Recovery is a Journey

Problems and Pain

Life is difficult. This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. The first of the "Four Noble Truths" which Buddha taught was "Life is suffering." It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we can transcend it. Once we truly know that life is difficult, once we accept it, then life is no longer as big a problem. Once this truth is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters…It just is.

Most, it seems, do not fully grasp this truth that life is difficult. Instead they moan and groan either noisily or subtly about the enormity of their problems, their burdens, as if life should be easy.

Life is a series of problems. Do we want to moan about them or solve them? Do we want to teach our children to solve them?

Discipline is a basic set of tools we require to solve life's problems. Without discipline we can solve nothing. With only some discipline we can solve only some problems. With more discipline comes the ability to solve more problems.

What makes life difficult is that the process of confronting and solving problems is a painful one. Problems, depending on their nature, evoke in us frustration, grief, sadness, loneliness, guilt, regret, anger, fear, anxiety, and despair. These are uncomfortable! They are feelings that are often as uncomfortable as physical pain. Since life poses us with a series of problems to address, life is always difficult and is full of pain and joy.

It is in this process of meeting and solving problems that life has its meaning, it is where we really find the joy. Problems are the cutting edge that distinguishes between success and failure. Problems call fourth our courage and our wisdom. Maybe it is the problem that creates our courage and our wisdom. It is because of these problems that we have the opportunities to grow mentally and spiritually. Benjamin Franklin said, "Those things that hurt, instruct." It is for this reason that wise people actually welcome the challenge and growth associated with problems and pain.

The Disease Model of Addiction

The disease model of addiction describes addiction as being:

1. Primary - The addiction and the behaviors necessary to sustain the addiction come first in a person's life. Everything else comes second to last.
2. Progressive - It gets worse. Once a person begins the path toward addiction, things get worse, and not just one or two things, everything gets worse.
3. Chronic - It keeps getting worse. It doesn't go away. There are no more up and downs, just downs. There are no more good days and bad days…just bad days. There are no more realistic plans, just wishful thinking and shattered dreams.
4. Potentially Fatal - If the addiction is not stopped, it will kill you. It will not kill your body. It will destroy your mind, your heart, your will, your self respect, and your spirit.
5. Treatable - You can get help. You can recover from the hazards of addiction. Just ask.

Meth Taking Toll

A sharp increase in the number of people arriving in emergency rooms with methamphetamine related problems has been straining the nations hospital budgets. Treatment facilties, particularly in the Midwest, are also feeling the pressure.

One of last year's surveys showed that 73% of the 200 county and regional hospitals polled had seen an increase in the number of people visiting emergency rooms for methamphetamine related problems over the past 5 years.

70% of the hospitals in the Midwest and 80% in the Upper Midwest said that methamphetamine accounted for 10% of their patients. Nationwide, 14% of the hospitals reported such cases were up 20%.

Under many state's laws, regardless of ability to pay, hospitals are required to provide treatment. These labor-intensive cases and the funds spent by those hospitals will not be recovered. 56% of the hospitals surveyed said their costs had risen because of the growing abuse of the drug.

Another survey by The National Association of Counties showed that 69% of hospitals reported an increased demand for treatment, after the initial ER visit. 63% of those hospitals said they did not have enough capacity to meet the demand. "People are staying in treatment slots longer, so I can't spin those beds to someone else," said Patrick Fleming, director of Salt Lake County Division of Substance Abuse Services in Utah.

47% of the hospitals surveyed reported methamphetamine caused more emergency room visits than any other drug, while 16% cited marijuana, 15% cocaine, and 1% heroin.

New Genetic Test for Addiction

A simple test revealing genetic predisposition for drug and alcohol addiction will be available within the year. Researchers are urging mass testing - even of babies. The genetic marker is the A1 allele, identified by Dr. Ernest Noble of UCLA, and the test he developed is a swab inside the cheek, which is then sent to a lab for analysis.

According to Noble, the kits are now being developed by a West Coast pharmaceutical firm, and the patented test will cost about $35.