Northwoods Recovery

Today in the Northwoods, drug addiction is not so much a commonplace problem as a festering blight on our culture — and showing no signs of diminishing anytime soon. Looking around, one might wonder; could this acquaintance or that relative possibly be concealing troublesome substance abuse?  

The MYOB approach to this question would probably be the best idea, unless of course the situation involves a close family member or coworker; because that could invite trouble for you and thus make it your business. Looking for clues may turn up some suspect physical or emotional symptoms, but those could easily have a legitimate origin; and besides, drug-dependent people live in fear of getting called out and so are practiced at hiding their addiction — even from themselves. 

No, to identify a substance dependency look around the individual, look at their personal relationships. Long-term addicts can’t help but surround themselves with willing enablers and work hard to avoid anyone who is not.  

This is easily understood by me, because in hindsight I see that my addiction was maintained largely with the assistance of a clutch of enablers, most if not all of whom were unaware of the important role they played; helping to satisfy my always demanding addiction demons. No blame attaches to them; they were chosen precisely because I guessed they’d do nothing to hinder my continual drug use. Some shared drugs with me, making us co-enablers, while others simply stood by watching, silently complicit in facilitating my drug abuse.  

Often enablers will realize an addicted friend is in trouble and wish to help, but until addicts themselves feel an unequivocal need to get clean, any “help” they’re given simply allows the addiction to go on. Give an addict a place to stay and you’re providing him or her with safe space to get high. Give them money for food and it’ll go straight to their dope connection.  

 This illustrates the fundamental nature of addiction; without question I believed I couldn’t live without drugs. Nothing else really mattered. But should the addict manage to achieve sobriety, former enablers can now help by evolving into a new role; sobriety support. Something similar happened to me, with even some of my still-using friends reacting favorably to this recovery; eventually many of them saw the wisdom of a sober lifestyle. 

In recovering, I like to think I enabled them to learn for themselves that we do recover.               

Do you think you may have a problem with alcohol? Alcoholics Anonymous can help. Call our Hotline at (715)360-4637 or visit www.northwoodsaa.org for questions or to find a meeting in your area.