Shows
Busting Addiction and Its MythsSpecial Request - Addiction is a Family DiseaseHere is another special episode that we have relaunched as it is a subject matter that has been requested by many of our followers.In this podcast, we reveal more truths about addiction, in that it makes the whole family unit dysfunctional. We also discuss the deadly opioid epidemic and the truth behind the deadliest street drug: Fentanyl.We cover these topics:Addiction doesn’t just affect the family, it makes the whole family unit very sickCross, or poly-addiction is common among addicts these days, as there is so much available cheaply and easily.Th...2024-09-1318 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsMini Series 7 - Does treatment address cross-addictions?In this podcast, the producer of our podcast series, Tony, asks the following question:Does treatment address cross-addictions?Cross-addictions are becoming more common as a result of the increasing availability of cheaper and more potent street drugs such as fentanyl. The data shows that alcoholics are now much more likely to also be addicted to another substance, than in the past.The only way to treat cross-addictions is to identify what they are first. Although a client may disclose what he or she is addicted to in addition to the main disorder, a precise...2023-12-0803 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsMini Series 7 - What is the family's involvement in the treatment process?In this podcast, the producer of our podcast series, Tony, asks the following question:What is the family's involvement in the treatment process?The family has been more severely affected by addiction than they realise. They need to understand that family dynamics have to change so that all in the family can recover.The family also needs to know that their loved one needs to own his or her own recovery all the way and that it is ultimately up to their loved one to do the work.At SafeHouse Rehab, we provide a...2023-12-0103 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsMini Series 6 - Myth: Rehabs are all work and no playIn this podcast... we confront and smash the following myth: Myth: Rehabs are all work and no play.The point of rehab is to allow an addict/alcoholic to make a U-turn, to turn their life around to something approaching normalcy.Instead of a life tilted entirely to drinking and using, expending all their energy in pursuit of the high, now we seek a life that is balanced.First, however, they need to do the necessary work: to look at themselves honestly and start to think in a healthy manner.To attain a new w...2023-11-0303 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsMini Series 5 - Be honest, do rehabs genuinely offer an aftercare service?In this podcast, we answer the question... Be honest, do rehabs genuinely offer an aftercare service?There is a big difference between offering an aftercare service and actually having one in place that fully supports the person who has gone back home and is now faced with the challenge of dealing with the "real world".There isn't a single rehab that doesn't mention "aftercare" in their narrative.Some simply say something like: "And we offer the best aftercare program to help clients stay clean and sober", without giving away any...2023-10-1304 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsMini Series 5 - Will the treatment program prepare me for life after rehab?In this podcast, we answer the question... Will the treatment program prepare me for life after rehab?This is a question that is often asked by the family but is less frequently asked by the potential client.The client is looking for an end to their suffering; they want to know what you can do for them now. The family is looking at a bigger picture beyond today. The last thing they need is for Johnny to relapse after all that worry, time, and money have been expended on his behalf.We at SafeHouse Rehab strongly...2023-09-2203 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsMini Series 5 - How long does a typical treatment program last?In this podcast, we answer the question... How long does a typical treatment program last and what is recommended?Most treatments do not last as long as they should, either for practical reasons such as work, or because families and clients underestimate the amount of work that still needs to be done to make a full course-correction.Clients may come into treatment believing that treatment is a quick fix to their problem when in fact it is just the beginning of a life-long endeavour to stay sober and grow as human beings.SafeHouse Rehab recommends a minimum of...2023-09-0803 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsMini Series 4 - Are treatment programs all about hard work?In this podcast, we answer the question... Are treatment programs all about hard work?Treatment programs take their charter seriously, so one should expect work to be an essential part of the treatment process.For the first time in a long time, clients are forced to confront their attitudes and their behaviour that got them into treatment in the first place. That takes something they have not done in a long time: work.In treatment, clients learn the value of balance in life, mixing work, play, socialising, fitness, meditation, and sports into their routines just as...2023-09-0103 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsMini Series 4 - Are all treatment programs 12-step based?In this podcast, we answer the question... Are all treatment programs 12-step based?The 12-Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and other 12-Step programs such as Narcotics (NA) are viewed by many recovering people and professionals as indispensable to life-long recovery.Opinions differ, however, as to their role in treatment programs, depending on the philosophy of the management.Some rehabs treat 12-Step programs as an option, preferring the more cognitive models, while others lean more heavily on the 12-Steps as an essential component of early recovery.If the goal of treatment is to help prepare clients for...2023-08-2503 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsMini Series 4 - Why is structure so very important in treatment?In this podcast, we answer the question... Why is structure so very important?Clients and their families look at the daily schedule of a residential treatment program and remark on the high level of structure that appears to be imposed on clients.There is a reason for this.Clients come from a world of self-imposed chaos, a world where they violated every norm and every rule of decent behaviour.Now they enter an environment where the opposite is true, where they are taught that norms and rules do matter and that they are expected...2023-08-1803 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsMini Series 4 - What's included in a treatment program?In this podcast, we answer the question... What's included in a treatment program?We will use SafeHouse Rehab Thailand as a model, as the better treatment programs include:Best-practice therapies including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Group therapy, one-on-one therapy, etc.Full licensing from the government entities charged with enforcing regulations. SafeHouse Rehab, for example, is fully licensed by the Ministry of Public Health of the Kingdom of Thailand.Licensed treatment counsellors who have earned qualifications and degrees in addictive disease, and licensed clinicians on staff or on call.Comfortable, modern private accommodation, healthy balanced...2023-07-2804 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsMini Series 3 - Is travelling abroad for treatment a major issue?In this podcast, we ask the question... Is traveling abroad a major issue?One can imagine the questions that arise when families consider treatment abroad. Not only are they potentially sending their loved ones to an unfamiliar place, but they are also taking an understandable risk in seeking treatment in a foreign country.The challenges of traveling abroad for treatment depend on what country is chosen as the location for treatment and what experience the client has had with international travel.Safety is the major issue for most families. Safety as to the country itself and...2023-07-2103 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsMini Series 3 - Is detoxing abroad safe?In this podcast, we ask the question... Is detoxing abroad safe?Not all incoming clients require detox; a thorough pre and post arrival assessment will determine whether a client requires detox from identified substances.If a family chooses a treatment centre located abroad and if that treatment centre complies with all regulations and best practices, and if it offers detox, then the detox process is likely safe.We at SafeHouse Rehab cannot speak for other treatment facilities, but we can guarantee that our detox process is as safe as any in the world.Our rigorous intake process assures...2023-07-1403 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsMini Series 3 - What are the differences between licensed and unlicensed facilities in Thailand?In this podcast, we ask the question... What are the differences between licensed and unlicensed facilities in Thailand?SafeHouse Rehab Thailand is fully licensed and complies with all the regulations set by all the governing bodies for our type of business.Even though a rehab may comply with the rules governing immigration or business licenses, if it does not have a license from the Ministry of Public Health Thailand, then it has no business doing business in our space in Thailand. The governing bodies and their regulations are as follows:The Ministry of Immigration...2023-07-0704 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsMini Series 3 - Are there benefits to getting treatment abroad?In this podcast, we ask the question... Are there benefits to getting treatment abroad?Clients and families considering treatment abroad have already discovered the costs of private, residential treatment in their home countries, and now look to assess whether treatment abroad makes sense for them.The reputable treatment centres abroad offer best-practice treatment, but their price structures vary greatly, from basic to super-luxury.The most important questions to ask, in our opinion, are: which one is the best fit for the client and what is the best ROI, defined by the quality of care for the investment.Even...2023-06-2303 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsMini Series 1 - What are the odds of long-term success?In this podcast, we answer the question... What are the odds of achieving long-term sobriety?We are often asked what the odds are of long-term sobriety after a period of treatment.That question of "odds" is second only to the question “can you help Johnny get clean and sober?" that we get asked over and over.We don't ever want to look like we are evading the issue by saying simply "it depends". But the fact is that "it" - the odds of long-term success - does indeed depend on several factors which fa...2023-03-2404 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsFrankie, Have You Seen Johnnie?This podcast is a story about Frankie, his beautiful daughter Johnnie, and the power of desperation.We learn that:There is goodness within people that we don't often see because they are not "our kind".Frank loved his beautiful daughter but was not able to help her due to his own addiction. It took a village to save her.Johnnie must have figured out that she could no longer stay alive or sane if she kept up the life she was leading.Ultimately, it was the luck of the draw that a space was available at...2022-04-0809 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsRebecca's Journey from Down Under - Part 1 of 2In this podcast, which is part one of Rebecca's Journey from Down Under, we learn about Rebecca's fall from grace as a high achiever and her courageous journey back from Down Under.We learn that:Material wealth does not protect one from addictive disease; it is an equal opportunity predator.The chase for high social status brings with it a life of pretence which causes a family to place appearances above all else. It normalises dishonesty.High expectations come with high pressure to succeed at all costs. Children of these families will turn to drugs and...2021-07-1620 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsBruno J. 27 years of sobriety - Part 2 of 2In this podcast, an interview of Bruno J. by Tony, his fellow traveller on the AA highway, Bruno J. shares the wisdom he has acquired over 27 years of his journey in sobriety.We learn that:A common dynamic in recovery is the presence of co-dependency which has one partner trying to control the behaviour of the other, a fruitless venture.Bruno J. advises his fellow alcoholics to seek help from a professional and/or from Al-Anon to help protect them from needless suffering and to ease the threat to sobriety.Surrender of his old ways of...2021-07-0911 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsBruno J. 27 years of sobriety - Part 1 of 2In this podcast, Bruno J. recounts his early days as a budding alcoholic and addict and goes on to show how his surrender to the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous helped pave the way for the next 20 years of a successful recovery.We learn that:Drinking alcohol and using drugs is seen by future addicts and alcoholics as perfectly normal when they first start on their downward path.Even those with good parents and a "normal" upbringing are not immune to the disorder forming within them. Bruno J.'s life as a teenager is a perfect example...2021-07-0209 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsBruno J. Entering Recovery - Part 2 of 2In this podcast, Bruno J. recalls in vivid detail his last three years of a personal adventure that saw him start a new high-paying job only to be released after becoming dysfunctional.We learn that:Insanity can be fuelled by the excessive use of alcohol and drugs alone. There need be no other causes.Alcoholics and addicts who are still abusing believe that a change of scene will amount to a cure. They do not yet understand that "wherever you go, there you are".Denial is a mighty powerful force. Bruno J. could not make the...2021-06-2514 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsBruno J. Entering Recovery - Part 1 of 2In this podcast, Bruno J. tells the story of how he changed jobs, geography and women in pursuit of satisfying his desires.We learn that:The alcoholic does not realise that they are on a slippery slope for a very long time and assumes their chaotic life is just the way it is.There is a common paradox of high ambitions riding alongside irrational behaviour. Ultimately, sick thinking and destructive behaviour serve to sabotage those ambitions.Changing jobs, geography and sex partners do nothing to solve a problem that the addict may not yet know exists...2021-06-1811 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsBruno J.’s Journey to Hell - Part 2 of 2In this podcast, Bruno recounts his accelerating descent into the hell that addiction was creating for him.We learn that:This is a classic tale of looking for the geographic cure, that "wherever you go, there you are". We can't outrun the disease.This is a progressive disease that accelerates in its downward trajectory. It never stops unless arrested.Denial is a major characteristic of addiction. The alcoholic/addict is incapable of making the connection to his many symptoms of insanity and his substance abuse.Toward the end, if there is an end, the abuser uses...2021-06-1114 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsBruno J.’s Journey to Hell - Part 1 of 2In this podcast, Bruno J. recalls his early life leading up to the beginning of his journey into alcoholism and drug addiction. He concludes that:It doesn't matter that a young man has a great upbringing if he develops a sense of being exempt from the rules.The desire to escape reality is not a conscious choice; it arises from an immature mind coming to twisted conclusions at the time.Alcohol and drug abuse will pave a slippery slope that is impossible to detect until one looks back to see how far and deep the slide can take...2021-06-0426 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsHelp is just Around the CornerIn this podcast, between Tony and Bruno J., they discuss what a family can do to get the help they need when they are faced with addiction and/or alcoholism in their family, whether their loved one is living under the same roof or not.We learn that:It is only by educating ourselves and the family that we come to understand that what is happening is indeed a disease and illness. Once this takes place, the pressures, feelings and most importantly the thinking changes.Education on the topic leads to the realisation that we are...2021-05-2820 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsTony’s Advice on Seeking HelpIn this podcast, we talk with Tony and he shares his experience, knowledge and advice in different areas on how to seek help. We discuss that help is not only needed for your loved ones but also for yourself.We learn:It is often the family who notices changes and differences in their loved ones first and there are usually several patterns and specific characteristics which could identify that addiction may very well be the route cause. We look at some examples and things to look out for.How to approach the situation with the person...2021-05-2122 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsTony and Bruno J. Talk It Over - Part 2 of 2In this podcast, the conversation between Tony and Bruno J. is all about educating oneself, that is:It's only in the latter stages of the disease's progression that the family member(s) actively seek help from the outside. Up to that point, they rely on their own resources without effect and are then subject to confusion and despair.The family becomes as sick as the addict, reverting to all forms of controlling behaviour, lying, denying, hiding, covering for the addict, and living in a state of fear and shame.Connect to a qualified professional who is trained as...2021-05-1416 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsTony and Bruno J. Talk It Over - Part 1 of 2In this podcast, we discuss how with the benefit of four years of continuous sobriety, Tony is able to recollect with some objectivity his downward spiral and his path to recovery. Here we learned that:Parents are always at a loss of what to do, as they are not educated on the nature of the disease that has taken over their child.Tony's mom, burdened by anxiety and fear, was nonetheless ready to sacrifice everything to help her son get sober.At some point, even Tony knew he had a problem but couldn't figure out how to resolve...2021-05-0730 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsAdam and Tony on Vital Matters - Part 2 of 2In this podcast, we learn from the dialogue on Vital Matters between Adam and Tony that:Living one day at a time eases the fear of having to stay sober forever, as it focuses one on the here and now.Connected to that idea is the peace that comes with attaining present-moment awareness, a concept that has been taught over the centuries and applicable to today, right now.Perhaps the most Vital of matters is the journey from the head to the heart, born of seeking faith to gain understanding, and not the other way around.The paradox...2021-04-3016 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsAdam and Tony on Vital Matters - Part 1 of 2This podcast is an interview with Adam and Tony, two young men who share the story of recovery from a potentially deadly disorder. The occasion was Adam's two-year milestone beginning with his entering residential treatment in Thailand.We learned about the conversation with Adam and Tony that:In early sobriety, we ourselves don't notice that we are changing for the better, but the people close to us do. It takes consistent, sober and good behaviour to have people begin to trust us again.It's not unusual for active addicts to create and sustain unjustified resentments, because...2021-04-2327 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsLiberation from a Life of ChaosIn this podcast, we describe what the chaos of "desperate enabling" looks like, how it starts and how it can be arrested by a wake-up call.We learn the following from Alice, the mum in this story:A family's journey down the slippery slope toward desperate enabling starts slowly and imperceptibly, without the slightest suspicion that there is anything brewing.Enabling is well-meaning, but it is misguided because it simply gives the disease the oxygen it craves to keep thriving.The family deludes itself into believing that it has any power to arrest the disease when...2021-04-1610 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsAn Interview with Adam - Part 2 of 2Adam, our young recovering addict, relates his escape from the hell that addiction had confined him in:"There was a point where I had become a rageful person, but I didn't really know who I was. I would wake up and wonder what I would do that was crazy or violent. Plus, I was scared all the time - of what hurt I would inflict on an innocent person"."Here is the irony: I ended up graduating from college in the UK (I was kicked out of the previous one for violence and drunkenness) and landed a good...2021-04-0952 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsAn Interview with Adam - Part 1 of 2In our interview with Adam, a 32-year-old recovering addict, he recalls the early years which led him down the path to severe addiction.He was plagued by deep resentment toward his father who was, in Adam's young view, not attentive enough to his desire for love and affection.Despite, or because of, being part of a very affluent family in Dubai, he was let loose on the "streets" where he could do whatever he wanted, including the sampling of every drug under the sun.He became a chameleon like many addicts, changing his personality to fit into the...2021-04-0226 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsFrank is Frank About Addiction - Part 2 of 2Frank's story continues with his conclusions based on his recollections, in his own words."If I weren't then using, I would not have found myself in bizarre situations like a house of prostitution in Jakarta. I ended up with a fellow Canadian buying heroin to sell it later in Thailand. The penalty for that could be death. I shudder about that to this day"."I still struggle with the idea that addiction is a disease, and not a moral failing or personal weakness. I say that if I can kick it, why can't they"?"Then again, I have...2021-03-2630 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsFrank is Frank About Addiction - Part 1 of 2We learned in Part One of our interview with Frank that:Addictive behaviour is hardly ever recognized for what it is early in the process; it is seen simply as hurtful, especially to innocent people like children in the family of an adult addict.Frank's story clearly shows that one does not always become an addict despite the abuse of drugs. He had not lost the power of choice after all and rather chose to help his friends who were suffering from the effects of their addiction.Addiction to drugs and alcohol can strike anyone, anywhere, and at...2021-03-1941 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsYou're Not Thinking StraightIn this article entitled "You're Not Thinking Straight", we discuss the undeniable fact that addiction takes over the addict's thought process and that there is merit in seeing the addict and the addiction as separate entities.We cover the following topics:Family members need to make the distinction between the person as an addict and the addiction as an entity that warps his thinking and takes over his thought process.The sole purpose of the addiction is to feed and protect itself. It lives in constant fear of death, of being denied the means to stay...2021-03-1210 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsYou Can Help Put a Stop To ThisIn this article, we address the fact that family members can do more to help improve treatment outcomes in their communities and at large.We ask them to consider that:They can have an impact on the larger picture of improving outcomes by supporting initiatives such as the ones proposed by Shatterproof.In so doing, family members will have the satisfaction of knowing that they are not powerless to be of help to society. They can help put a stop to ineffective, marginal solutions to a central problem.By practicing the modern approach to recovery, SafeHouse...2021-03-0512 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsMy Love Affair with Mary JaneIn this article, entitled "My Love Affair with Marijuana". It describes in some detail the author's journey that started with flirtation and ended in disaster, save for the wake-up call.He comes to the following conclusions:It wasn't until I put on a new pair of glasses and looked back at my life to see how I had embedded a drug into my life as if it were the most natural thing in the world.Even after extreme embarrassment, I continued to not acknowledge, to deny, that I was profoundly addicted to pot (in addition to...2021-02-2613 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsThe Recovery WheelIn this article, we discuss the importance of aftercare in helping recovering people own their recovery as a way of achieving the real goal: a lifetime of clean and sober living. We believe that our best-practice We Care aftercare program inspires and guides our clients to stay on the path for the long haul, one day at a time.We make the following points:Treatment is a short but necessary period that gives the client an opportunity to change the way he thinks and behaves.Therefore, the most important part of recovery is what happens on...2021-02-1911 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsIs AA a Cult?In this article, we tackle the myth that AA is a cult. The evidence is clear that neither is AA a cult, nor that it's a small, obscure organization.Unlike a cult, Alcoholics Anonymous, AA:Is about privacy, not secrecy, in order to protect the identity of individuals who would prefer to remain anonymous. Because there is still the stigma associated with an addictive disorder.Encourages you to go out and make a difference in the world now that you are no longer a menace to society.Does not ask for money; it's the best ROI...2021-02-1214 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsWhat Does Success Look Like?In this article, we discuss what success in recovery should look like. We also dispel the notion of the "success rate" for rehabs.We make note of the following:A success rate for a rehab is a misnomer because almost all success in staying clean and sober relies on the client's owning his or her own recovery after treatment.We at SafeHouse recognize the responsibility we have for giving our clients the best possible chance of long-term success; that's why we provide all clients with a suite of customized tools and assistance through our We Care...2021-02-0514 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsIt's a ShameIn this article called It's A Shame, we examine the two types of shame, toxic and acquired, and discuss their causes and roles in addictive settings.We conclude the following:Families who have an active addict in their midst invariably experience shame, and as a consequence, are compelled to keep that fact secret.Secrecy requires great effort to maintain. Lying, denial, and covert behaviour take their toll.Toxic shame can be acquired over time when the family member's self-worth collapses under the weight of trying to fix the unfixable.Many of the crazy things we did...2021-01-2912 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsDancing With The Devil and Don't Even Know ItIn this article, we discuss how the subtle effects of early-stage addiction or alcoholism are difficult to spot and often denied, and how enabling happens with good intentions and bad results.We cover the following topics:The signs of early-stage addiction are so subtle, there is a high likelihood that loved ones will miss them, and therefore they will attribute troubling behaviour to a "normal" cause. Mom may be starting a dance with the disease early, well before she's conscious of its effects.Parents don't want to admit that there may be "that kind of problem"...2021-01-2213 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsThailand Rehab ReviewsIn this article, we cover the essential things to watch for in the context of Thailand treatment reviews - these are the checkpoints that experts in the space say you should watch for as you scan the possibilities of treatment in Thailand.Watch for best-practice, evidence-based treatment processes and by all means, do not fall prey to miracle cures when we all know there is no cure, but there is treatment.A truly professional treatment program will be licensed by the Thai Ministry of Health and will employ staff specifically trained in addictions counselling, as we have here...2021-01-1513 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsThai Treatment for Drug Addiction and Alcohol AbuseIn this article, we discuss the benefits of choosing SafeHouse Rehab when seeking drug and alcohol treatment in Thailand.The key features of Thai treatment at SafeHouse Rehab are as follows:We stand apart from other rehabs in Thailand because we are dedicated to advancing the art and science of recovery in a clinical setting.We asked ourselves, at the moment of our founding, what we could do differently, and better, to transcend where treatment is today, modernize the recovery process and thereby improve the chances of a lifetime of recovery.That's why, today, SafeHouse Rehab...2021-01-0813 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsRehabs in ThailandIn this article, we discuss why SafeHouse Rehab stands apart from other rehabs in Thailand.In this climate of concern about Safety, the fact that we are founded on the very idea of Safety and that it's part of our very name, our DNA, shows that we've taken the issue seriously right from the start.We do not aspire to be a luxury resort treatment centre. Instead, we've designed our facility to be integrated into a diverse community that best replicates real life in a supportive, safe and supervised environment.SafeHouse Rehab represents the modern approach to recovery...2021-01-0110 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsRehab Clinics in ThailandIn this article, we discuss the advantages for us to own and operate a rehab clinic in Thailand, and why our modern approach to recovery allows us to outperform traditional rehabs who offer solutions based on a traditional model of recovery.That said, we are mindful of the fact that all rehabs must conform to basic principles of treatment which have yielded success for clients who fully commit themselves to recovery.We cover the following topics:Thailand leads the world when it comes to medical tourism, therefore having a drug and alcohol rehab here...2020-12-2509 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsWhat Happened One NightIn this article, we discuss how an addict's or alcoholic's loved ones can be deceived by the appearances of normalcy while the addict is an abnormal mess on the inside. The adventure we describe below vividly demonstrates the insanity of just one night out, showing how an addict will take risks that he would never consider were he clean and sober.We point out that:The addict is a genius at putting up a normal-looking front in order to deceive his loved ones that he is OK. He is even told that he is a "high-functioning...2020-12-1813 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsA Close Call With DeathIn this article, we tell a story which we entitle "A Close Call with Death", as a means of demonstrating how an addict's impulsive behaviour can lead him unknowingly into situations that could result in his death.Further, we discuss how this addict's mom, through no fault of her own, wasn't able to recognize the early warning signs of an addiction in the making, and therefore served as his enabler for years before he bottomed out.When you're an addict, you act out of impulse, without regard to the consequences to yourself or others. The impulse...2020-12-1110 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsWhy is The Addict Doing This to Me?In this article, we discuss how the addiction rules an addict's life in ways that most non-addicts do not understand, and if innocent family members understood the dynamics of the addiction at work, they would see their burden greatly eased.We learn that:Non-addicts have a hard time grasping how much power an addiction has over an addict. Most people would be shocked by the way an entire existence can be directed toward getting drunk or high.An untreated addict has no more control of his actions than you might if you were starving. In the...2020-12-0412 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsYou Deserve a Better YouThis article tackles the issue of what a family member or loved can do to liberate themselves from the ruinous obsession with someone else's addiction, which is, in reality, also the family disease.The reality is that there is not much, if anything, you can do to change the trajectory of your loved one's disease, short of an intervention. Even then, there's no guarantee that it will stick.If you don't address what the disease has done to your psyche, it won't matter whether your loved one cleans up or not. You will still be fearful, controlling, and...2020-11-2714 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsIs My Teen Becoming an Addict?In this article entitled “Is My Teen Becoming An Addict? we discuss the signs that form part of a pattern that suggests a teen could be on his or her way to a full-blown addiction, and what a parent needs to consider to help the teen make a course-correction.Look for a pattern that suggests secrecy and behaviour that is off the norm along the lines I outline below.Look to have a loving conversation, not a confrontation, ideally with both parents present.Gaining a better understanding of the academic and social challenges facing your teen can only he...2020-11-2013 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsYou're The Addict Not Me!In this article which we entitle “You're The Addict, Not Me” we discuss the dynamics of living in a family where addiction has its insidious ways, and what the family members need to start doing to liberate themselves from the grip of the disease.People in recovery, whether in AA or Al-Anon or other 12-step programs must hold themselves accountable for their behaviour as part of their progress in personal development and healing.The after-effects of living in a dysfunctional family include co-dependency where the adult child feels overly responsible for the behaviour of others and becomes easy prey...2020-11-1312 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsAre You Wasting Your Energy?This article is entitled "Are You Wasting Your Energy?" and it covers the following topics as we discuss the futility of trying to change the trajectory of someone else's addiction. We have learned that, speaking for the family member who loves an addict:Addiction has had a far more powerful effect than we realized. It denied us any sense of normalcy and dealt out punishment that, ironically, we inflicted upon ourselves.All of our energy is wasted on a hopeless endeavour until there is nothing left over for attending to our own needs. Instead of giving o...2020-11-0611 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsYou're Not the Victim HereIn this article, we discuss and dissect the idea of being a "victim" of addictive disorder; we discuss the how family members and significant others are perfectly set up to see themselves as victims, and what to watch for in order to disengage from that kind of role.Here's what we cover:Loved ones, family members where one of you is an addict, are perfectly set up to become so-called "victims" because the addictive disorder is imposed upon you without your permission, without warning.The idea that "bad things will keep on happening" says that "things"...2020-10-3014 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsInterview with Tomas - Waking Up, Now & The FutureIn part two of our interview with Tomas, he shares the role that other recovery programs have had on the trajectory of his own recovery.This is what we learned from Tomas:Al-Anon can not only help families who are not addicts themselves, but it can be a vital tool in helping addicts focus on their own recovery.Having a daily ritual helps keep the recovering person stay on track, reinforcing healthy behaviour and attitude.Sharing feelings with people you trust serves to relieve the pressure of stuffing them and/or turning to a substance to...2020-10-2312 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsInterview with Tomas - Personal Adventures Before We Woke UpThese are the topics we cover in our interview with Tomas, a young recovering alcoholic who travels the world for his music profession but doesn't stray far from his recovery program.Some people become alcoholics or addicts because they need substances to soothe the deep emotional pain caused by toxic family situations.When the whole family is sick, there are no rules by which to live "normally", and therefore no guidance as to what is right or wrong in the moral or ethical sense.The quest to understand what one is feeling is a great challenge for those...2020-10-1631 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsStigma KillsIn this article, we discuss how the stigma associated with addiction is a dangerous myth that keeps addicts and their families from seeing the light and seeking the help they deserve.One of the strongest barriers to seeking help with an addiction is the stigma associated with the concept of "addiction", still a taboo among traditional communities.Much of our society still sees addiction as a moral failing and believes that addicts need to be jailed, not treated.Addiction is not seen by our society as a valid disease that causes the addict to lose his power of...2020-10-0910 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsThe Johari WindowIn this article, we discuss the role of the Johari Window in gaining a deeper understanding of how we can communicate more effectively with each other. We show that:The Johari Window is yet another useful method for therapists to use in the recovery setting involving addicts and their loved ones drawn into the dysfunctional world of addiction.The whole point of the Johari Window is to uncover truths about ourselves by smashing illusions that stand in the way of healing.Group therapy is a powerful tool designed to steer us from denial and unhealthy, self-defeating thinking onto...2020-10-0210 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsLife, Liberty and the Pursuit of FreedomIn this article entitled "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Freedom', we discuss the following topics:The "Pursuit of Happiness" is a hollow promise if we pursue it directly and not see it as an outcome of living a worthy life.A new Freedom and a new Happiness promised by recovery programs is based on having the freedom to make better choices and happiness that is an outcome of helping others. Happiness not as a result of taking, but as an outcome of giving.A new basis of living is created when recovery is practiced with full commitment...2020-09-2511 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsThe Art of Waking Up & Staying UpHere we discuss the upside of recovery and what family members and the recovering person should expect. We cover the following topics in this article entitled " The Art of waking Up and Staying Awake".Treatment is but a start to recovery as a lifelong endeavour. It is, nonetheless, best achieved one day, one action at a time.It will come as no surprise to veterans of the 12-step program that the things that keep us sober are the same things that make us better people. It is about spiritual development aka as becoming mature, responsible people.A loving...2020-09-1809 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsDoes Addiction Hide in Your Wallet?In this article, we discuss the often-avoided topic about money and its hold over us. We entitle this essay: "Does Addiction Hide in Your Wallet"?The key point is that it's not about the money, it's about the compulsion and the certain knowledge that I cannot stop doing this and start doing the opposite on my own.We cover the following topics:The odds are that in an addicted household, the disease has run through the family like a freight train, destroying any semblance of normalcy and wrecking the family finances.Being or becoming...2020-09-1115 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsYou're Addicted and You Don't Even Know ItIn this article, I ask the question: "Are You Addicted and Not Even Know It"?We cover the following topics:You could be addicted to the addict himself and not know it until you have to look at it and begin to see your addiction as the cause of your pain.Those who love an addict/alcoholic are just as powerless over their loved one's addiction as is the addict himself.Co-dependency is revealed and amplified in families who have an addict in their midst, and it results in much irrational behaviour. Co-dependency shows up as...2020-09-0414 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsWhat it Takes to FAILIn this article we discuss the things that signal a potential relapse in the making:There are key signs that the addict typically does not notice or will not acknowledge. Essentially the things that signal a coming relapse are not doing the things that keep us clean and sober.Probably the most prominent sign of a coming relapse is DENIAL which stands for Don’t Even Notice I Am Lying. So even if one were to call the addict on his slippery behaviour, he will minimize, evade, lie, blame a family member, or bad luck, on an...2020-08-2813 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsWhat it Takes to MAKE ITIn this article, we discuss the following topics:A return to a more normalized schedule results in a healthy, predictable rhythm for the day and for the night. It helps to have a written schedule of activity for the 24-hour period, even if you just say “play 2-4 pm" as an example.Exercise/fitness: chances are, your physical body has been over-stressed by not eating right and by lack of exercise. Getting into a fitness routine is not just a nice suggestion. It is vital, that you get on the fitness path, if only slowly at first. You wi...2020-08-2113 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsA Trip into Inner SpaceIn this article, we discuss the importance of one's inner life or our inner space.Embracing the idea that there is a victory in the surrender of old ideas in favour of a healthier way of thinking is a major and necessary factor in the journey out of an addictive life for both the addict and his loved ones.The family members who embrace the idea that they are also greatly affected by addictive disorder will see that smashing a cherished illusion - that they have the power to control this disease - is sheer folly.Therefore, shifting...2020-08-1411 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsA Trip into Outer SpaceIn this article, we focus on the following topics as they relate to the myths and realities for the suffering family member.Families new to addiction carry the illusion that the problem is with their addict and do not yet know that they, too are as sick as the addict himself.They believe that they have some control over their addict’s behaviour and are shocked to discover that they have zero chance of affecting the addict’s drinking and using over the long term.Addicts and alcoholics get away with murder because they put the blame on the...2020-08-0713 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsAn Interview with Andrew - This Is Not a GameIn this podcast, I interview Andrew a 30-year-old professional, clean and sober for more than 6 years.The topics we covered were:It’s rare that an addict or alcoholic becomes addicted to only one substance, “poly-addiction” is the norm.Mother is the great enabler. She tries to help him stop, while at the same time allows him to live rent-free in her second home.Andrew hated the way he felt, and wanted to stop, but didn’t know how to.He came to realize that he could not quit on his own and needed to reach out and...2020-07-3131 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsAn Interview with Tim - Words of Wisdom for FamiliesThis records my interview with Tim, who owns and operates a sober living home and is himself a long-time recovering person.This article covers these topics:The secret is there is no secret. Everything an addict or alcoholic needs to know has been written and published, from 1939 until now.The longer an addict/alcoholic stays in a somewhat controlled recovering environment, the greater the chances of long-term success.The family has no idea and will often deny that they are as sick as the addict, that they are as powerless over addiction as is the addict...2020-07-2433 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsTake this Co-dependency QuizIn this episode called 'Take This Co-dependency Quiz' I take on the myth that the addiction is owned exclusively by the alcoholic or addict and therefore the family must focus its energy on their loved one. We conclude the following instead:Most, if not all, family members of an alcoholic or addict become dysfunctional when living with the disorder. That is why it is called a family disease.Family members therefore become co-dependent. A co-dependent person is one who has let another’s behaviour affect him or her, and who is obsessed with controlling that person’s behaviour.All...2020-07-1714 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsRobert Speaks About Recovery - Part 2 of 2The cunning, baffling, powerful family disease: part 2 of my interview with veteran counsellor Robert.Here is what Robert, one of the counsellors at SafeHouse Rehab Thailand, talks about in the second part of his interview, explaining what it takes for him to stay clean and sober and what one can do (and not do) for a loved one suffering from addictive disease.I have acquired a great deal of empathy for the families of addicts and alcoholics because of my exceptionally hard upbringing as a poor bi-racial kid in the UK.To get sober, I had to...2020-07-0925 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsRobert Speaks About the Power of Addiction - Part 1 of 2The cunning, baffling, powerful family disease: my interview with veteran counsellor Robert.We invited Robert, our veteran counsellor at SafeHouse Rehab Thailand, to share his extensive experience and fascinating history with me. Here is what we cover in this post:He shared the trauma of his life as a bi-racial child who was given away by his mother at three years old.His dysfunctional family headed by an abusive and alcoholic father figure was a set-up for a dysfunctional life.He ran his life in violation of his conscience which caused guilt and shame, and ultimately paranoid...2020-07-0230 min
Busting Addiction and Its Myths100 x More Deadly than Heroin?In this article, we gain insight into the drug fentanyl, why it’s popular among addicts, makers and pushers, and what a family can do to help mitigate its effects.It is entirely possible that your loved one addict might be using fentanyl, which is rapidly replacing heroin as a drug of choice.Fentanyl is incredibly appealing to the maker and to the user, as it packs a huge punch for a small amount. Hugely profitable for the makers and cheap for the user.The opioid crisis was fuelled by greed and dishonesty by certain pharmaceutical companies who pu...2020-06-2615 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsThe Healing Power of NowIn this article, we show that living in the Now is not only possible but necessary if family members are to heal from the effects of addiction or alcoholism.We learn that:Unfounded fear is characteristic of families who have an untreated addict or alcoholic in their house.The psychological condition of fear is chronic and is a constant companion that threatens the sanity of the parent or spouse, the “caregiver”.You can always cope with the present but never with an illusion called the future, which has no reality of its own.Although you have no p...2020-06-1917 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsMore about Intervention; It is possible!More on InterventionThe purpose of this podcast is to provide more detailed insight into the process of intervention which requires a total commitment and is much more complicated than we see on TV.The overriding goal of an intervention is to get the addict/alcoholic to accept help and go into treatment.You will use the immense power of the group to achieve your purpose.You will use the power of love which cannot be denied and cuts through resistance and overpowers defiance.Readiness is everything: teambuilding, education, inviting people who care for him into...2020-06-1214 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsIntervention Done Well, or Not!This podcast is entitled: Intervention Done Well, or Not.Here we cover the following learning about how to, and how not to, do an intervention with a family member who is in the grip of addictive disorder.Intervention can easily be mishandled if the family is not educated about the proper approach, and it should rarely if ever, be done one-on-one.The power of the group is well understood in recovery, and it is the principal means by which an intervention should take place.The power of love cuts through denial, and the addict learns perhaps...2020-06-0513 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsCo-dependency Happens When You're Not LookingIn this post, entitled Co-dependency Happens When You’re Not Looking, we cover the following topics:Any family who has an active addict or alcoholic in their midst is vulnerable to co-dependency, without exception.Co-dependents are best defined as people whose lives have become unmanageable as a result of living with an alcoholic (or addict) in a committed relationship.Co-dependents are tied to their alcoholic or addict by an emotional chain which means they are only OK when their addict is OK. The co-dependent spouse of the addict or alcoholic feels overly responsible for every aspect of her sp...2020-05-2914 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsResearch Proves AA Works - Simple as That!Finally, the research is in: the Cochrane Collaboration, a team of the best minds from Harvard Medical School and the University of Massachusetts (UMASS) Hospital concluded in a meta-review of 28 research studies That Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) not only works but works better than other treatment alternatives. Here is a summary of the findings as reported in the March 12th, 2020 issue of the New York Times.AA has always had its detractors but is possible that some, not all, people can come around and believe AA is a worthwhile resource if they were presented compelling evidence.The...2020-05-2115 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsTony Sounds OffIn this podcast, we report an interview with Tony which we call 'Tony Sounds Off'.It's all about what it takes for a young man to achieve the type of high-quality sobriety that he has attained by surrendering. Yes, surrendering.We learn the following:It took Tony three serious attempts before he threw in the towel and sincerely asked for help. He was one of the lucky ones by his own admission, as his mom was with him all the way. Most alcoholics don’t sober up for any length of time. A hard tr...2020-05-1541 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsQ & A about AA - Part 2 of 2Q & A about AABruno J. and his guest Tony agreed on a number of important topics in their discussion about the value of Alcoholics Anonymous - AA - in their recovery program. Here's what we concluded:The evidence is clear that Alcoholics Anonymous aka AA has proven to be a tried and true method of staying sober for millions of alcoholics around the world. Regardless of age, social class, gender or ethnicity...it is the Great Equalizer.There seems to be an irrational resistance to the concept of a higher power, especially among younger people...2020-05-0820 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsQ & A about AA - Part 1 of 2Q & A about AA Bruno J. and his guest Tony agreed on a number of important topics in their discussion about the value of Alcoholics Anonymous - AA - in their recovery program. Here's what we concluded:The evidence is clear that Alcoholics Anonymous aka AA has proven to be a tried and true method of staying sober for millions of alcoholics around the world. Regardless of age, social class, gender or ethnicity...it is the Great Equalizer.There seems to be an irrational resistance to the concept of a higher power, especially among younger people. F...2020-05-0127 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsBrain Damage? - Not in My Family!Brain Damage? - Not in My Family!Our topic is brain damage caused by alcohol and drug abuse, and we quote the case of Aaron Hernandez, a brilliant young NFL superstar whose life ended tragically, but not after he himself inflicted grievous damage to society.Here is what we review in this article:Much as we resist the thought as anathema to our way of thinking, addiction is a complex brain disorder and a mental illness as defined by the best science of the day.Repetitive drug use and/or drinking to excess decisively...2020-04-2415 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsHow Sick are You Really?How Sick Are You Really?We’ve had many people ask that we publish more about addiction as a family disease, so let’s call this post How Sick Are You Really?It's a provocative question, but we ask it that way to make some important points:Addiction and alcoholism are known as family diseases because they affect every member of the family in profound ways that are not evident to the family.Family members of alcoholics/addicts may feel depressed and anxious, but they do not know why until they seek professional help, idea...2020-04-1713 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsAA is a Boys' Club Right?AA is a Boys’ Club, Right?In this post and podcast, you will learn some truths about Alcoholics Anonymous from an unlikely source, readers of the New York Times who came to the defence of AA.We cover the following topics:There are many myths out there that need to be dispelled if we wish to give as many alcoholics, and we would say addicts, fewer reasons to cross us off the list.The charge against AA that it’s a boys’ club went public, in the New York Times January 3rd 2020, of all places...2020-04-1015 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsIs He a Money Drunk, Too?Is He a Money Drunk, Too?In this post, we learn more about what it means to be a money drunk, that is, using wanton spending and being in debt to feel good for just a little while, heedless to the financial consequences inflicted on the family.We cover these topics:Being a money drunk means that you use money as a drug, that you have a compulsion to spend and use debt to feel better about yourself, if only for a little while.When I say YOU, that means that anyone can be...2020-04-0316 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsHow Can The Power of Now Heal the PainI call this episode #2 of Season 2: How can the power of Now heal the pain?Let’s approach the issue of addiction and what it does to an ordinary family, a loving, typical well-meaning family and see how living in the Now can help heal the pain.Here’s what we cover:No one in the family is spared the damage that comes from addiction by a member of the family.Fear of what may happen in the future is the underlying emotion that drives the inner life of family members. Imagination turns to the d...2020-03-1313 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsTony Tells It Like It IsTony Tells It like It Is aka the perspective of a young recovering addict and what he has observed amongst other recovering and not recovering young addicts.So what we learn from Tony telling it like it is for himself as young, recovering alcoholic/addict is:“You almost never find an addict who is using just one drug, or someone who is ‘only’ an alcoholic. The world of addiction today is filled with addicts who are using multiple drugs plus drinking alcohol”.“For younger addicts, 12-step meetings are seen as safe places where they meet...2020-03-0631 minBusting Addiction and Its MythsTreatment Doesn't Work or Does It?Welcome back to Busting addiction and its myths lucky episode #13…we call this episode Treatment Doesn’t Work, Or Does It?Here’s what we cover:My guest Tony and I bust the myth that some people believe in, that is that treatment doesn’t work. That is true if you don’t do the work and if you aren’t honest with yourself, and you aren’t willing to surrender your old ways of thinking.Many affluent, educated people end up addicted to opioids who might not have otherwise become addicted were it not for being prescrib...2020-02-2840 minBusting Addiction and Its Myths29 Things We've Learned So FarI think it’s time we do a roll up of what we’ve learned so far, as I see our podcast as a tutorial on addiction for families and anyone else who is close to an addict or alcoholic.Addiction and alcoholism are diseases and are considered mental illnesses by science. They are not moral failings or manifestations of the lack of willpower.Addiction and alcoholism negatively affect the family to such an extent that they are considered family diseases as well. Family members begin to react to their loved one’s addiction in misguided attempts to contro...2020-02-2119 minBusting Addiction and Its MythsYour problem is my problemBusting the myth that your problem is my problem.In this week’s episode we talk more about codependency, why it happens, how you end up replacing your own agenda of self-care with the other person’s neediness, and how it is absolutely essential for your own sanity to address it.In this episode, we learn that:There is a big difference between giving of yourself and giving yourself away. Between helping and codependency.Myth 1 : Addiction is only the addict’s problem. Reality: Addiction is a family illness.Myth 2: Life will be grand if only t...2020-02-1420 minBusting Addiction and Its MythsThe greatest barrier is stigma, AKA ignoranceIn this episode, I discuss how the myths and stigma associated with alcohol and drug abuse is the greatest barrier to healing at the personal and societal level.The typical myth is that somehow an addiction is a moral failing and that the addict just needs to exert his will power to “get over it.”Some of us need to change the way we think if we are to be truly helpful, that is to see addicts as sick people, not bad people. But not to excuse their actions either. We are not all there yet...2020-02-0716 minBusting Addiction and Its MythsMore about enabling and co-dependencyEnabling, what enabling?In this episode, we ask you to shine the light on your own denial and enabling if you happen to love an active addict or alcoholic.In this episode we learn that:The road to hell is indeed paved with good intentions which are well-meaning but misguided when it comes to addiction.Denial is a big part of enabling, since families will invariably deny that they suspect or have an addiction problem. Add shame and fear of being “found out” and you have the perfect recipe for the disease to flourish. Secr...2020-01-3120 minBusting Addiction and Its MythsI'm all I think aboutThis episode deals with the extreme self-centeredness of the addict/alcoholic and all its manifestations, including wildly irresponsible and sometimes violent behaviour.We cover these topics:Addicts are self-centered in the extreme, and will violate every value they once held dear. These violations include behaviour that is violent and physically dangerous.They are always chasing that ultimate high, like the one they had the first time, and this urge has them seeking out even more potent drugs in higher dosages.Do not expect rational thinking from an active addict, even when...2020-01-2417 minBusting Addiction and Its MythsBust opioids and smash the ignorance that comes with itJoin the battle to bust opioids and the ignorance that comes with it.In this episode, you will learn more about OD deaths, what you can do to help raise treatment standards, lower the barriers to treatment access and address co-dependency in your own home.We will learn, again, that the vast majority of OD deaths involve multiple substances and the worst of them is fentanyl.Doctors are typically not trained in treating addictive disorder, but can prescribe opioids freely while they have to go through hoops to prescribe buprenorphine, or Subutex which helps addicts during...2020-01-1715 minBusting Addiction and Its MythsEnablingLet’s talk about enablingIn this episode, we discuss how enabling can inhibit the chances of an addict’s recovery by shielding them form the realities of a grown-up life.The truths we reveal in this episode:The enabling of loved ones makes it easy or possible to keep the addict’s addiction alive and progressing.Many people close to the addict/alcoholic enable them without having any idea that it’s happening. They are in involuntary denial until they get the unwanted but necessary wake-up call.When we enable, we deny the opportun...2020-01-1030 minBusting Addiction and Its MythsProgress of Addiction, Interview with TonyYoung Tony’s story of redemptionIn this episode, Tony, a terrific young fellow from the UK, shares his story of how he became an alcoholic and marijuana addict, starting with his circle of friends in a perfectly typical middle-class environment, ending with his surrender to achieve victory over drugs and alcohol. The topics Tony addresses in this episode are:How marijuana and alcohol became a normal part of everyday life.How that progressed to drinking close to a litre of vodka and smoking dope every day.His defiance in the late stages and his...2019-12-2036 minBusting Addiction and Its MythsWhat We've Learned So FarIt’s a disease, stupid!Paraphrasing a famous political slogan from the US, this episode offers slam-dunk proof that addiction and alcoholism are disease states, and that the addict has lost his power of choice when the disease compels him to inflict harm on himself and others.We cover these topics:1. Addiction and alcoholism are recognised by the leading scientists in the US as chronic, relapsing diseases of the brain, causing compulsive using behaviour and loss of control over intake, despite harmful long-term consequences.2. The main take-away is that addiction is compulsive so t...2019-12-1320 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsWhat's Love Got to Do With It?In this episode, we reveal that addiction must be treated as the primary disorder, that families need to retain a trained professional, and that the addict’s crazy decisions are made by a damaged brain. Does that get your attention?We cover these topics:1. Addiction must be treated as the primary disorder, as the cause of mental and behavioural problems, and not as the result.2. Addicts/alcoholics, when they aren’t ready to quit, are very slick and will do anything to protect their ability to use or drink, including lie to professionals.2019-12-0619 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsAddiction is a Family DiseaseIn this episode, we reveal more truths about addiction, in that it makes the whole family unit dysfunctional. We also discuss the deadly opioid epidemic and the truth behind the deadliest street drug: Fentanyl.We cover these topics:- Addiction doesn’t just affect the family, it makes the whole family unit very sick- Cross, or poly-addiction is common among addicts these days, as there is so much available cheaply and easily.- The deadliest Opioid is no longer heroin, it’s Fentanyl, 100 times more powerful available straight up, and kill...2019-12-0618 min
Busting Addiction and Its MythsDon't Quit Trying to QuitIn this episode, we bust the myth that an addict who doesn’t get it the first time is a loser, when in fact he is on his way to success. He will, however, duck the issue every chance he gets. We cover these topics:- The facts about relapse.- What commitment looks like.- How love is not the issue.- The games addicts play.- You are the problem, crazy, right?- What will it take: heat.2019-12-0623 min