Why AA Members Believe the 12 Step Program is the Only Way

September 17, 2017

For members of Alcoholics Anonymous and even Narcotics Anonymous, the dogma that “AA is the only way” is far from offensive. In fact, the 12 step program has become a significant meaning of life for each individual regularly attending AA and NA meetings. However, for individuals seeking addiction treatment elsewhere, such as through medical means often referred to as medicine assisted treatment (MAT), hearing this can be overwhelming and even downright destructive for their individual mindset and addiction recovery. Many members of Alcoholics Anonymous believe that medicine assisted treatment and other modalities are simply not effective. What’s more, those who use Suboxone, methadone and even naltrexone (Vivitrol and ReVia) aren’t considered part of recovery. So why do 12 step program members feel this way?

Being Authentic at AA meetings

While the 12 step program has a long history of being effective for some men and women suffering from …

Dangers of Putting Off Addiction Treatment – Is It Just That Simple?

September 8, 2017

Category:12 Step Program / Addiction & Recovery General / Addiction Treatment Center / Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) / Disease of Addiction / Drug Dealers / Drug Rehab / Family & Friends of Heroin Addicts / Heroin Addiction / Heroin Epidemic / Heroin Treatment Options / Narcotics Anonymous (NA) / Overdose / Protecting Our Children / SMART Recovery

It may sound incredibly simple to most people reading this. Of course its dangerous to put off addiction treatment if you are still using drugs. But believe it or not – to the man or woman still using heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, etc., it’s not that simple. Some men and women suffering from the disease of addiction wish they could just put it down. They convince themselves they have it under control, telling themselves that this will be the last time they buy and use, handing over $500 to a man (or woman) who tells them they are making very little money from the transaction while meanwhile, the drug dealer is making at least 50% off of each drug buyer. It’s sick and nobody knows or cares…not until somebody overdoses and dies.

Noticing Before a Heroin or Drug Overdose and Death

It doesn’t matter which drug of choice the addict has …

Breaking Free From Drug Addiction

August 26, 2017

Category:12 Step Program / Addiction & Recovery General / Addiction Treatment Center / Addiction Treatment Centers / Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) / Best Treatment Centers Nationwide / Disease of Addiction / Drug Rehab / Heroin Addiction / Heroin Epidemic / Heroin Treatment Options / Narcotics Anonymous (NA) / Recommendation / Understanding Addiction

Despite all the information available at one’s fingertips today, so many still don’t understand addiction and feel that those who regularly use drugs are just regularly making bad choices or are just simply immoral, lazy or less intelligent. And while addiction may start with one bad choice, addiction is a disease that literally changes the brain’s structure and chemical makeup. These changes to the brain creates an ongoing, powerful compulsion that makes resisting the substance that triggered the onset of addiction feel almost impossible. So how does someone suffering from the disease of addiction break free of the disease? Is it even possible?

Breaking Free From Drug Addiction

No cure exists for the disease of addiction. However, much like a cancer, addiction can be sent into remission where compulsions simply aren’t as strong. Moreover, coping strategies and life skills can be acquired that will make resisting the urges and compulsions to use …

Do’s and Don’ts for Finding a Sponsor

August 3, 2017

Category:12 Step Program / Addiction & Recovery General / Addiction Treatment Centers / Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) / Best Treatment Centers Nationwide / Heroin Addiction / Heroin Epidemic / Heroin Treatment Options / Narcotics Anonymous (NA) / Recommendation

Addicts helping drug addicts is part of what makes Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) so effective. Sponsorship involves one recovering addict walking another through the 12 step program and helping them stay sober. A sponsor is someone you call when you need emotional support or feel threatened by relapse. They will respond without judgment or criticism by teaching you the language of AA/NA, encouraging you to continue working your recovery program, providing emotional support by staying in regular contact and sharing their experience of recovery.

Working with a sponsor is like any relationship – it requires some navigating in order to be mutually beneficial. Here are a few dos and don’ts to follow when making this important decision:

DO Get a Sponsor

While it is true that not everyone needs a sponsor, most recovering addicts benefit from giving sponsorship a try. A sponsor is in the unique position to understand …

Jesus Loves The Heroin Addict

April 21, 2017

Category:Addiction & Recovery General / Addiction Treatment Center / Addiction Treatment Centers / Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) / Best Treatment Centers Nationwide / Celebrities / Depression / Depression / Disease of Addiction / Drug Rehab / Family & Friends of Heroin Addicts / Heroin Addiction / Heroin Treatment Options / Narcotics Anonymous (NA) / Overdose / Protecting Our Children / Recommendation

Each life is a precious gift and each person was born with a plan from God. Even an addict was born with a purpose, died for by God (Jesus) Himself and was knitted together in his/her mothers womb, destined.

“For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”– Jeremiah 29:11

When Jesus came on Earth and ministered, He didn’t surround Himself with kings and upper class people with money and riches, fancy houses and wine and expensive jewelry and clothing. He actually quite preferred to spend His few short years with murderers, tax collectors, lepers, fisherman and the handicapped.

Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting …

Real Addiction Treatment Takes Care of The Mind, Body and Soul
January 25, 2017
Category:12 Step Program / Addiction & Recovery General / Addiction Treatment Center / Addiction Treatment Centers / Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) / Best Treatment Centers Nationwide / Disease of Addiction / Drug Rehab / Family & Friends of Heroin Addicts / Heroin Addiction / Heroin Treatment Options / Holistic Approach / Long Term Recovery / Recommendation

Individuals suffering from drug addiction often neglect taking care of themselves. Whether the drug of choice is heroin, cocaine, benzodiazepines, etc. drugs uses it’s power to destroy the mind, body and soul. Thus, getting the best addiction help and treatment must focus not just on stopping a drug habit and addressing underlying issues that led to drug use during therapy, but must focus on the work necessary to repair our broken bodies, psyches and spirit. So what does it look like to take care of your mind, body and soul during and after initial treatment and recovery?

Many addicts suffer from low self esteem and their only coping mechanism of using drugs stunts any self-improvement or growth. This is a recipe for disaster. Thus, in addiction treatment and long-term recovery, we must learn to love ourselves again (or for the first time). We show how we love by how we take or neglect …

SMART Recovery, An Alternative to the 12 Step Meetings?
December 1, 2016
Category:12 Step Program / Addiction & Recovery General / Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) / Call to Action / Family & Friends of Heroin Addicts / Heroin Addiction / Heroin Treatment Options / Narcotics Anonymous (NA) / News / SMART Recovery

On November 17, the U.S. Surgeon General, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the stance on battling the disease of addiction, as a call to action for the country. “Alcohol and drug addiction take an enormous toll on individuals, families, and communities,” said U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. “Most Americans know someone who has been touched by an alcohol or a drug use disorder. Yet 90% of people with a substance use disorder are not getting treatment. That has to change.” Surgeon General Dr. Murthy also acknowledged that with more than 21 million Americans suffering from this disease. Let’s face it, if you do not know someone affected by this disease, you are in a very small percentage of the population. SMART Recovery started as an alternative to NA (Narcotics Anonymous) or AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and provides a new mechanism of support and encouragement for …

Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, Not an Authoritative Source of Literature for Addiction & Recovery
November 20, 2016
Category:12 Step Program / Addiction & Recovery General / Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) / Call to Action / Family & Friends of Heroin Addicts / Harm Reduction / Heroin Addiction / Heroin Treatment Options / Methadone / Naltrexone / Narcotics Anonymous (NA) / News / scams / Stigma / Suboxone

It’s hard to believe how much division still exists today in the online recovery community, all over Suboxone and Methadone. Frankly, even mentioning both medicine assisted treatments typically prepares a multitude of recovering addicts to “fight or flight”. Why? Even if Suboxone and Methadone aren’t your personal choices for treating your opiate or heroin addiction, to this day, there are still so many people who spend their time criticizing and shaming recovering addicts on Suboxone and Methadone. And many of the anti-MAT rhetoric nonsense comes from 12 steppers in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA).

Now I want to be clear upfront. Overall, I think AA and NA are great and the program has helped a number of addicts find and stay in long, lasting recovery. That said, someone, somewhere, or maybe a group of like-minded hateful individuals have caused many in the program to believe that AA or NA …

Inpatient vs. Outpatient Addiction Treatment Centers: There is Hope
November 16, 2016
Category:12 Step Program / Addiction & Recovery General / Addiction Treatment Center / Addiction Treatment Centers / Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) / Avoiding Triggers / Call to Action / Detox Centers / Disease of Addiction / Drug Rehab / Family & Friends of Heroin Addicts / Heroin Addiction / Heroin Treatment Options / InPatient / IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program) / Medicine Assisted Treatment (MAT) / Methadone / OutPatient / Recommendation / Suboxone / Triggers

The time has come. You’ve decided that you have had enough. You have been driven by addiction to the point that it’s become your only purpose. Your day revolves around getting your drug and feeding your addiction. If you’re lucky enough to get any sleep, it’s still the last thing on your mind because it’s always on your mind. No matter what you tell yourself about getting sober, it’s always that last and final step that stops you from making the commitment to get addiction treatment and help. Your drug addiction has become a cycle; a vicious cycle that you no longer want to be a part of anymore. So, what do you do?

Breaking Free and Getting Addiction Treatment

There are options. But no matter which route you choose to go, the success depends on your commitment and the work that you put into sobriety. It all comes down to you. But …

Breaking the Chains of Addiction: Transforming Fear into Freedom
November 13, 2016
Category:12 Step Program / Addiction & Recovery General / Addiction Treatment Center / Addiction Treatment Centers / Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) / Disease of Addiction / Drug Rehab / Family & Friends of Heroin Addicts / Heroin Addiction / Heroin Epidemic / Heroin Treatment Options / Recommendation

“It’s okay to be scared. Being scared means you’re about to do something really, really brave.” -Mandy Hale

Change is scary. It scares each and every one of us. Sometimes we have to ask ourselves if a change is worth it. However, to the one stuck in active addiction, the addiction itself cheers him on from somewhere inside, as it roots for only itself. Addiction can be compared to a living force that wants to keep you chained up and bound. It resists and rejects change. It refuses to let you choose recovery. It wants to keep you where you are, at its mercy and enslaved to heroin, or whatever object you’ve become addicted to. To the addict, the decision to change is anything but easy. However, addicts do have the ability to break the chains of addiction and transform fear into freedom.

Psychology tells us that addiction keeps the addict from believing …

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