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- Shared Experiences -

Overview

Many factors and circumstances influence the rate at which a chemically dependent person progresses to serious problems, unmanageability, and loss of control. Some individuals may develop serious problems rather quickly, while others follow a long progression. Similarly, some stick to one drug (such as alcohol), while others use many different drugs during the course of the disease of addiction. Although the pace and course of the disease of chemical dependency may vary widely among people and the particular negative consequences and fallout that accompany using may appear very different in different cases, most chemically dependent people have some common experiences.

Common Experiences of Loss and Suffering

Most chemically dependent people who do not act to arrest their disease eventually find themselves experiencing common emotional, psychological, spiritual and behavioral problems. No matter what life experiences they may have had, or what professional, social, economic, cultural or religious background they are from, they may eventually find themselves in jails, hospitals, psychiatric institutions, or rehabilitation centers. All too often, addicted persons suffer premature death.

Chemically dependent individuals who manage to live a relatively long life without being in jails, hospitals, or institutions often experience years of emotional and physical suffering. Family members and friends of the chemically dependent person often experience their own brand of suffering as well.

Shared Experiences and Shared Solutions

The common experiences shared by so many addicts and alcoholics illustrate the predictable course of chemical dependency, which is a progressive descent into unmanageability and loss of control. Shared experiences and common paths can also help addicts and alcoholics to relate to one another, and to build supportive relationships. In this way, the common misery experienced by many addicts and alcoholics can be turned into a common strength.

A very few people who have not experienced adaptive chemical changes find that they can cut back and drink in a controlled manner. Most of those individuals never become heavily addicted, so controlled drinking is possible for them. For individuals who realize that addiction is a part of their life, this is simply not possible. Individuals who doubt this and feel that they can drink socially might try controlled drinking until they are fully convinced that it is not possible for them.

Chemically dependent people who have lost the ability to control their drinking or drug use should not try to drink or use drugs in moderation. Most chemically dependent people who have tried to control or limit their alcohol and/or drug use fail. Eventually, they find themselves once again at the same or higher level of use than before. They also find themselves with the same problems or with problems that have grown worse. Any use of alcohol and/or drugs keeps the disease of chemical addiction active and makes full recovery almost impossible. Many people have to fail repeatedly at controlling their drinking or drug use before they can accept their addiction.

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