlier this month in Pennsylvania, parents of four tenth graders from Council Rock High School in Philadelphia got a crash course in the dangers of Snurf. The teens were hospitalized.
What is this stuff? It is supposedly an herbal supplement, but closer examination shows it's actually dextromethorphan, the active ingredient in many cough medicines. Parents have probably already figured out that cough medicine is an alternative to alcoholic beverages, but in the case of the Snurf pills, the label says the pills have "mood altering properties," which in the hands of a teenager looking for a good time is an invitation for trouble.
So what is dextromethorphan? It's a synthetic morphine, according to Dr. Deborah Levine the attending physician at Bellevue Hospital in New York. She told WebMD, "It's the ninth- and 10th-graders who are doing the dex. One in 10 kids in grades seven to 12 have used it. In California, they have seen a 15-fold increase in kids age 9-17."
Any claims of "herbal" are at best highly questionable and at worst an outright lie. But kids can buy them, and they probably receive the same scrutiny as other diet supplements sold. Michael Windle, PhD, chair of behavior sciences and health education at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health, gave WebMD a rather chilling warning for parents -- "The message isn't out there of the potential dangers of using these substances.
You have a very dangerous combination of fairly easy access with absence of messages of potential harm." He said that illegal drug use is on the decline, but that "legal" drugs were being abused at a higher rate.
If something is legal, like an "herbal" supplement, can it be harmful or even deadly? Absolutely! What is most frightening is that parents are just now starting to question this. Smurf pills and other "herbal" garbage is sold online and kids can easily purchase them without their parents even knowing about it. Windle nails the issue by saying,
"They say it is not illegal and that it's an herb, so adolescents may think it is actually healthy for you. This is a clever marketing gimmick to sell it online. You remove any guilt these adolescents may have about taking a drug."
The side effects of dex in large doses are very serious. It can act as an hallucinogen. Teens may experience depression, loss of memory or slip into an "unreality," a kind of detachment from self or dissociation. Memory loss is also possible.
Teens turn to Smurf pills because they believe it is more socially acceptable than alcohol or marijuana. After all, a harmless "herbal" pill is nothing to be concerned about.
Parents need to pay attention to this "harmless" pill. If they find them, get rid of them.
The four teens who were hospitalized were not enjoying a pleasurable high, they were very sick kids. Even the publicity on the four teens will probably not resonate around the country, but the problem is serious.
Kids are going to experiment, either as a result of a curiosity or peer pressure. Smurf pills are readily available, legal and that's why they are so dangerous. Unsuspecting kids will take them, take too many and it is very possible that when they do, they will not survive the experience.
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