Addiction Information
Withdrawal
If I stop using, how am I going to be able to handle my feelings, the stress of work, the pain of loss of a job, or loss of a significant other? How will I have fun? What about my friends who all use? All of these concerns, and more, feed the resistance of the drug or alcohol user to seeking help, and all are a part of the "fear of withdrawal" in a broad sense. Click here for more: Fear of Withdrawal
Problem Indicators
Click here for a practical summary of the common indicators of a problem: Indicators of a Problem For more discussion of indicators of a drug or alcohol problem, see entries starting with Friday September 22, 2007 and ending with Tuesday October 03, 2007 in Archived Addiction Recovery Tips
Memory Loss
There are two types of memory loss associated with use of alcohol and other sedative drugs. A pattern of drug or alcohol associated memory loss is a powerful indicator of a problem. Click here for more: Memory Loss (Blackouts)
Daily Spiritual Disciplines
Development of a personal program, with spiritual disciplines,to be used each day, can give the individual in early recovery something concrete to hold onto. Click here for more Personal Spiritual Program
Alcoholism Defined
Here is a comprehensive definition of alcoholism, with explanatory footnotes Alcoholism
AA and NA Twelve Step Recovery Information
Alcoholics Anonymous
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org/Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
Narcotics Anonymous
http://www.na.org/NA is a nonprofit fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem. We meet regularly to help each other stay clean. We are not interested in what or how much you used but only in what you want to do about your problem and how we can help. Membership is open to all drug addicts, regardless of the particular drug or combination of drugs used.
There is no social, religious, economic, racial, ethnic, national, gender, or class-status membership restrictions. There are no dues or fees for membership; while most members regularly contribute small sums to help cover the expenses of meetings, such contributions are not mandatory.
Narcotics Anonymous provides a recovery process and support network inextricably linked together. One of the keys to NA’s success is the therapeutic value of addicts working with other addicts. Members share their successes and challenges in overcoming active addiction and living drug-free productive lives through the application of the principles contained within the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of NA. These principles are the core of the Narcotics Anonymous recovery program.
