Why “self-help” groups found the highest attendees of those receiving substance abuse treatment

Often self-help is free or really low cost. Meetings are scheduled around the nation in most towns and cities where those addicted can go and share with others similarly afflicted and hopefully gain strength and encouragement to get them through the ravages of cravings, pent up guilt and overwhelming depression which almost always accompanies withdrawal and abstinence from drugs or alcohol. With millions addicted in the U.S. alone, there is plenty of need.

All too often though a person trying desperately to rid themselves of the addiction related burdens they bare discover that they lack the skills, fortitude and sheer willpower to “white knuckle it” or tough out the tremendous challenges associated with substance abuse. Bill K., a poly-drug abuser from Seattle explains, “I tried everything I could to stay away from the drugs and the people I used with but it seemed as though the drugs called my name. From the time I woke up in the morning until I went to sleep at night it became one long agonizing day after another filled with the secret desire to use while constantly being forced me to abstain. One day I just gave up and went straight back downhill from there. No matter how many meetings I went to I just couldn’t get my mind off the drugs.”

Billy’s experience with attempting to use self-help to remain drug and alcohol free is by far not an isolated experience. The 2008 NSDUH shows that the number of persons aged 12 or older who received substance use treatment at a self-help group were 2,187,000. The majority of these 2 million discovered how difficult it truly is to simply attend meetings or undergo meditation and truly leave addiction behind. Many, if not most, will find themselves returning to drug and alcohol use and thereby feeling an unfortunately higher sense of failure, hopelessness, and shame due to not being able to control their own addiction and future.

The number of people seeking addiction treatment can be staggering. In fact, according to this same study:

1.    The number of persons aged 12 or older who received substance use treatment at a self-help group was 2,187,000.

2.    The number of persons aged 12 or older who received substance use treatment at an outpatient rehabilitation facility was 1,455,000.

3.    The number of persons aged 12 or older who received substance use treatment at an outpatient mental health center was 1,054,000.

4.    The number of persons aged 12 or older who received substance use treatment at an inpatient rehabilitation facility was 743,000.

5.    The number of persons aged 12 or older who received substance use treatment at a hospital as an inpatient was 675,000.

6.    The number of persons aged 12 or older who received substance use treatment at a private doctor's office was 672,000.

7.    The number of persons aged 12 or older who received substance use treatment at an emergency room was 374,000.

8.    The number of persons aged 12 or older who received substance use treatment at a prison or jail was 343,000.

From self-help groups to clinical settings to prison and/or jail programs, people attempt to get and stay “clean and sober”. The success of that goal is going to lie in the comprehensive nature of whatever recovery method the person chooses. If a person could simply stop using drugs and/or alcohol, leave addiction behind and never look back again, they would. Unfortunately addiction is severe in strength and involves multiple aspects of a person’s body, mind, and spirit. To handle one single aspect of drug or alcohol use without successfully addressing the remaining factors is to simply ask for relapse to occur. Unless every aspect of the mechanics of addiction is fully addressed and handled, the individual will find themselves attempting to remain sober, feeling the guilt and shame or the past or physical cravings as well as cycling through depressive stages. This will eventually lead them back into a condition whereby they “give up” and reuse drugs and/or alcohol.

Narconon Arrowhead, Narconon's premier facility, located in Oklahoma on 216 acres in Arrowhead State Park, is a truly, most comprehensive program for an addict who is trying to recover from addiction. The peaceful setting we offer here is like no other and our highly trained staffs are 100% dedicated to helping our clients overcome their addictions. Narconon Arrowhead first opened its doors in 2000 and starting delivering drug education across the nation in 2001 in an attempt to help prevent addiction before it starts. If you or someone you love needs help please call 1-800-468-6933 or log onto <a onClick="javascript:pageTracker._trackPageview('/outgoing/article_exit_link');" href="http://www.methamphetamineaddiction.com">www.stopaddiction.com</a> to speak to a counselor who can help you get started on the road to recovery for a life time.