by Sally Rosa | Oct 8, 2013 | Drug Addiction
Nick Carter’s Success Story
Celebrities are role models. That’s it, simple as pie. Often, our current celebrities become role models for tomorrow’s youth. Unfortunately, celebrities don’t always lead the sort of life we want our children to follow. Fame, fortune, and money can throw anyone into a whirlwind. When you live in front of a camera, that whirlwind is broadcast for the whole world to see.
Amy Winehouse, Heath Ledger, and Whitney Houston are examples of celebrities behaving badly. They’re also three people we watched die. Lindsey Lohan and Amanda Bynes are celebrities we watched grow up. We’ve experienced their growing pains and struggles. Once in a while though, well, once in a while we get to witness positive change. We get to see a celebrity return to health right in front of our eyes. We get to see someone move from self-destruction to helping others. Nick Carter is one of these success stories.
You Mean the Backstreet Boy?
Yep, that Nick Carter. By now you’ve probably heard, he’s an addict! Nick Carter, teen heartthrob extraordinaire, recently opened up about his addiction. He let everyone know what he experienced and how hard it really was.
Nick began drinking in his early teens. By the time he was nineteen, right around when the Backstreet Boys blew up, he’d moved onto harder drugs. Nick admits to abusing cocaine ecstasy, and prescription pills. In an interview with Dr. Phil, Nick told the world “I drank, did drugs, and partied until I was paralyzed and passed out.” He went on to talk about how his family blames him for the death of his older sister, Leslie, who overdosed. Leslie’s death, and his family’s resentment, led to estrangement.
Nick’s use began to make headlines around 2005. He was arrested and charged with a DUI. Still, Nick insists there wasn’t anything that could stop him. By 2006, his weight had ballooned to 224 pounds. He was dating Paris Hilton and says that she played a large part in his addiction. They two would often use together. Nick also admitting to suffering depression, due to his heavy ecstasy use and unhealthy relationship.
Not long after, he was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a heart condition. All his drinking and drugging had led to a buildup of toxins in his heart, which weakened it severely. Sort of a good metaphor for addiction, huh?
The Road to Recovery
Nick’s journey to recovery began after he was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. His was way overweight, had a weak heart, and couldn’t stop getting high. He decided it was time to change! His former bandmate, Kevin Richardson, suggested reading his book, “Why Some Positive Thinkers Get Powerful Results.” Nick read this and started to become healthy, one small step at a time. Soon, Nick wanted to write a book of his own. He wanted to share his struggles and successes with the world.
Nick’s memoir is called “Facing the Music and Living to Talk About It.” It details his fight with substance abuse and addiction throughout his life. It also examines his early alcohol use. He admits to taking his first drink at two years old!
Today, Nick’s been sober over five years and is living a much different life. Nick’s brother, Aaron Carter, is also believed to have gone to treatment. Apparently, Nick’s positive change is rubbing off on his entire family! The family is no longer estranged and life is good. Nick is engaged with fitness guru Lauren Kitt. When asked about his new life, he often responds by saying he’s taking it one day at a time.
by A Women in Sobriety | Aug 20, 2013 | Drug Addiction
Discover the Truth About Yourself
How do I know if I’m an elephant? How do I know if I’m a tiger? How do I know if I’m an alcoholic? Well, if you have a trunk and you’re the largest land mammal around, you’re an elephant! If you’re a wild cat with orange and black stripes, are owned by Siegfried and Roy (or if you’re a professional golfer with a Nike endorsement and have cheated on your wife), you’re a tiger! Those two are easy.
How do you know if you’re an alcoholic, though? That isn’t an easy question to answer. Unlike being an elephant or tiger, appearances and behaviors aren’t exclusive signs of alcoholism. Yes, alcoholics have some general characteristics, but there aren’t any exclusive traits. That homeless guy holding a sign and sleeping under a bridge? He’s probably an alcoholic, but all alcoholics aren’t homeless. So, the answer to whether you’re an alcoholic is elusive and, at times, subjective. How do we answer this question? How can I tell if I am an alcoholic?
My Moment of Clarity
Well, a few years ago, I was in upstate New York. I was in a hair salon, asking myself this very question. I was reading Reader’s Digest, while the toxic fumes of AquaNet burned my nose. A few pages into Reader’s Digest, I saw a questionnaire titled “How Do I Know If I’m an Alcoholic?” It was a multiple-choice, ten question test. I was like “perfect! I’ll finally know!”
I borrowed a pen from the front dest and began to answer the first question. As soon as my pen hit paper, an eighty-year old woman snatched the magazine from my hands. “Oh, honey, only alcoholic’s take that test,” she said. “I’m not an alcoholic, just curious.” I replied. She smiled and shook her head. “No, you’re not just curious, you’re an alcoholic.”
Okay, now I’m getting pissed. This old broad has no idea who I am and here she is judging me! She’s judging me just because I wanted to take some stupid Reader’s Digest quiz! Somehow, I kept my cool and asked her “how do you know I’m an alcoholic?”
“Well, the non-alcoholic person doesn’t wonder. They don’t ask themselves questions, they don’t even let the thought cross their mind, See, for them, being an alcoholic isn’t even an option, because alcohol isn’t that important to them. They don’t need it. So, if they had couple rough nights, or even a rough couple of weeks, they stop and that’s it. But, the person who puts pen to that test is struggling with the idea of alcoholism. They’re wrestling with the concept of not drinking. They’re fighting against the idea of a better life without alcohol. That’s how I know you’re an alcoholic! Plus, your car has an empty bottle in the back seat, your eyes are bloodshot from last night, and you still smell like booze,” she replied. She knew!
It turned out she was a recovering alcoholic herself, with over forty years in recovery. Guess what else. It turned out she was right. I was an alcohol. How did she know and I didn’t? How did she know YEARS before I did?
Well, if I’m wondering if I’m a tiger, I’m going to get the best possible answer from a tiger. If I’m wondering if I’m an alcoholic, I’m going to get the best possible answer from another alcoholic. We know what despair feels like. What know what despair smells like, looks like, walks like, and talks like.
So, if you’re asking yourself if you may be an alcoholic, go to a meeting and ask someone. Ask someone with a few years sober. Hell, ask someone with a few months sober (who’s worked the steps, of course). They may tell you “yes.” They may tell you “no.” Regardless, they’ll be able to help like no one else.
by Sally Rosa | Jul 18, 2013 | Drug Addiction
Today’s Question of The Day – What Does Powerlessness Mean to You?
by Fiona Stockard | Jul 15, 2013 | Drug Addiction
An Explanation For the Addictiveness of Xanax
Anti-anxiety medication has become a huge business in modern society! Among anti-anxiety medication, benzodiazepines are the most popular. Among benzodiazepines, Xanax is the most popular. So, that makes Xanax the most popular (and profitable!) anti-anxiety med.
Just how bad is Xanax addiction? Well, since 1983, it’s been the most frequently prescribed benzo. What does this mean in numbers though? In 2007, over 37.5 million Xanax prescriptions were written. That’s a lot.
See, here’s the thing about using Xanax as the main form of treatment for anxiety – it causes people to become addicted! Xanax addiction isn’t good. It poses significant health hazards, which have yet to be addressed on a large scale. Not to mention, the risk of developing a serious Xanax addiction often goes unspoken, yet the threat is certainly real.
This guide exposes the addictive properties of Xanax and highlights the true dangers of this medication.
Xanax Treats Symptoms, But Ignores Causes
Most benzodiazepines provide immediate relief, in lieu of a permanent solution. This is 100% true of Xanax. Treating anxiety with Xanax fails to address the emotional source of anxiety, instead focusing on altering brain chemistry to improve one’s mood. A burst of instantaneous calm doesn’t promote long-term wellbeing. No, it produces a habitual reliance on the drug. This reliance (often called addiction!) causes a physiological need for the drug, whenever any psychological disturbances occur. After a period of time, often a matter of only a few weeks of daily use, Xanax causes physical addiction as well.
The Xanax induced state of calm isn’t conducive to any productive behavior. It isn’t conducive to learning how to solve stressful situations. Instead, the anti-anxiety effects instill tendencies of lethargic procrastination. Ultimately, this form of Xanax addiction hinders any potential efforts to correct difficult situations.
Withdrawal Effects
Once physical addiction sets in, the lack of Xanax is worse than any level of anxiety the medication was originally designed to treat! Once physically addicted, people without psychological dependency issues, or a family history of addiction, still need to take Xanax to prevent severe physical symptoms of withdrawal. As a result, Xanax addition needs to be patiently combated, instead of a “all at once” form of treatment. Besides an increase in anxiety and agitation, Xanax withdrawal can produce insomnia, nausea, vomiting, nightmares, hallucinations, seizures, and heart failure! Fatal instances of seizure and heart failure have been reported.
Attempting an immediate cessation of Xanax isn’t recommended! A medical detox should always, ALWAYS, be used.
Ease of Access
One of the largest reasons for the epidemic of Xanax addiction is the drug’s widespread availability. Remember, Xanax is the most prescribed benzo, and often used as a cure-all for anything anxiety related. Although the FDA recommends against prescribing Xanax to those with prior addiction issues, histories of substance abuse can be hard to validate. Also, Xanax addiction can be overlooked because the drug is so socially acceptable. Even people that don’t have their own prescriptions can easily obtain Xanax through friends and relatives. The fact that this is illegal doesn’t deter those in the throes of a serious Xanax addiction.
Solutions
Substance abuse treatment exists specifically for the treatment of Xanax, and other, addiction. The safest solution is to first implement a strict taper regimen. This allows Xanax to in your body to slowly leave. This micro-managing method can be self-administered, but it’s wise to seek professional consultation. Follow your taper with inpatient or out-patient treatment.
There are vast support networks available for the treatment of Xanax addiction. Online resources also exist. In fact, this website proves comprehensive information on how to rise above addiction. No one should have to suffer alone with the painful effects of excessive medication reliance. With the right resources, anyone can overcome Xanax addiction.
by Sally Rosa | Apr 26, 2013 | Addiction Treatment, Drug Addiction
Are Addicts Bad People? I Don’t Think So
I found myself part of a pretty interesting conversation tonight. My friends and I were discussing addiction and discrimination. The American War on Drugs isn’t a new one. It’s been going on for decades. There’s been little reform in the grand scope of things. Particularly, there’s been little reform in public policy and the idea of who an addict is.
Most people believe addicts have a choice over whether to get high or not. This isn’t the case. Yes, addicts have a choice about whether they pick up the substance in the first place. That’s where choice ends. Us addicts don’t have any choice about whether to keep on using or not. Our brains and bodies are different. Don’t believe me? Ask a doctor, they’ll tell you. Once we start using, we can’t stop. Simple as that.
If addiction is a disease (and just about everyone agrees it is!), than aren’t addicts being discriminated against? Would society at large say a diabetic should just make their body produce insulin? Then why do they tell addicts to stop using? As for addicts themselves, are we divided into separate classes based on socio-economic status? Are more and more people being jailed and imprisoned? Are we wasting more and more taxpayer money? Is this fair?
Are the conceptions that society holds about addiction realistic? If everyone just took a deep breath, we’d see that we ALL know someone dealing with addiction. It could be a friend, a family member, or a business associate. It could even be you.
The idea that us addicts are bad people and deserve the punishment we receive? That’s just a tad bit harsh, don’t you think? Especially considering how much society now knows about addiction. How long should we be punished for suffering from a mental illness? How long should the stigma of being an addict be a bad one?
The questions are here and they ain’t going anywhere. It’s time to look at the War on Drugs from a different perspective, from the eyes of an addict.
