Find Meaningful Sobriety from Macomb, Michigan
Macomb is a township in the metropolitan Detroit area. The fastest growing major municipality with a population in 2010 of over 79,500 residents, which is an increase of nearly thirty thousand people in a ten-year span. Even a booming, prosperous town such as Macomb has its share of problems with addiction. The disease of addiction sneaks up and takes control of people's lives before they realize that they have a problem. The disease of addiction has reached epidemic proportion in the United States in recent years. In 2011, an estimated 52 million Americans (age 12+) had abused prescription drugs in their lifetime, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA. One of the reasons for the dramatic rise in substance abuse, addiction, and overdose deaths is thought to be the increase in prescription medication over the last several decades.
Are Prescription Drugs Addictive?
Prescription drugs can be addictive. One of the most common mistakes people make is believing that prescription drugs are harmless. They are not. Some prescription drugs can rival street drugs like heroin in terms of addiction rates and ease with which someone can overdose and die. Just because you obtain the drug from a doctor does not make it safe or harmless.
Many people are getting addicted by accident and graduating to increasingly more potent and dangerous drugs. People start taking an addictive drug for a legitimate problem and are surprised to find that they can't stop. It is not uncommon for people who are addicted to heroin to have started by abusing and getting addicted to prescription painkillers.
How Can I Communicate with a Friend Who is Using?
An intervention is the best way to communicate concern to someone in active addiction. When using, people often have distorted thinking and strong tendencies of denial. Conveying a message of concern can be difficult as the person often reacts negatively. The person using will most likely truly not see the harm that his or her using and behavior is causing.
In order to convey you message and have it heard clearly, an intervention is often necessary. The most important aspect is that the conversation remains loving and non-judgmental. You do not want to damage prospects for future communication. A professional interventionist can help you get your point across in a productive and compassionate way.
A life lived in sobriety comes with endless gifts and possibilities. To get and remain sober, however, everyone needs good guidance and a strong support system to make it through the difficult times. 12-step programs offer everything you need to overcome using and find a better way to live. Programs like NA or AA have worked for millions of people worldwide. They can work for you too. If you have an addiction issue in Macomb, MI, find a meeting in your area today and get connected.
