The path from experimenting with alcohol or drugs to addiction is different for each user. Just as some people can drink alcohol without becoming alcoholics, some people who experiment with drugs can do so without becoming addicted. Unfortunately, no one can know—in advance—whether they’re going to be able to stop.
You’re probably visiting this site to learn how to help yourself, or someone you love, who’s passed that experimenting stage a long time ago. We understand. We’ve created this website to share information about addiction, as well as to provide hope and resources for recovery.
It may seem hopeless now, but that can change.
- Maybe you’ve tried to quit before—maybe even in a treatment program—and you relapsed.
- Maybe you love someone who refuses to admit that his or her alcohol or drug use has become a serious problem.
- Maybe you’ve been humiliated one too many times by your own (or someone else’s) behavior while drunk or high.
All of these reasons, and hundreds more, have led others to seek help for themselves or a loved one. We’ve heard these stories before. And many of these stories had happy endings for the people who sought treatment.
Your story can have a happy ending, too.
If you’re ready to deal with addiction to drugs or alcohol, we’re ready to help.
The alcoholic or addict isn’t the only one who suffers as a result of addiction. As the user becomes more dependent on the drug of choice, the important relationships in the addict’s life (spouse or significant other, family, friends, co-workers, etc) become strained. The pain, shame, hurt feelings, despair, anger and hopelessness are shared by everyone involved.
When researchers perform brain scans on addicts and alcoholics, they find dramatic changes in the individual’s brain activity and chemistry. The toxic components contained in drugs and alcohol are responsible for these changes, creating the disease of addiction.
Because of these chemical changes in the brain, the addict/alcoholic has become incapable of changing his or her behavior alone. It’s as if the part of the brain responsible for self-control has been damaged. They need help. That’s what the rest of this site is designed to provide.
