Addiction can take on many different stages. Explore notable moments. Given the challenges that can come with addiction, it shouldn’t be surprising that it doesn’t happen overnight. For many, the path to addiction can feel slow and gradual until it is too late. In this article, we will discuss the main steps associated with addiction. The Common Stages of Addiction Addiction is a gradual process, which is why it can be so overwhelming. Many people feel like they are in control until it is too late. In reality, they are simply engaging in a cycle that can have lasting impacts on their health and wellness. Knowing how to recognize the stages can help you to learn how addiction happens and how to push back against it. Trying Out the Substance The first step towards addiction is very simple—using the substance for the first time. This can happen in a variety of different ways, though it commonly happens in social settings. Most people think that they can try certain substances without repercussions because they know people who they believe are doing it. It is true that not everyone will become addicted to certain substances, but you should never use other people to gauge your personal health. You don’t know where they might be in the same cycle. Habitual Use After the first time, you will find that you are not quite as concerned about the substance itself. You might think that you “know” about it now and know what to expect. This will make you more comfortable with the substance. As your comfort levels grow, you will find that you use...
Our hearts sank after hearing of five overdose deaths in our own community of Commerce City. We believe harm reduction saves lives, buying time until someone has the motivation, or reaches the point in life where they are ready to accept help and willing to change. We support harm reduction efforts by offering Narcan to all people leaving our program no matter when they leave the program or substance they use. We give Narcan to those moving on successfully or those leaving before completion. The majority of our staff even carry Narcan on them in their day-to-day lives. It is our belief as an organization that the more Narcan we give out the more potential there is for a life to be saved. It is our promise to our community that we will continue to support harm reduction efforts by giving out Narcan in the hopes that maybe we can help save even one life. To us all lives are worth saving, we just sometimes need to buy some time to get there. If you or a loved one are struggling please feel free to call our admissions lines at 800-866-722-7040 or 303-321-2533 for either program. Even if our programs are not right for you, we will give you resources and get you headed in the direction that suits your needs. Please stay safe.
[caption id="attachment_6042" align="alignright" width="213"] Alton Clark, SSF Counselor[/caption] What does black history month mean to me? It is a combination of recognizing the history of the African Diaspora and recognizing my ancestors which are the shoulders I stand on today. I was brought up to know my history from my parents and become a strong black man in my community. Up until I was well into my adulthood did I realize that the accomplishments of my black African American brothers and sisters were not taught to me while in school. It was slightly revealed to me that I was different while growing up in the Denver metropolitan area experiencing prejudice and biased interactions. It was more prevalent when I had joined the United States Army in basic training, whereas meeting other people from other cultures with all of us working to get along for a common goal. Serving in the military. I was often picked as the token black man to speak for the other black people and represent them as an equal opportunity NCO “noncommissioned officer.” This went on in several different units that I was assigned to throughout my career in the Army. After getting out of the service, I eventually worked at Metropolitan State College of Denver - (now Metropolitan State University of Denver) as the African American Association president and the advisor for the black student alliance during my tenure. Throughout that time, I served on many committees, including the Dr. Martin Luther King Peace Breakfast, and became an honoree of that award. I have also served as a committee member with the Dr. Martin Luther...
For nearly 100 years, the 12-Steps have helped countless alcoholics and addicts overcome their challenges with the disease of addiction and learn how to live without turning to the use of drugs or alcohol. Today, there are thousands of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings held in over 180 nations throughout the world, where the 12-Steps are practiced. However, people do not need to go to AA or NA to learn about the 12-Steps and adapt them to their lives, as they can also get exposed to them through professional addiction treatment programs. No matter how, when, or why a person begins utilizing the 12-Step model, doing so can be positively transformative. Each of the 12 Steps has its own identity, as they focus on different areas of one’s development and growth post addiction. The first step is sometimes viewed as being the most difficult of them all, as it takes courage and a leap of faith to get moving on working this step. It reads: “We admitted we were powerless over alcohol -- that our lives had become unmanageable.” Step One and Surrendering Step one is where it all begins. It is important for people to spend as much time as they need to work each step so that they can process it fully, understand it, and apply it to their lives and thinking. You might be wondering, “How do I do step one?" There are several ways that you can do step one correctly so that you can get the most out of it and utilize it as the foundation of your recovery. The steps, while the same...
One of the biggest hurdles for newly sober addicts and alcoholics just leaving inpatient treatment is grasping and developing their own conception of a Higher Power. Many of us come from situations or families where we have been handed an image of what that Higher Power should look like, and let’s be honest, it rubs most of us the wrong way. So, when we are faced with the decision to either surrender to a spiritual way of living or suffer until we die, how can we drop the resentment and discover our Higher Power? First, forget what you know As was previously mentioned, most of us come in here with preconceived notions of what is right, what is wrong, and who or what God is. Many of us feel abandoned by the God we were raised with, and some of us never even had one, to begin with. When we want to develop a NEW relationship with a Higher Power, because we have been told by others that it worked for them, we have to forge our own path. Whether it means straying from what we have known or walking towards it, the point is that we are making some sort of contact. From one agnostic alcoholic addict to anyone who cares, here is what I did: Cherry-pick what you like from other religions and beliefs, forget what you don’t Lean into new avenues of “spirituality” that you are curious about Ask people you trust about their Higher Power, and how they found there’s Use the rooms and the fellowship as your Higher Power until you feel comfortable finding your...
What is a spiritual experience, why do we need to have one, are we going to drink if we don’t? Those who come before us talk a lot about Higher Power, spirituality, God, and the like. If you are anything like I was when I first got into treatment at Stout Street Foundation, you might find yourself getting irritated, annoyed, or downright pissed off about this. Why is it so important for us to find some sort of “spirituality” in order to stay sober? The Spiritual Malady Okay, so when we are in active addiction, we are obviously mentally and physically sick. If you have experienced the depths of withdrawal and the insanity of chasing down a drug dealer or stealing from people in order to get high, you can comfortably attest to the fact that yes, we were not right in the head when we were using. Something you may not have been aware of is that during our addiction, we are also spiritually sick. I don’t mean we stopped going to Church, or we were going to Hell or anything. What I mean is, in a nutshell; addiction is a disease of connection. When we are using, we are cut off from any deep, meaningful relationship with anything or anyone apart from our drug or drink of choice. For example: We don’t trust anyone We don’t trust ourselves We don’t think anyone can help us We have no hope apart from the next hit What is Spirituality? This question will transform and grow with you as you grow in your sobriety - which is one of the coolest...
If you or someone you know is struggling with a Xanax addiction, then you are probably aware by now of the dangers that come with it. There are only a few drugs out there that actually have the power to be deadly when a person decides to stop using them, and Xanax and other benzodiazepines are at the top of the list. Over the last few years, Xanax has quickly become one of the most popular “party drugs” for the younger generation and continues to be one of the most commonly used antidepressants among middle-aged and older adults. The question is if it is so dangerous, why do so many people continue to take it? Extremely powerful, extremely addictive Unfortunately, the current population of Americans is one of the most medicated in recorded history. The rates of depression and anxiety are at an all-time high, along with addiction. Xanax, while extremely common among prescriptions used to counteract these mood disorders, is also one of the most commonly abused medications in the country. Primarily because it is fairly affordable and pretty powerful. The danger here is that it is also very addictive, and as mentioned before, can be dangerous to withdrawal from. The drug itself has a pretty short half-life, meaning users will be tempted to use more and more to get the same effects. On the other hand, people naturally develop a tolerance to the drug pretty quickly, despite what they may tell you, which means again, that users will have to continue to use more and more to get the desired effect. So, for someone who is struggling with...
Anyone who has struggled with addiction or who loves someone who has struggled with addiction is very aware of the very real danger of relapse. Many of us have experienced it first hand and can understand the feeling of utter defeat and frustration after a period of sobriety. It may seem like it comes out of nowhere, but for those who have relapsed and come back, we know that there is always a way to prevent it. That is why many treatment centers are now offering relapse prevention groups to their clients. Relapse Prevention It can seem like a pretty dark topic to discuss in treatment, but in the grand scheme of things, it is one of the most helpful tools to have for long-term sobriety, especially for first-timers. So, what is relapse prevention? How does someone prevent a relapse? Is anyone ever “doomed”? The long and short of it is, if you are a real addict or alcoholic, relapse is something that is ALWAYS possible, but there are certain tools and safeguards to help protect your butt when times get tough. Here are a few different plans of action that will always ensure that you are not one step away from a drink or a drug. Do Your Steps Whether you choose to work AA, NA, CA, HA, EA, etc., the only thing that matters, truly, is that you are actively working the program. This means: Finding a sponsor who has completely worked their steps Going to meetings Asking questions Taking time alone to work on your steps Doing them even when you don’t feel like it ...
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