With crime and poverty, addiction is also a factor influencing lives of the individuals that use, their loved ones and the society around them. Some who are battling with this sickness often times do not see a way out.

It is common for an individual to be consumed with feeling like they have lost hope and are clouded by denial, guilt, shame and fear. If left untreated this disease, we call addiction is often the cause of much fatality.

How Is Addiction A Disease?

Addiction is considered a disease because it stems from the brain, and the person suffering has lost the power in choice of whether to use that substance or not.

Their brain tells them they have to use because it has become so accustomed to the high levels of dopamine that the drugs and/ or alcohol produce. Glutamate stores that feeling of euphoria into memory that keeps the addicted person chasing that effect.

How Do I Help Someone with the Disease?

If you or someone you know is struggling with an addiction and can't see a way out, there is help available. An intervention where the family, friends or co-workers display their love and concern for the damaging effect addiction is having on their loved ones or co-worker's life.

Similarly, it is important to contact a professional interventionist in order to best convey an effective message of discomfort, concern and support.

Detox is the first step on the path to recovery with inpatient or outpatient rehab to follow depending on the needs of the one addicted. These options offer medication management, therapy, group, education, relapse prevention and many other supportive services to help you or your addicted loved one.

We are here to help, don't wait any longer and don't be afraid, there is a life after drugs and alcohol addiction and we have the tools to share with you so you too can open the door to a better life.

Because all of the different Anonymous groups act autonomously, the types of different members at meetings are likely to vary depending on the group you go to. Some meetings are labeled closed, which means they only accept people with addiction wishing to be sober or maintain sobriety. Other meetings are called open meetings and this is because they welcome individuals without addiction or alcoholism. These people usually attend when wishing to support a friend close to them, loved one or may be simply just to find understand and knowledge of the disease of addiction and alcoholism.