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    The Forever Fight: On Drugs, Alcohol and the Cycle of Addiction
    The Forever Fight: On Drugs, Alcohol and the Cycle of Addiction
    The Forever Fight: On Drugs, Alcohol and the Cycle of Addiction
    Ebook88 pages1 hour

    The Forever Fight: On Drugs, Alcohol and the Cycle of Addiction

    By K.J. Gordon

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    About this ebook

    Reading this guide will help you to better understand what addiction is, how drugs and alcohol affect the body, as well as Addiction Recovery options based on recent studies done by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute of Health, and the US Department of Health and Human Services.

    The daily life of an addict is ongoing self torture - a continuous craving, seeking, obtaining and using of substances to self medicate, that only make things worst, not better.
    Addiction is a disease that ruins the lives of everyone it touches, those who use and everyone around them. It tears apart families, takes away dignity, and mutilates self respect. The only way to beat addiction is through Recovery.
    The Forever Fight serves as an overview for those new to the growing population suffering from consequences of this illness. Whether you are struggling, or have a love one that is, reading this guide is your first step towards Recovery.

    Author K.J. Gordon owns and operates a National support platform for individuals struggling with drugs and alcohol. She has helped hundreds of families with and without insurance get help. She is currently working towards her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in substance abuse counseling.

    LanguageEnglish
    Publisher5D Media
    Release dateFeb 8, 2016
    ISBN9781310753305
    The Forever Fight: On Drugs, Alcohol and the Cycle of Addiction
    Author

    K.J. Gordon

    K.J. Gordon is currently working towards a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in substance abuse counseling, and collaborating with the Forever Fight Group to help hundreds of families every month that are struggling due to drugs or alcohol.

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      Book preview

      The Forever Fight - K.J. Gordon

      For those in the fight –

      The ones suffering with an addiction

      & the ones who care

      Acknowledgments

      PART I: On Drugs & Alcohol

      Introduction

      Why People Use Drugs  

      Methamphetamine  

      Heroin

      Marijuana  

      Cocaine  

      Alcohol  

      Prescription Drugs

      PART II: On Addiction & Recovery

      Identifying a Drug Problem

      Signs of Addiction in Others

      How Addiction Works

      Addiction Recovery

      Safe Detoxing

      Working the 12 Steps

      Building Your Self Esteem

      Involving the Family

      Interventions

      The Cycle of Addiction

      The Forever Fight

      ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

      To those feeling trapped in this fight - Stress, loss, pain, and pressure from others may make you feel like there’s no way out. If you want out, but the struggle is calling you to use or to relapse, remind yourself that YOU DESERVE BETTER!

      When you have had enough of living with your addiction, know that there are people who care. A Conversation could go a long way. Understand that you are one amongst millions of people suffering with addiction that feels powerless over drugs or alcohol. You have a choice to give in to your addiction, or to get help and CHOOSE LIFE!

      Introduction

      Life is often underestimated and treated as a simple game that can be won by playing by a certain set of rules.  But, in the game of life there are ongoing rule changes and game inequalities.  Life is hard. It can be crazy, and stressful, and often unfair.

      The realization of the reality of one’s life and life circumstances can be difficult to face.  To cope, some people numb their emotions with whatever they feel will be the most affective - from conversations with a professional, to dedication to religion, to drug or alcohol use, in an attempt to numb the pain these feelings cause.

      Drug and alcohol use has been a popular go to for centuries. As the availability and strength of these numbing agents increase, the dependence on them grows. There are various reasons someone would begin a dependence on these substances. All users are looking for some form of escape from the reality of their lives; to forget, even just temporarily.

      In 2013, an estimated 24.6 million Americans age 12 and over, 9.4 percent of the population, had used an illicit drug in the past month. This number is up from 8.3 percent in 2002. The increase is primarily due to a rise in marijuana use, the most commonly used prescribed drug.

      Statistics reveal that drug and alcohol abuse is beginning earlier in life, with most people using drugs for the first time when they are teenagers. There were just over 2.8 million new users of non-prescribed drugs in 2013, or about 7,800 new users per day. Over half (54.1 percent) were under 18 years of age.

      More than half of new illicit drug users begin with marijuana. The next most common being prescription pain relievers, followed by inhalants (which is most common amongst younger teens).

      Although drug use and abuse are often used to soothe emotion or physical pain, the resulting health effects are the most detrimental to the human body.  Drug addiction is the single ailment that spans across race, as well as economic and social classes.  This includes everyone, from celebrities, professional athletes, suburban housewife’s, to CEOs.

      If you find yourself or a loved one struggling with a dependence to drugs or alcohol, what can you do? The answer is – a lot. If you find yourself with a problem, the time to take action is now. Once you realize you have a problem, you can get help. You can check yourself into a rehabilitation facility, or try to take action on your own or with the help of loved ones.

      This book is a step towards that help. It is intended for those suffering from addiction - the addict and their loved ones. We will review everything from why people use drugs and alcohol and to signs of a problem, to addressing the various drugs that are most likely to cause dependence. We have also outlined strategies suggested by experts that can help you get on the road to living a drug-free life.

      If you are reading this because you are suffering and have already identified that you have a problem, decided NOW that you do not want to be addicted any longer. You are more than an Addict! Please understand that only YOU can overcome your dependence on drugs or alcohol. Start your journey toward recovery today.  It won’t be easy, but you can do it. 

      WHY PEOPLE USE DRUGS

      Drugs help people. They ease the feeling of physical pain from an injury, as well as the feeling of emotional pain caused by losing a loved one or a personal tragedy. Drugs are drugs, whether they are prescribed by a medical professional, or made in a home kitchen from household items. Our bodies are made up of electrical impulses and chemical reactions. When drugs or alcohol enter the body, the chemistry is altered, and everything is affected in one way the other. Prescription drugs are regulated and tested by medical experts who prescribe strength and dosage amounts based on how they will affect a patient’s entire body.  When people self-medicate, without taking all other factors into consideration, the consequences can be devastating.   The drugs may help with one thing, while destroying internal organs and altering the chemical balances inside the body.

      People use drugs for various reasons, but all are expecting the same result - a feeling of euphoria that makes them

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