I'm getting into a very slippery gray area when I post this. One is to be anonymous in media and print. My sponsor with 24 years of sobriety damn near died recently. He "thought" he could have a little drink from time to time now after all these years. It is One day at a time.
The "disease" is the inability to live life on life's terms. Some folks overeat, some abuse sex, gamble, drink or do drugs. You will note all these have 12 step programs btw.
"A disease that manifests itself in the mind with the physical addiction of a substance to cope".
I am more familar with the alcoholic and that "avenue of escape from reality". Other "avenues" provide the same escape for other folks.
During a stressful time someone may overeat, get past the stressful time and not have that eating problem. Well folks go through a divorce, get fired, and get drunk really bad...not a behavior that happens all the time, maybe just that once.
IMO and using what learned from reading the AA book ( "Big Book") . An alcoholic may be just fine, until he takes that first drink. Being wired the way the alcoholic is...he cannot stop.
I, me personally ... believe this, I have seen the gates of hell. I went a year and "thought" I could drink like normal folks. 3 weeks later I was right back were I was - Them gates of hell are more real , the smoke and smell of brimstone and the flame were to damn close the second time. That was 20 yrs ago. If I drank today I would pick up and be if I had not stopped 20 yrs ago. My sponsor , was in the same shape as if he had been drinking all of these 24 yrs.
I have heard too many folks that abused Narcotics share the same story. Forgive me and others that have seen the gates of hell, but we will continue to refer to this as a disease .
Ala Dan , Rehab is our friend, just as we accept the clergy, friends, family and Medical. We appreciate these services to get us over the DT's, to keep us from going into Shock, MI's and such. These are all fine and have a respectful place.
IMO/IME and again this is discussed in the Big Book - Without the 12 steps an individual will not stay sober. Too many folks have tried the "easier and softer way" paying for Rehab and all without 12 steps and died drunk/overdosed.
1/10 that are "drunks" get help. 1/10 of these gets sober. 9/10 of us die drunk. Odds suck, beats the alternative tho'.
Get a copy of the Big Book before judgement is made. It is used by Al Anon as well.
IN the Big book is a quote attibuted to Herbert Spencer -
"...condemnation before investigation..."
I'll see if someone knows the rest and where in the book it is found. A pm is fine .
