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.
--Adapted from "The Road Less
Traveled", by M. Scott Peck, M.D.
Come to Group
We are Meeting Every
Saturday from
8:30 AM to 9:15 AM
The Disease Model of Addiction
The disease model of addiction describes
addiction as being:
- Primary - The addiction and the behaviors necessary to
sustain the addiction come first in a person's life. Everything else
comes second to last.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Treatable - You can get help. You can recover from the
hazards of addiction. Just ask.
--Rick B.
|
Clinic hours on Saturday are |
OA - Overeaters Anonymous |
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.
Adapted from the New York Times
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.
The New York Daily News
|
Mothers Against Meth-Amph. |