Question by Adamismyname: Is this common for an alcoholic to recover the way I describe below?
I am wondering if it is common that an alcoholic, in the case of the neighbor a severe alcoholic, can just get better on their own as this neighbor of my parents did. The neighbor just died of cancer (unrelated to her past alcoholism) and was much better in her last 10+ years of life to the point of being sober for about 6 years or so. She did not go to AA or therapy and just on her own seemed to get better. The son of hers who told my parents this at the funeral was very open about her drinking so he seemed sincere in saying that for unknown reasons it just got better. He credits prayer and I wondered if this happens sometimes. She had been an alcoholic for about 20-25 years before getting better.
So I was just curious if this happens or if it almost always requires detox and therapy?

Best answer:

Answer by zeldaslexicon
No, “detox” is not necessarily a requirement for an alcoholic (or anyone with an addiction problem) to “get better”. Some people deal with alcohol or drug addiction without the help of a doctor, AA, counseling, or similar. While detoxing off alcohol is perhaps more dangerous than detoxing off other drugs of abuse, it can and has been done.

It’s not uncommon for those with an addiction to “transfer” their addiction to something else while in recovery. Many find that religion works well for this, and become, in effect, “addicted” to religion or prayer instead of alcohol or drugs. Others may become “addicted” to exercise, or food, or some other coping mechanism that is a bit less damaging to their physical health and more socially acceptable. So it may be that your neighbor found prayer to be an acceptable substitute for alcohol.

Some people actually become “addicted” to therapy. But it’s not required. Many have kicked a bad habit on their own.

Yough drug symposium attracts full house
Drug abuse is a public health epidemic and people need to become aware of the problem – both illegal drugs and prescription medications – and educate themselves to the dangers of drug abuse, speakers said last week at a drug symposium at Yough High …
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Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman at the …
With roughly 700,000 people coming out of our state and federal prisons every year, plus the millions that flow through jails at the local level, recidivism has terrible consequences for the lives of offenders and their families. … As the Director of …
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Forum is for addiction workers
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Question by afireinsidethedarkness: Books like “Go Ask Alice” & “Smack” but more adult?
I love books like go ask Alice, smack, the road of the dead, crank, ect.. but Im 20 & I would like to find more adult books that are like the ones I like.

Can anyone suggest any?
I don’t like fantasy or romance books.. I like “true” stories where people have problems that they overcome within the story.

I also don’t like old books. I never have been able to get into them.

Best answer:

Answer by Emmy
I just finished ‘Candy’.http://www.amazon.com/Candy-Novel-Addiction-Luke-Davies/dp/0345423879 Its about heroin addicts, it’s very good.

Also ‘Beauty queen’. http://www.amazon.com/Beauty-Queen-Linda-Glovach/dp/006205161X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1280854029&sr=1-1

Answer by Ace
These are definately “adult” books. Some are extremely graphic and disturbing, so if you’re used to teen and young adult books, I’m not sure if you’ll like them. But they will definatly open your eyes. And your doors of perception will be cleansed.

“Trainspotting” by Irvine Welsh. Darkly witty, the story tells of a group of hoods and their various addictions.

“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” by Hunter S Thompson. Gonzo journalism at its best, describes a drug and alcohol infused journey to las vegas.

“Factotum” by Charles Bukowski. Part of a series of books about one Henry Chinaski, a drunken, whoring degenerate. It’s delightfully perverse.

“Less Than Zero” by Bret Easton Ellis. Somewhat disturbing novel of sex, drugs, and nightlife.

“The Basketball Diaries” by Jim Carroll. Coming-of-age in a world filled with violence and drugs.

“Party Monster” by James St James. True story of a brutal murder in the club scene.

“Coin Locker Babies” by Ryu Murakami. Very creepy story of two boys abandoned as newborns and left for dead. Their struggle to survive involves violence, identity loss, and murder. I highly reccommend it.

“Bastard Out of Carolina” by Dorothy Allison. Tells of a girl dealing with physical and sexual abuse at the hands of her step father.

“Requiem for a Dream” by Hubert Selby Jr. The dreams of two best friends are slowly destroyed by addiction.

“Long Way Gone” by Ishmael Beah. True story of a twelve year old boy forced into the army to witness and commit atrocity. At the end of the book, he learns to overcome his severe addictions to drugs, violence, and hate.

by Heart Watched

Question by Chris: What Are some Arguments about the dangers of “fame” for our culture and American society?
What Are some Arguments about the dangers of “fame” for our culture and American society?

Can Someone Give Me Ideas Please and dangers any maybe a good thesis statement for an essay about this question?

Best answer:

Answer by Jamie Fee
You lose privacy. Your history is combed and any indiscretions blown out of proportion.
It is very easy to lose touch with reality. Alot of famous people are molded into the people they are, or coerced into doing/saying things they may not completely agree with simply to further their name/fortune.

Answer by Ali12147
You need to go along the lines of the fact that celebrities are made celebrities by corporations whose main objective is to make money. These corporations do not question the actions or the message of these celebrities who have a large segment of the public following them.

e.g. the rap movement and its insistence on rebelliousness.

Check out these links, they should be of help.

http://www.truthdig.com/report/page2/addicted_to_nonsense_20091129/#

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EpeF1fcji0

Arlington Drug Awareness Coalition offers a way 'Out of the Shadows'
ARLINGTON — The newly formed Arlington Drug Awareness Coalition is sponsoring a community-wide drug and alcohol awareness event, "Out of the Shadows," on Wednesday, March 26, at 6 p.m. in the Byrnes Performing Arts Center. The group …
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AG's targets new illicit drug use
Madigan was the luncheon speaker Thursday during the 11th Annual Southern Illinois Drug Awareness Conference at John A. Logan College. More than 425 people registered for the conference that included workshops and presentations. Madigan talked …
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Sheriff Holding Drug Awareness Seminar Tonight
The program called “operation street smart” is for for parents, teachers, medical and school personnel, law enforcement, or anyone who wants to learn more about how to spot drugs and illicit activity. The program will educate on up-to-date narcotic …
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Baked brains
All this matters because both scientists and policymakers continue to distinguish between “heavy, addictive use” and “recreational use” among the 19m Americans who, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Mental Health, report recent marijuana …
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'The Hungry Heart' sheds light on opiate addiction
The concentrated silence spoke volumes about "The Hungry Heart," a 2013 documentary that details the lives of young people in St. Albans and their struggles with prescription drug addiction. The Retreat held a private screening Friday afternoon which …
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Vice Reporter Casually Smokes Cannabis Joint During Interview With Uruguay …
Reporter Krishna Andavolu, of Vice (of course), had a chat with President José Mujica about his landmark decision to make the production, sale and possession of cannabis legal for a new documentary entitled "Weediquette: The Cannabis Republic of …
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A history of violence
It's hard for people to recognise that mental health, as well as other social problems like drug addiction, have a basis in the brain. Raine feels things are slowly beginning to change; there is increasing recognition that drug addiction is a disease …
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Faith Leaders Issue Easter Statement on War on Drugs, Mass Incarceration …
The statement calls for repealing laws that criminalize drug possession and replacing them with policies that expand access to effective health approaches to drug use, including evidence-based drug treatment. It also calls for the elimination of …
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The Rise of the Stealth Drone
As The Wire reported in early March, Bill Gothard, the leader of the Institute in Basic Life Principles, resigned his position in the wake of a series of accusations of alleged sexual abuse from dozens of women in the organization. IBLP, like Vision …
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Tribes launch multi-faceted offensive to combat substance abuse
The decision was successful and the number of drug-addicted parents seeking assistance dropped off drastically, Lankford said. The Salish Kootenai … “The levels were off the charts,” Adams said of chemical testing results in the home. Increased costs …
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Don't Cry Etta James … Don't Cry, Baby!
Her childhood struggles set the stage for a life of alcohol and drug abuse. There was a quality about James' voice that made you cry. To this day I can hardly listen to “I'd Rather Go Blind” without welling up as singer/actress Beyonce did in her …
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