It is quite natural for people to try and help others, especially if it is a family member or close friend. Then, one often wonders if assisting in obtaining treatment for drug abuse will provide a lifelong “cure,” or will the problem just keep coming back again?
One important thing to consider is that for the most part, alcoholism and drug addictions are now considered to be diseases. Chronic diseases, in fact. Let’s face it. A person can die from such conditions. One aspect of addictive diseases, is that there tends to be periods of relapsing, followed by periods of sobriety. That is just the nature of addictive diseases. Kind of like “bumps in the road,” if you will.
And like most chronic diseases, one does not give up a person, say with Diabetes or Asthma, even if the person has a relapse of his or her symptoms. If someone who has Diabetes eats a candy bar and their blood sugar goes up sky high; we don’t give up on the person. Rather, we try to help the person, right? Because that is the right thing to do.
If a person has an addiction to opiates, the person needs help. The help is provided like it would be for a Diabetic, without regard for if the person will ever eat another candy bar again. Drug and alcohol problems should be no different.
If a person is struggling with a drug or alcohol problem and receives treatment; the person may or may not relapse sometime later. There is not a great way to predict if and when a person might relapse. For that reason, treatment should be offered in a non-judgmental way and without a consideration for future relapses. Although, it is a very good thing to have a “Relapse Prevention Plan.” It’s like expecting the best and preparing for the worst.
If you or someone you know is struggling with a drug or alcohol problem, particularly with a problem with (deadly) opiates, excellent help is available at The Drug and Alcohol Detox Clinic of South Mississippi. Find them on the web or call 000.000.0000. There’s Still Hope!
