addictShuns | addictions

Addiction Treatment and Your Health Coverage

noreply@blogger.com (rasama) — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 17:50:00 +0000

If you are interested in knowing more about how the Affordable Care Act has changed here is a resource that tells the Insurance side of Addiction. This quote is direct from the publisher:

Our resource provides information on your healthcare rights when it comes to addiction treatment and how changes with the Affordable Care Act have changed insurance coverage.

We believed that this was an important topic to cover because while addiction affects nearly 24 million people over the age of 12, only 11.2% of those individuals receive treatment from a private facility (SAMHSA, 2009). A likely reason attributed to that low percentage is that it's not uncommon for private recovery facilities to cost in the tens of thousands of dollars.

The resource can be found here:

http://www.insurancequotes.org/health-insurance/health-resources/addiction-treatment-coverage/.

*Addiction Resources from InsuranceQuote.com

NOTE FROM ADDICTSHUNS:
Please be wise when selecting Insurance programs in regards to your health and well being. Most of all there are free programs, such as A.A., that have proven methods in the area of overcoming addiction of any type, and can supplement and complete any facility treatment programs. Just use your head!

bjb

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My Own Prison

noreply@blogger.com (rasama) — Sat, 07 Sep 2013 16:15:00 +0000

Hows your thought life?

prisons often exist in our own minds. limiting thoughts, self deprecating voices keep us locked up inside unable to move at times. funny thing about these 'mind prisons' is that there are no bars or walls. Even if you were in a prison or locked into circumstances you don't like, this can be changed.

the key out is to change your thought. if you just accept and believe everything you think, hear or say, it keeps you in prison. It is the way you handle the negative thoughts and temptations that makes a huge difference in your life. just because you think something doesn't always make it real. it is time for honest and true critical thinking. a mind prison can be solved with changing the way you think, rather than caving into "I can't...'" or feelings of despair and being overwhelmed.

is it time to clean out and up those influences in your life?
freeing yourself from a mind prison is dependent on what you allow into your thinking through TV, books, music and the friends you keep. if what you hear on a daily basis doesn't give you peace of mind, then it's time to have some deep thought cleaning.

try a radical thought turnaround. for one whole day write down everything you think. just write it down, no matter. even the tv, music and friends you listen to. record the constant thoughts, themes and ideas.

for day two: take that list of thoughts and compile them into negative (or positive). write those into a new list on the left column. then on the right column, write the exact opposite if it's a pattern of negativity.

lastly, find a quote or scripture verse or something that is different than the negative thought and memorize it, write it out on your mirror, on papers and think on that instead of the negative ones. "I can't stop this madness" becomes "I have self control, peace of mind, and am calm." or whatever feels natural to you.

Make your thought garden one of flowers and vegetables that nourish your mind and soul. Pull the weeds of bad thoughts out the moment you hear it break ground in your mind.

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Support Addiction Recovery

noreply@blogger.com (rasama) — Tue, 27 Aug 2013 20:19:00 +0000

Support Addiction Recovery with Good Nutrition and Exercise

by Lisa Felding

According to the most recent large-scale study, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2009, 23.5 million people needed treatment for drug or alcohol abuse. That’s 9.3% of people over the age of 12. Of those people, only 2.6 million received treatment at an addiction recovery facility. Nearly 90%, therefore, aren’t getting this specialized help. Any person who is recovering from an addiction needs as much support as possible, and this is especially true for someone who is trying to beat the addiction without help from a recovery facility.

One way to support efforts towards recovering from an addiction is by focusing not just on breaking the addiction cycle, but also on replacing the unhealthy behavior patterns with new healthy ones, such as nutrition and exercise. This helps the addict start to focus on positive reasons for pursuing recovery, provides a framework for promoting a return to healthier habits, and gives the recovering addict something tangible they can do to improve their health on their own.

Addiction and Nutrition

The added benefit of such a goal is that many addicts have nutritionally poor diets to begin with. Coupled with the physical impact of addiction itself, poor health is a common feature of addiction. Even if the diet is reasonably healthy, the physical toll of addiction, which can include tissue inflammation and organ dysfunction, means that nutrients are not adequately absorbed from food, or properly stored in the body. Whether or not the diet is healthy, a person with an addiction is therefore likely to suffer from nutrient deficiencies that, in conjunction with the physical consequences of addiction, can ultimately lead to muscle wasting, high blood pressure and cholesterol, gastrointestinal and digestion problems, cardiovascular stress, and central nervous system dysfunction. For these reasons, it is extremely beneficial to make nutritional goals part of a treatment plan for alcoholism or any other addiction. Adding regular exercise into the mix is also highly beneficial.

Good Nutrition Helps the Addicted Body Heal

A person who is just beginning to recover from addiction might suffer from any or all of the following nutrition-related problems:

Low blood sugar, leading to fatigue, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and poor adrenal gland function
Inability to properly absorb nutrients
Depletion of neurotransmitters in the brain
Sensitivity to certain foods, such as wheat, sugar, corn, or dairy products
Deficiency in protein, vitamins, and minerals

Avoiding processed foods, and replacing these with several servings a day of fresh fruit and vegetables, allows the body to start getting all the nutrients it needs to recover from these issues. For example, hypoglycemia—low blood sugar—is a common problem for recovering addicts, and alcoholics in particular, since many alcohols are rich in sugar. This can contribute to mood disorders that in turn can increase the likelihood that a recovering addict will relapse. Eating regular nutritionally-rich meals with small amounts of whole, unrefined carbohydrates, along with protein and healthy fats, helps to control blood sugar levels and improve mood stability—which might help stave off a relapse.

Another reason that a healthy diet helps the body recover from addiction is that some minerals—in particular, calcium and magnesium—can reduce the severity of cravings and addiction-related stress. Nervousness and irritability are heightened in people who are deficient in calcium or magnesium, because these minerals are essential for healthy central nervous system function. When the body is deficient in these minerals, it reduces a person’s ability to cope with stress, and in a recovering addict this ability is often already stretched to the limit.

The Benefits of Exercise

Starting an exercise program is another good way to reinforce the positive reasons for giving up an addiction. The benefits of regular exercise are well-documented, and when it comes to addiction recovery, are even more important. Cardiovascular exercise is, for example, a great way to reduce stress, by burning off excess adrenaline and other anxiety-inducing chemicals that the body produces. As well as this, it can help promote restful sleep, therefore helping to combat the insomnia that is a common feature of addiction recovery. Insomnia is completely normal for a recovering addict, but it can be very distressing, and stressful, for a newly-sober individual. Exercise can also help rebuild muscle mass and improve cardiovascular health, both of which are often impaired in addicts.

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Someone You Know is an Addict

noreply@blogger.com (rasama) — Mon, 07 May 2012 22:56:00 +0000

Someone You Know is an Addict

It’s estimated that approximately one in five people are born with an addictive personality - meaning they are vulnerable to becoming addicted to a substance or behavior. This means that there is an excellent chance that someone you know - a friend or family member - is suffering, perhaps secretly, with an addiction problem.

The most serious cases end with the death or suicide or the victim.

This article is part of a campaign by Addictions UK to help addicts, all around the world. Read on to find out how you can offer your support.

Understanding Addiction

The rapid growth of the Internet in recent years has seen the rise of new addiction problems, including Facebook addiction, online pornography addiction, online gambling addiction, and even Internet addiction.

Although the word “addiction” is used to mean many different things, what we’re talking about here is more accurately described as “pathological dependence” - a flaw in the brain chemistry that creates an overwhelming and escalating urge to engage in a certain kind of behavior, even if the person knows that their actions are hurting them and they’re desperate to stop.

The condition of addiction can be easier to understand when compared to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). An OCD sufferer may be aware that, logically, there is no need to repeatedly wash their hands until they’re raw and bleeding, but the compulsion is so strong that they’re powerless to stop.

Similarly, an online gambling addict may be racked with guilt because, once again, they’ve spent the grocery money on online poker, but no matter what they try, they cannot gain control of their behavior.

Worse still, when an addict’s compulsive behavior is of a type that is considered socially unacceptable, it’s common to hide the problem and try to tackle it privately. This usually only results in the problem becoming more deeply entrenched.

Treatment is Available

The first step to successfully tacking addiction is education. The addict may have come to the conclusion that they are a wicked person who is beyond redemption, but learning that their troubling actions are symptoms of an illness that afflicts millions of other people, many of whom have been successfully treated, can rekindle their hope and create a burning desire to obtain treatment.

Talking to a doctor can help; they may be able to recommend a local addiction treatment program. Alternatively, private treatment can be obtained (see below). The most important thing is for the addict to recognize that they have a dependency problem and that they cannot enter recovery without professional help.

How You Can Help

At the beginning of this article, we said that there is a strong chance that a friend of family member is suffering, maybe in silence, but that there is a way you can help.

There’s little point in trying to guess who may or not be affected. Addiction afflicts all different kinds of people, and often the person you least expect.

What you can do is help to put this article in front of as many different people as possible. The more people that see this message, the more likely it is that it will reach someone who really needs it.

To show your support for this campaign, please do one or more of the following:

Share this article on Twitter and Facebook.

Go to AddictonSuk and “Like” this page.

Place a link to AddictionSuk:
"http://www.addictionsuk.com"

www.addictionsuk.com or

"http://www.facebook.com/addictionsuk"

www.facebook.com/addictionsuk on your website.

Post a comment below this blog post.

"The Four Pillars of Recovery"

noreply@blogger.com (rasama) — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 21:59:00 +0000

Does Addiction Rehab and Therapy Work?

From what I see with the friends and celebrities going in and out of it on a regular basis, apparently not. My close friend has seen it all and nothing has helped until now. She found a Dr with a program that actually works. Dr. John Vigil is caring for my friend now, and there are great strides of recovery for her like I've seen never before.

He has written the best explanation about Alcohol and Drug addiction I've ever read. His honesty and totally frank story about a lifetime struggle with addiction doesn't sugar coat any of the disasters that out of control addiction has in one's life including those closest to him. What turned my thinking around is medical description about what happens with alcohol and substance abuse. He explained with great compassion and easy to understand medical terms, why people don't get better with conventional treatment. Reading his book, gave my search for answers answers to that question from someone who has seen both sides.

I learned a greater compassion for addicts after reading his book. The clear cut path of "FOUR PILLARS OF RECOVERY" just might hold the key to anyone with an substance addiction gaining freedom from this disease. I am sharing his website, his information with you the readers, so you have a link to someone who knows what he's doing and lays a clear path for recovery.

Dr John Vigil of Albuquerque, NM authored a book on addiction and recovery titled "The Four Pillars of Recovery." It explains his comprehensive state-of-the art and evidence based care for drug and alcohol addiction and substance abuse disorders, including buprenorphine (Suboxone) office-based treatment for opiate addiction. Doctor on Call is an Albuquerque mental health clinic is run by a medical doctor specializing in addiction medicine.Dr. Vigil is a member of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

CONTACT INFORMATION:Main WEBSITE: Doctor on Call Dr Vigil's Blog: HEALTH CARE REFORM BLOGDownload free brochure: Counseling Services and Behavioral Health

Whitney Houston, another Big Pharma victim?

noreply@blogger.com (rasama) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:20:00 +0000

Celebrities Lost

America’s most famous people have been dying from prescription drugs for decades. Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe quickly come to mind. But just as the epidemic has exploded on main street America, so too has it taken its toll among the nation’s most celebrated people. Here is just a brief list, from the past and the present, and the prescription drugs that killed them.
Below from PharmacyTechs.net and Wikipedia.comMarilyn Monroe (1962) – Pentobarbital, chloral hydrate
Dorothy Dandridge (1965) – Imipramine/Tofranil
Jimi Hendrix (1970) – Secobarbital/Seconal
Bruce Lee (1973) – Equagesic
Freddie Prinze (1977) – Methaqualone/Quaaludes
Elvis Presley (1977) - 14 drugs, including codeine, methaqualone/Quaaludes
Keith Moon (The Who) (1978) – Clomethiazole/Heminevrin
Abbie Hoffman (1989) – Phenobarbital
Steve Clark (Def Leppard) (1991) - Unspecified antidepressant and painkiller
Margaux Hemingway (1996) – Phenobarbital
Rob Pilatus (Milli Vanilli) (1998) – methadone
Dana Plato (1999) – Carisoprodol/Soma, Vicodin
Ol’ Dirty Bastard (Wu-Tang Clan) (2004) – Tramadol
Chris Penn (2006) – Promethazine, codeine
Gerald Levert (2006) – 6 drugs including Vicodin, Percocet, Dextropropoxyphene/Darvocet
Anna Nicole Smith (2007) - 11 drugs including chloral hydrate, clonazepam/Klonopin, lorazepam/Ativan, oxazepam/Serax, diazepam/Valium
Pimp C (Underground Kingz) (2007) – Promethazine, codeine
Heath Ledger (2008) - 6 drugs including oxycodone, hydrocodone, temazepam, diazepam/Valium, alprazolam/Xanax and doxylamine
Michael Jackson (2009) – propofol, benzodiazepine
Brittany Murphy (2009) – multiple drugs including hydrocodone, L-methamphetamine, chlorpheniramine
Leslie Carter (Nick/Aaron) (2012) – pending toxicology results
Whitney Houston (2012) – pending toxicology results
With all due love and affection for the above, it’s a shame it takes the death of a superstar to shine an always brief spotlight on the devastating effects of prescription drugs and their over-supply in this country. More than 40 regular Americans die from the same prescription drugs everyday.

NOTE: The clip above is from WHITEOUT PRESS Independent News at its Best! - If it's blacked-out, covered-up or censored, you can find it here.
Read the entire article here: Whitney Houston, another Big Pharma victim?

OTHER ADDICTSHUN POSTS ON CELEBRITIES:

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AddictShuns: Two paths of choice

noreply@blogger.com (rasama) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:30:00 +0000

TWO PATHS:
There are two paths of choice given to each soul. Good or evil, blessings or curse, life abundant or life just barely making it. Fulfillment or insatiable addictions. The ancient call from Moses in Mt. Sinai's desert lands squarely in our face in modern times:

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: Deuteronomy 30:18-20

Potential... Do you know yours? Do unfulfilled desires, spark against the mindful frozen places in life - when we are stuck? Sometimes we are filled with hope and promise, only to be squelched by fears, static doubt and slothfulness. There is a destiny for each of us, a plan for productive lives, blossoming gardens and time to prove life's bearing of goodness or destruction. A garden bearing fruit or one filled with rocks and briers. Often we have lived in both circumstance.

Some find their way becoming exactly what they want with all things falling in place. The devote their entire being with a single focus on their art, music, talents, skills and careers, despite obstacles they always aim towards their goals. Noticed or not, the pursuit of skillful productivity and honorable craft remain the heartbeat of their existence. Nothing pulls them away from that purpose. They master their profession rather than waste or divide time to useless, self-destructive activities.

Others fall in to the sludge of nothingness, held captive to past wounds and hurts, filled with anger, bitterness and self-pity that things didn't go "my way." They become lost in self-incriminating talk, mashing all the pain with fraudulent lifestyles filled with parties, self-indulgence no matter what the cost to those around them. They learn the art of deceit using words and looking good on the outside to connive people into their intentions. They numb their pain with superficial remedies in the form of addiction from drugs, to sex, to work, to food to whatever comforts them for the time being. It's really greed in the ugliest form. It all begins so easy with just one drink, one pill or glimpse. When hooked it's the exact path of the goodness only on the dark side. Every focus is to fill the bodies need for relief. The path of addiction is actually the art of self deception leading to destruction. The substance of need becomes a wicked, relentless god.

Women Food and God
I read this book Women Food and God. It plowed through my own issues and pains, which doesn't happen very often. I understand that she writes about things that underlie any one's addictions and avoidance in overcoming obstacles in life. It's too bad it's title states Women and Food. I believe it is written for everyone. The word 'Food' can be replaced by drugs, pills, smoking, pornography or whatever other vice one faces. It's worth the read. Getting to the root of any illness or disease is the first step towards healing.

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Women Food and God

more from her journal: Chapter 7

noreply@blogger.com (rasama) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:16:00 +0000

Chapter Seven & Eight available now!

Click on the page tab called Lovin' an Addict,
you can read these chapters and the entire story!

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noreply@blogger.com (rasama) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 23:04:00 +0000

Addictshuns....
Occasionally I find articles in Christian circles regarding addiction. It's a topic well guarded and kept in classes called Celebrate Recovery. The main difference being that you recover rather than always calling yourself an addict, I would assume. I attended one Celebrate class for al-anon. Perhaps I should have tried it more than once, however the format never gave me pause to actually come back. If you ask me I'll tell why; but only in personal email. I would never discredit a place that helps so many others get well, it did not help me.

So today I found this article written by Steve and Kellie Swisher from Kenneth Copeland Ministries.. They give 6 great daily tips for those challenged with addictions. Worth a quick read!

Here's a clip from the end of the article:

This attitude is described wonderfully in these words from Fred Bauer:

FOR QUIET--I LIKE UNSPEAKING TREES,
FOR CARES--A SPIRITED MOUNTAIN WALK,
FOR FULFILLMENT--SOMEONE TO PLEASE,
FOR LAUGHTER--HEARING CHILDREN TALK,
FOR REASSURANCE--A HAND TO HOLD
FOR STRENGTH--THE PERSEVERING SEA,
FOR UNDERSTANDING--A FRIENDSHIP OLD,
FOR HOPE, LORD, I TURN TO THEE.

Get Addicted to Something positive today and really live!

PRAYER:
Dear Lord, I am getting addicted to you, good thoughts are flooding my memory system, changes are being made, I can catch a glimpse of my fantastic future and it’s just over the rainbow. Help me reach it. In Jesus’ Name.
Amen

Shrink with Kevin Spacey

noreply@blogger.com (rasama) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 18:03:00 +0000

BACK FROM UPAID SABBATICAL
It's been too long since writing here. Addictshuns is not forgotten!

Last night I watched a movie called Shrink. Here's the Netflix synopsis:

In the wake of personal tragedy, Hollywood's psychiatrist to the stars (Kevin Spacey) devolves into a slovenly pothead and worries he's become incapable of helping his patients in a sharp indie drama from the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

My interest in both addiction and psychology the core reason for this movie selection. I am not sure why I finished it. The FBomb exploded through the entire dialogue which is both annoying and offensive when overused in movies. Would that screenwriters wrote intelligent script without so many expletives.

My curiosity was about all these people entrenched in the clutch of drug & alcohol abuse, aimless parties, and sexual quirks to cover their pain and emptiness. This movie showed addiction at it's finest. The main characters all show up to the shrinks office for moral guidance and direction who is himself spiraling out of control with excessive pot smoking and alcohol. Did he really think patients and people around him couldn't smell it or notice red eyes? In spite of his smokey fog, he gave moralistic advice of of worthy note. He stood for the sanctity and commitment of marriage and didn't give permission for the sexual addicts desire for promiscuity.

Only two characters in the entire cast showed virtuous character, strong morally and without the influence of drugs. A young girl struggling with the suicide of her mother, and the wife of an addicted rock star. A third questionable one is a pregnant assistant carrying her sister's baby. Questionable due to the scene where she asks her new boyfriend to have sex with her in the car with a wanna be writer. Sort of creepy don't you think? Anyway, the boyfriend writer had enough sense to stop it and question the act of sex with a pregnant women.

While celebrity life style glamorizes wild and raucous living, the consequence of these choices were obvious through out the movie. The slice of life in Hollywood shows abuse of drugs and alcohol begets suicide, personality disorders which begets lives reeling without restraint. It's an accurate description of Hollywood, and the greatest influence on culture in America today. This movies plays it out well.

In the end the shrink gains his moral compass, deals with his hurt, guilt and pain and quits his vices. The light in his life during his devolution is a little girl whose mother committed suicide. She called him out in his addiction several times. They had the same secret wounds, as he struggled to reach her, he may have found himself. His drug vendor with neatly labeled and encased varieties of pot sold him weed called Christmas in Viet Nam. They both smoked it not knowing it was laced with embalming fluids, ending up in the ER. The woman actress found him near dead. She is another light in his life.

The one interesting scene is the failed intervention put together from friends and family who care and want relief from his addiction. He turned it all back on them, explaining his pain. What he wanted was absolution from a hidden pain and guild in his soul. That is something they didn't see. Reflective of a culture in denial and a blinding reaction to fix external problems while ignoring the real true source. As in every case of addiction, and in this movie there is no remedy. Unless the source of the wounding life episode is brought to light, with a lie exposed until the truth is applied can one find redemption in their life. In the end, the Shrink heals his wounds and rebuilds his life.

The consequence in abusive use of drugs and alcohol is a cry for help as well a slow and often sudden death. Just read the list of the 27 CLUB. Few on this path of destruction ever survive or taste anything good in this life. Finding the reason, hidden wounds and lies believed is the only way to freedom.

Those who love the addict often see just the symptoms, rarely seeing or inviting the reasons. We clip at the surface trying to fix and change when only the addict themselves can take the first step with total transparency. For me, prayer and love covers those broken hearts until at last they are free to unburden their pain.

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20 Secret Signs of Addiction

noreply@blogger.com (rasama) — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 04:54:00 +0000

20 Secret Signs of Addiction

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Admission | Confession | Resolution

noreply@blogger.com (rasama) — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 20:51:00 +0000

ADMISSION

I am not an addict. I never pretended to be an addict nor do I profess to know what it’s like to be a drunk or drug addict. I am not expert by any means on the topic of addiction. I only lived with addicts all my life. For a very short season, I experimented with alcohol, drugs losing myself there, until it bit me like snake recoiled in wrath. My mother dragged me to a Christian Retreat for one week at age 17 and I was rescued from life long substance abuse by the new birth given by Jesus. By God’s intervention, I avoided what generational addiction dictated, with His grace and quit it all before it took root. Back in those days alcoholism and drug addiction wasn’t a public service notice, ad on TV or even spoken of. It wasn’t on the airwaves, only a whisper for help in the darkness by families suffering from the fall out. We simply didn’t talk about “that” to each other.

ADDICTION

Recently through a tangled conversation with a recovering alcoholic, it was pointed out that I had no business writing about addiction or the 12 steps. It began a normal congenial exchange then suddenly after reading I wasn’t an addict, it became ugly. Accusations flew as with a baseball bat from intensive emails. All tainted in self-righteous lamenting, that I was arrogant to think I can understand anything about addiction.

My site, my blog, my thoughts were clobbered by this person. My reaction at first was unbelief. I was taken by surprise. What land mine did I step on to deserve this? Trying humility, I asked how to make it better and what needed to change. I was open to learn and gain insight. My attempts to smooth and explain myself only fueled the fire of obvious misplaced anger. Anger begets anger, so words coming from my end tried to be calm, peaceful and reasonable. I admit to my feathers becoming quite ruffled, yet censored my own annoyance at the insensitivity of it all.

CONFESSION

My true response was deep hurt. Rejection and abuse from yet another addict who misunderstood me. It unseated so many of my own “secret” unresolved wounds from other addicts. I withdrew from “Addictshuns” to sort it all out. That conversation brought me to a humble end of what I thought I knew. After telling the hurt our conversation did to me, it was replied back with “I don’t care, nor would any other drunk care that they hurt me by defending the 12 Steps.”

Later that night, a succinct apology arrived by email, asking me to talk to real live AA members. I forgave, though the hurt remained. Holding grudges is not healthy. This pain signaled something deeper inside needed to come to light.

RESOLUTION

That interaction showed me something powerful. For one, conversations without basic rules of understanding are not healthy, yet one can always learn from heated ugly arguments. I need to revisit my own reasons for writing about addiction, as well as heal my wounds perhaps through a personal sponsor of Al Anon, or my pastor.

Two things rang true to change my course with this blog:

· Codependents who love addicts will never fix them. I am then a codependent who needs to stick to that topic.

o I realize the underlying intention in this blog was to fix addicts, and myself from the evil addiction cycle I hate so much. Addiction hurt and harmed my family and many friends and people in my world and somehow writing about it helped me understand and study.

o Only programs within AA, or certified practitioners in the field of addiction can accurately address and help other addicts. I must stick to what I know about co-dependency period.

· The 12 Steps are only to be learned, worked and followed within context of the AA program and with a sponsor.

o This is true. I tried to see if they could be worked without the benefit of a group and take them for what is written. I reasoned that the 12 steps were true, no matter who found them could read them for what there were and walk away with a solid path to wellness and recovery. That is a big mistake on my part.

o The success of AA is through the entire program based on their 12 steps, sponsorship and groups. The Steps belong to AA and from that conversation are proprietary. Therefore I will add a disclaimer to anything mentioning AA, 12 Steps, etc. that my words are my own opinion and encourage anyone seeking help to find an official AA group through the main website.

WHY I WRITE ABOUT ADDICTION:

I reiterate, I am not an addict nor am I an expert in the topic. I write addictshuns | addictions from my own perspective and experiences, a person on the other side of addiction. You know in AA terminology “co-dependent.” All articles, resources and posts are written as my own opinion and reflection about the topic of addiction. It not intended to lead anyone astray, harm them or cause life and death situations with my own lack of knowledge, or their need to find truth or help.

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Summary Posts: Step One

noreply@blogger.com (rasama) — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 16:54:00 +0000

STEP ONE REVIEW:

RECOMMENDED POSTS

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12 Steps: STEP TWO - Natural Sequence

noreply@blogger.com (rasama) — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 22:00:00 +0000

STEP 2 - Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity

READY FOR STEP TWO?

If you truly worked through step One then its time to move to the next step. The 12 Steps aren't just leaving the first one and onto the next. I view it more as sequence or an orderly method of gaining stability and normalcy. I will always need to refer to the previous steps in order to understand the others. The naturally progression to step two is a belief in a Power greater then us for restoration. Without knowing your life is out of control and admitting life is unglued it’s impossible to come to this step.

Do you suppose the entire reason we find ourselves in denial about our unmanageable lives is due to the need to appear perfect? Let's talk about the word "Perfection." Our pride says to admit mistake or shortcomings is more painful than living a lie. Is it really? That burden of appearance chokes the very freedom to live life sober. Besides, perfect may not actually be what the world media says it is.

What exactly does perfect mean to you? Here is the dictionary definition:

perfect - adjective

• having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be : she strove to be the perfect wife | life certainly isn't perfect at the moment.

• free from any flaw or defect in condition or quality; faultless: the equipment was in perfect condition.

• precisely accurate; exact: a perfect circle.

• highly suitable for someone or something; exactly right: Gary was perfect for her—ten years older and with his own career.

Notice that perfect means, "as good as it's possible to be" which means that YOU ARE REALLY OK! Perfect isn't never being wrong or making mistakes. As for "precisely accurate" isn't your life exactly what it is and how you were born into it good or bad? Certainly you can't change those things! I’d like to think of perfect as the polishing of a rough stone into a smooth one. It takes plenty of time and patience. Perhaps being free from flaw or defect, simply means it's no longer a secret and that it is ok to admit it, as in step one.

ACTING UPON STEP TWO

For those finding or coming to Faith in *God to be restored, becomes a relief to know you don't have to be perfect in order to live your life. No matter what your upbringing or religious, non- religious beliefs this Step is important for sanity.

I believe taking the second step allows you to drop the heavy burden of mistakes, denial, perfection, or whatever load of pain you carry each day. Dropping your guilt, shame and anger gives you a chance to find a clean slate. As a Christian, I read in scripture that forgiveness, newness of life, absolution from mistakes, sins, and flaw is a solid promise written through out the New Testament. There is power in every aspect to let it all go to God, or who you perceive to be higher than you are. It's up to you to find your own beliefs.

So calm your soul, soothe your mind and slide into Step Two with trust, reward and relief. To embrace this step

It's like being held, comforted and FORGIVEN, no matter what. Are you still fearful? Just try it... Bow your head and ask for help. When I think of belief in a Higher Power, the word kneel comes to mind. It's an attitude of humility, an absence of pride. Then tell about what you experience, if not me, then someone you trust!

[*Higher Power as you understand it]

I looked up books pertaining to the 12 Steps and various religions these were the ones found. Curiously there were no Islamic, Atheist or other mainstream major religions found with the terms 12 Step + _______ {religion name}. This doesn't mean there are not books, just not found on Amazon today.
Here are some 12 Step results with religious or spiritual themes:

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Views of the Original 12 Step Manuscript

noreply@blogger.com (rasama) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 20:18:00 +0000

Nice find today on the Yahoo News site! It is indeed a "rare glimpse" into this historic book, "with 27 million copies of the so-called Big Book in more than 50 languages have been sold." It is fitting to find this while writing my Step One, final post before moving on to Octobers Step Two arriving later on today. I want to highlight a few sections of the article:

"Some of the edits made it into print, especially in early chapters for fragile readers. Many others were rejected as the still-anonymous personalities behind the notes fretted over how to handle God and religion, a Higher Power "bigger than ourselves" and the influence of the Oxford Group, a religious movement embraced by Wilson and his fellow founder, Ohio physician Bob Smith, but later considered a preachy hindrance in working with problem drinkers." Quote from original Yahoo article

The editors rightly smoothed out the bumps of religious language to engage a broader audience. To me, a follower of Jesus, I acknowledge the Bible as the final authority being written from God's inspired authors at the same time, understanding not every one is on that page. It's my aim to catch a broad audience on this blog, without being afraid to speak my own faith and journey. Nor should anyone be afraid or offended about another person’s beliefs. That goes both ways. Mutual respect and understanding is what allows for true dialogue.

Much like the editors of books purge, change and influence the original manuscripts, I believe that God, Creator of All, did the same to His Book making it His Word. Simply because people don't believe there is GOD or that there are absolute truths stated through scripture, doesn't make it invalid or non-truth. Who are men to say there is no God? :)

"In the opening chapter, which tells Wilson's story, one commenter questions this sentence: "God has to work twenty-four hours a day in and through us, or we perish."

The criticism? "Who are we to say what God has to do?” The reference, at a Dr. Howard's suggestion, was changed to "Faith."

Some mentions of God became "God as we understood him," and the famous "We" at the beginning of the first step was added later at the suggestion of one among five or six to make notes on the manuscript, including Wilson himself.

In the seventh step, where Wilson and his collaborators indicate to their readers that they "Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings," a reference to doing so "on our knees" was crossed out and never made it into print." Quote from original Yahoo article.

I do however stand by the statement I made about smoothing out the BIG BOOK, even though it's original intent revered the Word of GOD, instruction and religion. Preachy sounding text does turn away as many as it attracts. Religion is just the term of organizations of belief. Spirituality is also just a broad term to describe everything other than physical, mental understanding. I believe that when men call out to God with honest seeking of truth they will find Him.

Suppose God is way above all our thinking, and doesn't need defense by any man? Don't you think He only desires for men to find Him and searches for those who seek truth, as He reveals it? God never forces anyone to believe in Him; He simply calls us to find out for ourselves.

For addicts this is key to true recovery. They must come to terms with their own failures, strength and sense of self. To find God in their own way and follow it with all their heart, soul and mind to recover and live life abundant in natural non-addictive ways.

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12 Steps - STEP ONE: Begin Here

noreply@blogger.com (rasama) — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 19:35:00 +0000

Step 1 - We admitted we were powerless over our addiction - that our lives had become unmanageable
In thinking about the first step I realize it is simply to "give up" when all else fails. By that I mean not giving in to the problem, but truly, deep down admitting we are stuck and need help getting out from under being stuck. This is not only for those seeking recovery from addiction it is for those who seek recovery in life from crisis, trouble, and overwhelming circumstances.

Take time to think deeply about who you are, where things went wrong and what holds you together. If it's a substance holding your life, what would it feel like to be free? If life is hammering you with one bad thing after another, rather than cave in, "Give Up" in faith. Renew your belief in God, or your higher power, for rescue.

Jesus said "You will know the truth the truth and will set you free." He also stated "I am the Way the Truth and Life." (see John 14:5-7 John 8:31-33)

The Tiger of Addiction and Troubles
I wrote before about the story of the tiger. If you let go he'll turn to eat you, keep a tight hold, and you keep spinning round and round with no end in sight. If you are captive to anything dangerous that you can't get out of, or don't see your way out of, you have a tiger by the tail. So what's the solution?

It's a small beginning: ADMIT you can't win. You thought you could control that "tiger" but it's out of control. Put up the white flag and admit defeat. That tiger is a figment in your mind, manifested in your addiction or troubles. Take the wind out of the sail and quit denying you need help and reach out for it. It is indeed the fist step towards recovery.

There are 11 more steps to take to be rid of your tiger!

Check out the Grateful Dead Lyrics HERE to catch the drift of what a tiger can be...

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23.1 Million People Need Treatment

noreply@blogger.com (rasama) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 21:17:00 +0000

That's right, 23.1 Million People Need Treatment for substance abuse disorder in just the United States. VOICES FOR RECOVERY sent me a Recovery Kit with the most amazing resource materials. I wanted to share one of the most astonishing papers on Commonly misused substances. Interesting enough the average age of abuse is 35-44 with under 30's being the highest rate of misuse.

According to US Department of Health Services, In 2008 there were an estimated 4.4 million emergency rooms visits due to substance abuse. The statistics below tell the number of people who used (actually telling the truth) in one month in 2008. The numbers tell a chilling story. Mind you it's just one month of reports and the result of misuse and abuse, not just occasional usage.

Cocaine - 15 million users - decreased from 07
LSD - 1.1 million users - increased from 07
Gases, Nitrates, aerosols - 600,000 users - decreased from 07
Pain Relief (Opioids) - 4.7 million users - decreased from 07
Psychotherapeutics - 6.2 million users - decreased from 07
Marijuanna - 15 million users - increased from 07
Alcohol - 126.8 Million users - same as 07
Tobacco Products - 70.9 Million users - same as 07

Other misused substances on the increase include Ecstasy and tranquilizers. This is indeed a MAJOR health issue for which all of should be concerned enough to do something about it. So if you know someone, or are yourself struggling with either legal or illegal substances, reach out for help! It begins with information, and from the packet I received there is help across the board for every race, ethnicity, and socio-economic status.

You can be free from addiction, there is help and HOPE. Read the archived blog, reach out for help through the links you find here. This is also for those who love and live with an addict. We are in this together!

Additional resource to find services in your area: 1 800 662 HELP or 800 487 4889 (TDD) as well as http://www.samhsa.gov/treatment .

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Brian Sherwin, Art Critic: The Spiritual Side of Art

noreply@blogger.com (rasama) — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 20:56:00 +0000

Apologies if you already got this link, seems it was deleted by accident from the Addictshuns blog. Now it's back in place! Art is important to recovery, so read on.....

Brian Sherwin -- Art Critic: The Spiritual Side of Art: "She Thinks by Brian Sherwin The Spiritual Side of Art Art has the power to move people-- if art did not there would, in most cases, be no..."

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LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS on art, music or life.

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America's Drug of Choice

noreply@blogger.com (rasama) — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 20:20:00 +0000

The other night while watching TV, we viewed 12 commercials pushing various medications from birth control, COPD/asthma to allergies, clogged arteries and depression pills to take when the main one doesn't work. All 12 shown within a 30 minute segment and switching between two shows. Talk about visual indoctrination! Listening to the contraindications makes one wonder if being sick isn't somehow more healthy!

The most amazing thing is we are told through all this advertising from drug companies that one cannot enjoy a healthy life without their pills. Take their cure for all that ails you, in fact go to your Dr. to tell him that you may need what the commercial just planted in your mind. At the same time TV news reports the war against drug trafficking and abuse, with Cartels pumping illegal drugs across our border. Who are the true drug lords?

Problem is those pills don't CURE anything. Dr's have become nothing more than legal drug pushers compensated for selling prescriptions to people who could get well on their own without those drugs in most cases, through diet, exercise, drinking water and lifestyle adjustments. Our bodies amazingly have something called homeostasis which brings itself back to health always. Why not tap those healing methods?

Take pain for instance. Most people are ok with over the counter relief. For something stronger, pain-relievers are given out like candy by our Dr's, even dentists on a regular basis. I'm not talking aspirin. You know: Oxycodone, codeine, fentanyl, Hydrocodone. What you may not know is that one can become addicted to any of the above in just 2-3 weeks of use. It can also be purchase over the internet. Beware, all sales of these drugs are carefully monitored by the DEA and they will come after abusers!

Opioids are the Drug of Choice for America. Most people don't want to use illegal substances. Nor do the pharmaceutical companies. For in your addiction, they make money. Not only through the purchase of the medicine but they have a cure and another addiction even more pricey to farm their millions off of addicts. To get off the Opioids, there is a rapid detox method that costs about $20-40,000 dollars to get opioids out of your system, then they put you on Suboxone or Buprenorphine (READ MORE HERE) to alleviate further withdrawal symptoms. These cost about $400-800 a month. This is a direct quote from Dr Waismann who believes getting off without supplements is possible. Vicious cycle to say the least!

“We are treating alarming numbers of people suffering dependencies to Suboxone ®, who assumed they were treating one dependency and ended up developing a new one,” said Waismann. “Rather than write prescriptions, the addiction community should direct their efforts towards helping patients understand that relapse is not part of recovery. In addition, the antiquated notion that addiction is an incurable disease and belief that 'once an addict, always an addict,' needs to be dispelled. Patients are tired of being hostages of a belief that they must be eternally dependent on treatments and maintenance drugs. We must stop applying judgment, and start offering an effective solution that will keep them from returning to the treatment centers time after time.”

I bet it pains the pharmaceutical companies when they see the vast amount of money spent on illegal substances. That's why they force feed America commercials for their latest designer drugs. To keep America hostage paying for medications we don't need, and create unhealthy bodies needing more drugs to fix what the first ones were supposed to correct. Time to do your homework and wonder exactly what you ingest in the form of pills, asking yourself, "do I really need this?"

Read more on NATURALNEWS.COM: Meanwhile, the abused drug of choice for American workers has shifted from cocaine to doctor-prescribed opiates made by Big Pharma. Looks like the "war on drug" didn't cure anybody; it just switched them over to high-profit chemicals made by Big Pharma: Opiate Drug Abuse - NaturalNews.com

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12 Steps - STEP ONE: Reveal the Secrets

noreply@blogger.com (rasama) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 20:36:00 +0000

SECRETS come to light in Step One.

Anything secretly hidden for fear of being found out is potentially hazardous for you. When you hide your chocolates, pornography or prescription medications, it’s time to take a deep look within. It’s not the cherished, beautiful secrets that destroy. It’s the dark, foreboding ones, you know the kind that make your stomach tie into knots, fraught with guilt and anxiety. “You are so angry!” she said. “No I am not!” said he. A big clue that you have an issue is to deny its existence. For instance, I am not taking too many *Vicodins.

I don’t drink too much. I didn’t even look at that porn site. Yeah, right... For once have courage to speak the truth! * more about prescription addictions in later posts!

One common thread in addiction / hoarding / obsession is keeping it a secret with everyone else playing the same game. Last night I watched a program on animal hoarding where a woman owned over 10 dogs, and kept adding more. She bought dog treats and dog food before she fed her own family, including 2 adult sons, and her mother. Some would argue that dogs are not an addiction. I agree, but she was indeed addicted to owning these dogs and fear of loss.

One note: These dogs NEVER went out of the house. Her fear was they would go outside, escape and get hit by a car. You can only imagine that environment. Unmanageable? You bet! No one talks about the obvious elephant in the room, or in her case dog mess, smell and total disarray with unhealthy consequences. Intervention by concerned family members and a therapist was the only way to get this woman moved towards self help. Disclosure, unveiling secrets that need to come to light brings with it healing. Only then can the first step be taken!

One solution: Admit your addiction, your sins, your failures. Tell your “secret” to someone trustworthy. *Confess, until all is told. Then the poison from that secret dissipates, with space and time to heal. However, keep the good secrets, secret.

James 5:16 in the Message Bible states, “Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.”

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* CONFESS verb

1 he confessed that he had done it admit, acknowledge, reveal, disclose, divulge, avow, declare, profess; own up, tell all.

antonym deny.

2 they could not make him confess own up, plead guilty, accept the blame; tell the truth, tell all, make a clean breast of it; informal come clean, spill the beans, let the cat out of the bag, get something off one's chest, let on, fess up.

3 I confess: I don't know acknowledge, admit, concede, grant, allow, own, declare, affirm.

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GUIDELINE RULE: Open up about the things that poisoned you and cause pain, keeping safe the secrets that are treasures, as well the confidence of others. Know your boundary lines. Know when to reveal things for heal and gain, keeping sacred those things needing to be hidden. Consider finding a counselor or therapist to work through your secrets!

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9/11 Take A Moment

noreply@blogger.com (rasama) — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 21:28:00 +0000

A WAKEUP CALL - 9/11,2001

a torrential force of violence shattered the heart of America 9 years ago. veritably the heartbeat of NY came to it's knees as the world trade center collapsed. we looked-on in shock, dismay and horror, while 1000's met the Angel of Death. forever our lives transformed from the feel of sanctuary to chaos. the sacrosanct illusion of safety, became a nightmare of dread.

how can it be?

carefully planted, homicidal men, committed suicide, taking innocents with them. seemingly told that Martyrdom promised *virgins, salvation and one cup of wine. in the name of Allah, radical destruction struck the core of america and the world. while the rest of world wept, islamic radicals celebrated in their streets upon 9/11.

now broken trust in government, country and mankind is dealt a healthy blow. swiftly our people stood strong, in unity repairing the breach. true heroes arose out of the agonizing, maelstrom in manhattan, in our country.
in total contrast to the attackers intent, american heroes of flesh and blood, **laid down their own lives so others could live.

at the heart of every soul is a need to feel loved. along side that need, a yearning to belong and feel a part of family. Safety and security is the root requirement of all mankind. Sadly it seems many are broken, lost and misinformed with corrupt, wicked ideas. hating back, never saves. rather those who hate become like the hated.

love saved america. honorable, selfless, men and women of integrity moved us forward. love of country, people and ideals that keep us free from perverted, depraved acts of terror.

So what remains in repairing the breach? Faith, hope and love. The greatest of these is love.

SELAH

In the words of Jesus:

"I've loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love. That's what I've done—kept my Father's commands and made myself at home in his love."

"If you find the godless world is hating you, remember it got its start hating me. If you lived on the world's terms, the world would love you as one of its own. But since I picked you to live on God's terms and no longer on the world's terms, the world is going to hate you. When that happens, remember this: Servants don't get better treatment than their masters. If they beat on me, they will certainly beat on you. If they did what I told them, they will do what you tell them." (message bible)

READ MORE: How Can it Be?
Matthew 25:1-13 Parable of the Ten Virgins

**John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

*"Verily, for the Muttaqun [righteous], there will be a success (paradise); gardens and grapeyards; and young full-breasted (mature) maidens of equal age; and a full cup (of wine)" (An-Naba 78:31-34).
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FACES & VOICES OF RECOVERY

noreply@blogger.com (rasama) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 23:25:00 +0000

FACES & VOICES OF RECOVERY
CELEBRATE! tell your days/weeks/years of recovery here:

Recovery is everywhere. For too long we have been silent and invisible. This September, Rally for Recovery! online, and help us tally our total number of years of recovery. Together, we can put a face and a voice on recovery. You are living proof of the reality of long-term recovery from addiction to alcohol and other drugs. Support and give hope to those still struggling by organizing and speaking out together. Join us!

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12 Steps - Step One Make it Personal

noreply@blogger.com (rasama) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:38:00 +0000

REFINING STEP ONE: We admitted we were powerless over our addiction, that our lives had become unmanageable.

So let’s make this personal. I admit that I am powerless over ________ and that my life is unmanageable. Now to fill in the blank.

I believe if we keep our smaller addictions to a dull roar it won’t rise up to bite us later in life. For many it may be the big hitting addictions that create a need by virtue of the substance or activity like alcohol, drugs both legal and illegal, sexual excess or deviations, and gambling. For others it is working too long, reading, watching TV, or talking on the phone in excess. For some food is addictive to the point of obesity, or bulimia, on the other side, anorexia, not eating food can also be an addiction to tossing it up after eating, laxatives and diet pills.

So today, reflecting on Step One: I admit to being powerless over things I want to accomplish in my life. I realize it’s not so much an addiction but lack of power to control my days. It is potential failure creating unmanageable days. Admitting this is not hard to do. In light of inadequacies, failed intentions, dishes in the sink and floors needing to be mopped, actually changing myself is the tough part! I try to manage each day often with a big FAIL. Now to figure out my aversion to managing these things, and what takes the place instead. In a nutshell, I allow myself to be sideswiped by things that are more pleasant to do. I also confess laziness. This is not easy to say, for I am also quite industrious, and love to work.

Others have told me I am a Mac Addict. My computer is both my work and a diversion. I work on it everyday, often sideswiping exercise, meal planning, cleaning, and other things that must get done. I don’t always work. Creating art, graphics and writing is the main intent. Email takes me away from my target of work. Sometimes I float from one website to the next, or travel through multitudes of links get lost from what originally was searched for. Often I never get my work done. This is a problem. Again, boundaries and self limits.

Late at night when I want to unwind, I confess to losing myself in World of Warcraft. In fact when I first started playing that game, I came dangerously close to total ADDICTION consumed by getting my character to level 80. I know many of the people who play WoW are addicts to the point of no social life, no work, only playing a game. Without boundaries set beforehand by ME, this game could cause me to become an addict. Knowing myself and bent towards escape, I “shun” it by choosing NOT to allow it to take over. My husband is a good gage of what is too much time. It's good to think about others rather than being selfish.I’ll talk later about the virtues of WoW and how not to have it take your life over.

Start the first step by writing it down and filling in your own blank. Writing heals. Communication in any form heals. Telling your secret heals many wounds. Now read the verse below:

Philippians 4:5 states: “Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.”

Easy to memorize. I like that the Lord is at hand because it tells me I am not alone. Neither are you. Start the first step by writing it down and filling in your own blank. Writing heals. Communication in any form heals. Telling your secret heals you. More on secrets in the next post.

I so love defining words, here is the dictionary definition of moderation:

Moderation noun - he urged them to show moderation self-restraint, restraint, self-control, self-discipline; temperance, leniency, fairness.

Anything in that defining list you care to emulate?

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America becomes a nation of druggies

noreply@blogger.com (rasama) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:47:00 +0000

A Natural News newsletter arrived today about "Big Pharama and a new CDC report that stating nearly half of all Americans are on doctor-prescribed drugs." It goes on to say this: "Big Pharma, it seems, has managed to convince 5 out of 10 people that they're sick and in need of constant chemical intervention." These are not street addictions, but legal pharmaceuticals, designer drugs. Although more and more street addicts are finding ways into the Vicodin, Oxycontin realm. Read the entire article to gain more insight. For now I will highlight my own thinking about medicines.

LEGAL DRUG PROMOTION. Watch the TV ads. Does it surprise you that drugs are even advertised? It should. How many times do you watch them, thinking "hmmm, thats me!," or "that sounds like what I have!" then if it is not you, surely your friends or family must have that. It's targeted at seniors, adults and children. If you don't take the drugs forever, you won't be well. Take this pill for that symptom, go see your doctor about the drug we just SOLD you. Give him your list of symptoms. Did you hear the long list of side effects? Those drugs cause more diseases than the one's originally concerned about. What in the world did people do before these drugs were invented?

THINK ABOUT IT. Do people really get well from drugs they take? NO. Granted, some actually heal certain conditions and get people through crisis. Yet, how many get LIFELONG prescriptions with no chance of getting off? Tell me why so many disease are not cured? Is it money? Do you think they want everyone on some medicine to bring in their fortune? They create new designer drugs replacing the affordable ones all the time. All the while they raking in the bucks from drugs they most likely never take. They know better.

Is it any wonder then that addiction is the NO. 1 problem in America? It's only going to get worse. Medicare, Social Security and Welfare will collapse under the new Health Reform, so carefully in bed with Pharmaceutical Corporations. Oh, more like legal Drug Lords. I leave you with a direct quote from the article:

The mass medication of American citizens has reached a disturbing tipping point where the future of the nation itself is at risk. That's because pharmaceuticals cause cognitive decline, and once you get to the point where over 50 percent of the voters can't think straight, you're trapped in a crumbling Democracy....

But in fact it's the other way around: People who take pharmaceuticals remain unhealthy and really never get cured of anything. Meanwhile, those who avoid taking pharmaceuticals are, by and large, far healthier individuals.

I strongly suggest a subscribscription to Natural News.
Sign up at: http://www.NaturalNews.com/ReaderRegistration.html
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Addictions Stats: Countries & Numbers

noreply@blogger.com (rasama) — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 23:06:00 +0000

GOOD NEWS - ADDICTSHUNS IS GROWING!

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