Anyone who abuses substances; rather it being alcohol, crack, heroin, or any type of opiate, has a behavioral problem, not a disease. Cancer and diabetes are diseases. Alcohol and drug abuse are not, they are choices. 12-step programs, NA, and AA tell people that they have to go to meetings, that they need to relapse, and that they are diseased. That is not true. Change your thinking and you change your behavior.
Anyone who abuses substances is selfish. The reason, they are only thinking about themselves. They are only thinking about where to get their next high. They don’t take into consideration that their actions don’t just affect them, but everyone around them. When someone is on a two week rampage they leave their loved ones behind worrying about them; are they okay, are they dead somewhere, when will they be back? Children suffer just as bad, if not worst. A parent that is abusing a substance is missing out on the important things like football games, dance recitals, and all the “firsts”, first steps, first words, first day of school.
People who abuse a substance are immature people. They are people who do not want to grow up. They don’t want to take responsibility for their actions. They rather run from it by using drugs and alcohol. There is more to life then the quick fix’s and short term gratification. Once that high wears off, the problem, or emotion that you were running from is still going to be there. Why not deal with it in a mature way and then move on with life? In the long run are the consequences of the quick fix, short term gratification worth it? Is it worth losing your job, losing your family, losing your life savings, watching your health slip way?
If you want to stop abusing substances, you can, without going to meeting, without that fear that you will relapse or worse yet die if you use. The power is in you and only you. You decide what path you want to go down, what kind of life you want to have. If you want a life that is full of fear, always looking over your shoulder, and not knowing where you will sleep from night to night then it is time to stop this selfish behavior. Change your negative thinking to positive thinking and your actions will follow. By getting back to the things that use to bring you joy in life you will not miss those quick fix’s you were so accustomed to.
If you want to quite this abusive behavior, are ready to grow up, and stop running from your past The St Jude Retreat House can help.
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Why substance abuse is a behavioral problem a choice: 