Preventing and Avoiding Drug and Alcohol Relapse in Novato, CA.
Novato, California is located in beautiful Northern California's San Francisco Bay Area. This jewel of Marin County has a population of 51,904. Though relatively small, there is much to be grateful for in this stunning and quant town. Situated amongst rolling green hills and mountains and along the Northwest corner of San Pablo Bay, this town is a little slice of heaven. Just South of Napa, Novato houses four museums and is home to several Biotech Companies.
The disease of addiction does not discriminate and claims lives across all social and defining borders. Even in affluent areas and amongst pristine countryside, addiction claims new victims every day. Though many people believe that using drugs and alcohol is simply a choice, for people addicted to such substances, it is not. The medical community now recognizes addiction as a disease of the mind, not a moral failing.
How Can I Help Someone Who is Abusing Substances?
If you or someone you love is struggling with substance abuse, get help. Staging an intervention is a great way to introduce the idea of recovery and show concern. The intervention is a conversation where the addicted person is confronted about his or her abuse of substances and behavior. This conversation should be non-judgmental and encourages the person to seek treatment.
The fact that addiction is a disease should also be emphasized. Make sure the person struggling understands that they are not less than or a horrible person, simply addicted to drugs or alcohol. You may want to consider seeking the advice and help of a professional interventionist. This professional can help you prepare for the event, draft letters to read aloud during the intervention and to help keep the conversation on track and judgment free.
Some intervention styles focus as much on the caregivers and enablers as the person using substances. Whenever there is someone abusing substances, often there is another enabling the behavior. Most often these people believe that they are helping the addicted person, however, in reality they are perpetuating the abuse of drugs or alcohol.
Although many people do decide to seek treatment after an intervention, this is not always the case. If your loved one does not seek treatment this does not mean that the intervention was a failure. You have planted the idea of recovery and shown that you are worried, love and care for them. By taking a stand and making clear to them that something needs to change, you have started the ball rolling.
To assist in the prevention of potential relapses, there are numerous support groups within your local area. The support gained from community interaction often proves to be useful in avoiding relapse triggers and dealing with cravings. Twelve Step Programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous are proven methods to successfully treat the disease of addiction. By working the Twelve Steps with a sponsor you are take an active step towards freedom and a life better than you can imagine. Millions of people worldwide and for decades have found that Twelve Step programs work for them when everything else failed. The support and friendship found in meeting is not only unparalleled, but critical to remaining sober in the long run. Fellow group members provide encourage, provide feedback and help each other through even the toughest times. If you are struggling with substance abuse, free yourself from the shackles of addiction by finding a meeting in your area today.
