by Robert M. “Mike” Leath, MD

People recovering from addiction to drugs or alcohol frequently don’t consider their problem to extend beyond their drug of choice. But this is not necessarily true. If a person has addiction issues with a particular substance, it is appropriate to consider this person will likely have problems with all classes of addictive substances.

Many relapses occur when recovering individuals feel that their addiction is under control and therefore controlled use is possible. Or, the person may recognize that their previous drug of choice is obviously not an option, but may feel that experimentation with other substances is harmless. Relapses under these circumstances may be unfortunate, but the person is rarely surprised of the outcome following this behavior.

The first draft of the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) latest Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) eliminates the disease categories for substance abuse and dependence and replaces it with a new “addictions and related disorders” -- just one of several major changes to the “Bible” used almost universally to diagnose (and get insurance reimbursement for) behavioral-health problems.

“Eliminating the category of dependence will better differentiate between the compulsive drug-seeking behavior of addiction and normal responses of tolerance and withdrawal that some patients experience when using prescribed medications that affect the central nervous system,” the APA explained in a Feb. 10 press release.

“The term dependence is misleading, because people confuse it with addiction, when in fact the tolerance and withdrawal patients experience are very normal responses to prescribed medications that affect the central nervous system,” said Charles O’Brien, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the APA’s DSM Substance-Related Disorders Work Group. “On the other hand, addiction is compulsive drug- seeking behavior which is quite different. We hope that this new classification will help end this wide-spread misunderstanding.”

Rev. Leo Booth
Unity minister, published author and conference speaker

I think the phrase that excites and intrigues many people in Alcoholics Anonymous in step twelve, is having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps. For me it is powerful because it becomes a spring-board for my imagination; what is the spiritual awakening? Where does it take us? What is needed to keep the awakening alive?

Let’s step back for a moment and see what we have achieved in completing steps one through eleven. This is obviously my understanding of how the steps work, others have written about this incredible program and it has become enriched by ideas and experiences discovered in the fellowship. And that’s how it should be. These suggested steps will mean different things to different people, depending upon their religion, culture and philosophical backgrounds.

Generally speaking this is what steps one to eleven mean to me:

Are you really powerless over alcohol and/or drugs and/or (insert your favorite thing to destroy your life with)? I think it’s a valid question. I mean, the last thing I want to do is walk around surrendering things I don’t actually need to surrender! (That’s a joke.)

When someone finally explained the concept of powerlessness to me, in a way that explained all of my behaviors, experiences and thinking, it freed me up so much that I was able to stop making myself wrong for having the disease of alcoholism and addiction. It became clear to me that I was actually powerless- not weak willed, stupid, or pure trash. When I really got the concept, I realized that my inability to stay clean and sober actually made sense! I had lost the power of choice, because of how my body reacts to the substances, and how my thinking becomes consumed with an excruciatingly sophisticated obsession. Add to that the fact that I have a spiritual malady (major living problem) and you’ve got yourself one crazy drunk girl!

by Donovan Kuehn

Donovan Kuehn
NAADAC Director of Operations and Outreach

Recognition: it is hard-wired into the human brain. From the time we’re children, seeking approval from our parents, to adulthood and our work lives - a positive comment or reward can help keep us motivated and striving for improvement.

Abraham Maslow, a psychologist from the mid-20th century, formulated a theory on the needs of human beings. This theory, later dubbed “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs,” laid out the basic components of life that people need to survive and thrive. His theory laid out five steps, with each component needing to be fulfilled before a person could move on to the next step. The progression of Maslow’s needs are as follows:

Physiological Needs

These are biological needs: oxygen, food, water and a relatively constant body temperature. These needs are the strongest needs because a person requires these things to survive.

In our classes we always say, as we explained in the article on the First Step, “Let’s start at the start.”

If the alcoholic/addict’s problem is a condition called spiritual bankruptcy and it is manifested by isolation and lack of connection with God, self and others. Then that lack of connection along with the use of a mind altering substance causes a total degeneration of one’s character.

by James Baker

Dear AngerManagementSeminar.com:

A friend of mine showed me your website. I wish my husband would look at it but I know he won’t. He won’t do anything I ask him to do. I am at my wit’s end. Sometimes he can be really nice, and he is a hard worker. But he has this mean streak that just won’t quit. He yells at me and makes fun of me for even the smallest little mistakes. He doesn’t hit me (well, not often), but if I try to stand up to him when I think he is wrong, he goes completely nuts, breaks my stuff, threatens me with awful things and sometimes grabs me or pushes me and keeps me from leaving the room until I apologize and tell him he is right.

I’ve been fighting with alcoholism for 16 years now. I’ve been in and out of A/A for 7 years now and it took this long for me to actually open my eyes to the fact that the program will work if I allow it to. Everything the program has suggested is in fact simple with a great sense of reality .It is also true that eventually the program will get to you sooner or later.

There was a time when we all knew the natural value of creativity and free self expression. The phrase, “I’m not very creative” is like saying, “I’m not very flesh and bone”. Spend an hour watching kids under 7 years old as they improvise, sing, paint, draw, and move brilliantly - and remember that even you were that open and free at one point. Most traditional cultures have dance, music, and art at the very center of the community and as a vital tool for healing. The fact is, we are all extremely creative and when we deny this truth, we endanger our health, our connection with the Great Creator, and therefore our sobriety.

Alan Cohen
Acclaimed speaker and best selling author

As a farmer lay dying, his four sons sat by his bedside awaiting his final words. “There is a vast treasure buried in the family’s field,” he whispered.

“Where is it, father?” the sons pleaded. But it was too late. Their father was gone.

Soon after his passing, the sons set to the field, trying to unearth the treasure. For many days the sons desperately worked pick and shovel, digging everywhere in search of their promised legacy.

Fr. Bill Wigmore
CEO of Austin Recovery

It’s been several years now since I completed a men’s retreat in the mountains of New Mexico. I wish I’d done it thirty years before as I’m still reaping some of its spiritual rewards today! Fr. Richard Rohr, a well-known Franciscan priest, led the retreat that included a hundred men from all over the country. Some of us were in recovery; but most were not. The idea behind the retreat was to experience five days of initiation rites designed especially for men. Rohr believes that men, especially men from our Western cultures, aren’t initiated into life as they are in many other societies around the world. In most tribal cultures, when its time for a boy to become a man, that’s when he’s taken from his mother’s arms and the male Elders of the tribe lead him deep into the woods or high up into the mountains to introduce him to the darker side of life.

The Quick Fix with Bradley Quick Radio Show is a dynamic, inspirational, informative weekly talk show streaming live from Los Angeles every Thursday afternoon at 1pm PST at www.stickam.com/thequickfix and www.bradleyquick.com.

Listeners can hear messages of positive change, recovery, motivation and life enhancement. Celebrity guests, authors, and specialists of all kinds like Wayne Dyer, Melody Beattie, John Bradshaw, Guy Finley , Don Miguel Ruiz and many others are interviewed and interact with on-the-air callers and listeners who desire to participate in life enhancement processes for their own individual positive change.