Substance Abuse

Occasionally even I am guilty of using the term when too tired or lazy to argue a point, but tonight after a long debate with a very determined colleague it’s time to set the matter straight. There is no such thing as a functional alcoholic. It’s a myth just like Dionysian satyr- a half man/half goat that supposedly made his living drinking wine, chasing women, and dancing- both were created to explain the excesses of man and neither creature can pass the test of logical scrutiny. There are two reasons why I wish to make this case.

The first is obvious, I like to be right. I won our debate this evening because once you define an alcoholic- it is obvious that functional exists nowhere in the description.

The Journal of the American Medical Association defines alcoholism as "a primary, chronic disease characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortions in thinking." ~ Wiki

Basically an alcoholic by definition is someone who has no control over their usage and places a priority on drinking above all things. So the classic “functioning alcoholic” who yes certainly abuses alcohol, cannot be defined an alcoholic because they still have the power to rein in their behavior and place a higher priority in maintaining a specific lifestyle or existing within normal society. When they reach a certain pain threshold they abstain, yet an alcoholic by definition continues drinking “despite adverse consequences.”

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”I’m not bad. I’m just drawn that way.” It was a valid statement for Jessica Rabbit and in a similar manner, it may hold true for alcoholics and addicts that are hard wired for addiction. More and more research is indicating that there is a percentage of the population that has a genetic proclivity to being susceptible to drugs and alcohol with the risk substantially higher for those that begin using at an early age.

Other factors no doubt play into the addiction equation including education, environment, and support, but for many the odds are stacked against them long before they take their first drink regardless of their situation. According to Dr. Charles O’Brien, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania Health System, "For example, if 100 children are exposed to cocaine and they try it, 16 percent will become addicted, but the rest won't.”

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I am not really sure the exact point in my life where my alcohol abuse evolved into addiction. Even as a teenager I had an acute emotional dependence on alcohol, so although it hadn’t yet developed into a physical dependence- was I already an alcoholic at this time? It may be difficult to place the timeline, but it is not too hard to identify the behavior later as a young adult that brought it about.

It was the sleepless nights spent alone in my cups that served as my crucible. When I think of the word I always imagine an alchemist alone in his laboratory leaning over a white hot vessel attempting to turn lead into gold. My transformation into a full fledged alcoholic wasn’t much different.

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Carol A. Gotbaum was found dead in a Phoenix holding cell on September 28th of this year. Her family has blamed the police. Her husband, Noah Gotbaum, is quoted as saying “they killed her, they killed her,” referring apparently to the authorities. The New York Times says it was an accident, “Gotbaum’s Death Is Ruled an Accident; Drugs and Alcohol Found.” Now the autopsy findings are back and the Maricopa County Medical Examiner has ruled that “intoxication” was a contributing factor in an accidental death by asphyxiation.

But this was no accident, and it’s not the cops who are to blame.

Once again the real killer is left free to slink into the background while the survivors point fingers at each other. The culprit is an old hand at death and destruction and is the blame for countless crimes and tragedies. Almost always escaping prosecution, this same culprit has committed countless crimes, ruined families and marriages, and bankrupted an untold number of businesses.

Pleased to meet you, hope you guess my name?

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While I want to maintain the apolitical nature of the forum here, I would like to remind everyone that the 2008 elections will be here before we know it. I submitted the following question via e-mail to the candidates in tonight’s debate apparently to no avail, but this will not stop me from trying to get it discussed in upcoming debates or at town hall meetings.

The President has declared September as National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. Although this event has received little fanfare, it probably would if most people were aware that the yearly $400 billion economic cost of substance abuse is exponentially greater than the cost of the war in Iraq. The nation has been polarized by the US military deaths that number less than one thousand per year, but doesn't blink at the tens of thousands of deaths every year caused by substance abuse.

The theme of this year's recovery month is "Saving Lives, Saving Dollars", if elected President how would you try to save lives and save dollars when it comes to substance abuse?

Unless its recovery related let’s stay away from politics here, but if you have the chance please push these types of questions in front of not only your candidate, but any candidate for office. This topic is rarely brought up in the public forum and it will stay that way unless we do something about it. I am also sending out letters to my Senators and Congressman and I am pursuing my birthday resolution to speak on a local radio station… it may not be much but I am doing my part for Recovery Month 2007.

A recent study conducted by our friends at The Partnership for a Drug Free America shows that parents are talking less to their teens about the dangers of drugs.

This 2006 PATS survey on parents confirms a 12 percent decline from 2005 in the frequent discussions (four or more) between parents and their teens about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse (55 percent in 2005 down to 49 percent in 2006).”

In my opinion this is a travesty when you consider the plethora of information available on this subject via the internet, 24 hour news services, and other public sources. Even worse is the fact that many of the drug talks that actually do occur may not be relevant since they are on the dangers of heroin and crack instead of prescription pill abuse. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t consider any talk on drugs a bad thing, it’s just that in my area I know that kids will be much more likely presented with the opportunity to abuse OTC (over the counter) and prescription medications than your traditional illicit drugs.

“Right now in the U.S., there are 32 million[2] families with children at risk of abusing drugs and alcohol,” said Steve Pasierb, president and CEO of the Partnership. “The results from this year’s survey reveal a critical need to better support, educate, empower and truly help parents feel more prepared and comfortable discussing the current drug issues this generation of kids is facing. The need has never been greater, nor has this issue been more relevant, as last year’s results showed 1 in 5 teens abused prescription medicine to get high and 1 in 10 abused cough and cold medicines containing the active ingredient dextromethorphan, or DXM. The most recent PATS findings show many parents wrongly perceive the abuse of these drugs to somehow be safer than the use of illegal street drugs. Parents need the facts, to understand how things have changed, and the dangers of intentional Rx/OTC drug abuse must be at the forefront of the discussions with their kids.”

Come on parents, the resources are out there; let’s have more talks that are more relevant about the dangers of drug abuse with your kids.

”It reboots the brain so that it takes them back to the day before they started using drugs…"

Well at least that is what psychologist Jim McDannel says about the latest graduates of a controversial detox program. WYMT News is reporting that authorities in eastern Kentucky are trying an intensive neuroelectric detox program for those with drug addictions. Apparently this type of “therapy” is still experimental and has not been FDA approved.

Now at least for me, this is the shocking part.

I just assumed since this was considered experimental, that is was most likely just developed. Well with a little Googling I quickly found out that NeuroElectric Therapy (NET) has been around for thirty-five years. Developed by Dr. Meg Patterson, NET was first introduced to the public through a Penthouse interview with Pete Townshend of the Who in which he explained his experience with the electrical detox method.

While I am skeptical of the method I am not adverse in trying new pathways to recovery. The way I figure it, even if NET is truly worthless, the placebo effect might help a few lucky souls battle the withdrawal symptoms of detoxing.

For those of you who want to get more scientific info than what has been conveyed by the lead guitarist of a rock band I have linked to a white paper below.

A ‘Common Anti-Addiction Mechanism’:
NeuroElectric Therapy in Drug Treatment
Lorne Patterson, RMN
Sean Patterson PhD (Cam)

It must suck to live in Montana. The t-shirt is proof enough for me, but for those of you out there that demand a little deeper analysis I suggest you take a look at the latest painkiller sales in the state.

• Retail sales of oxycodone increased in Montana by nearly 688 percent from 1997 to 2005, according to an Associated Press analysis of statistics from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
• In the northwest corner of Montana, in an area that includes Kalispell and Whitefish, oxycodone sales increased 1,764 percent and hydrocodone-based drugs, which include Vicodin, increased 205 percent
• In Billings, there was a 712 percent increase. And in western Montana, in an area that includes Missoula, there was an 887 percent increase. Morphine sales increased statewide with the area including Miles City seeing the biggest jump. Hydrocodone sales went up about 280 percent statewide from 1997 to 2005.

To be truthful, I was just picking on Montana because I liked the great t-shirt sold by the people who want to keep Montana a secret. They have a funny site that is well worth the visit. In reality, over the last decade painkiller sales have increased almost 100% across the entire United States.

”The amount of five major painkillers sold at retail establishments rose 90 percent between 1997 and 2005, according to an Associated Press analysis of statistics from the Drug Enforcement Administration.”~Houston Chronicle

So apparently it must be painful to live anywhere in the US, or could there be a more nefarious reason?

Biotechnology company Alkermes has announced they have shown positive results in clinical trials for a drug to cure alcoholism. Yep, call me a skeptic. Unless I look out the window and see pigs flying I am going to chalk this news story up as positive but wishful thinking. Reminds me of a posting I saw about rapid detox, when asked if it works one guy responded with an enthusiastic affirmative. “It sure does work and there is little or no side effects and pain… I should know because I kicked all kinds of opioids at least 8 times!”

"In the study, which involved 150 alcohol-dependent subjects, patients treated with the drug candidate ALKS 29 showed improvement in the percentage of days abstinent from drinking, percentage of heavy drinking days and number of drinks per day. The study compared the drug candidate with placebo over an eight-week period."

Now don’t get me wrong, I am all for finding a cure to alcoholism and any other chronic diseases. But in case you didn’t already know there are already many ways to stop drinking that include rehab, 12 step programs, and cognitive behavioral therapy. I guess we should really be looking for a cure for RELAPSE!

Those of you who are alcoholics and addicts, please explain this to your non-addicted friends because I doubt many will understand.

It was brought to my attention that even though The Discovering Alcoholic has garnered a considerable reader base (just wish more would participate); I have never officially introduced myself. I guess from the title of the site you have already guessed, yes I am an alcoholic. I am proud of my recovery and often share this fact. I have been clean and sober without relapse since the fall of 94’ and keep feeling better everyday. I consider most substance addictions as birds of a feather, not making great distinction between drug addicts and alcoholics. I believe that any step toward recovery is a smart step and support most programs including AA, NA, MA, religious groups, self-styled, and rehabs. I hold a recovery class every week at a local methadone clinic, always have at least one or two alcoholics that I act as an informal sponsor, and of course there is TDA. I have found through my efforts of attempting to help others that my own spirituality, confidence, and appreciation of life greatly increases.

In recovery, I have discovered that the very act of reining in my disease has empowered me to become a much better person. Ergo, The Discovering Alcoholic.

I am many things; husband, veteran, redneck and blogger but most first and foremost I am an alcoholic. Addicts and alcoholics have the same foibles and frustrations of everyone else, but the negative repercussions that result from these are usually exponentially greater for those that are used to dealing with issues through substance abuse. They key here is to know oneself better, understand what pulls the trigger, and to adapt one’s lifestyle and actions into a preventative maintenance program. When you apply these same lessons as well as the confidence gained from recovering from such a chronic disease to other aspects in life (business, relationships, parenting), you cannot but help to feel empowered.

So hello my name is Gavin, and I am The Discovering Alcoholic.