Drug and alcohol addiction can be the toughest challenge to overcome of all the obstacles we face as human beings.  When people begin to question whether or not they have a problem the process begins.  The odds significantly increase that an individual does indeed have a problem if they begin to ponder it.  This guide takes the reader from the pondering stage through the action stage.

Many people faced with the affliction of addiction or alcoholism will go through an evaluation period within them, family, friends or other significant people in their lives including, employers, co-workers and medical professionals often sparks this.   The initial challenge lies within the perceived contradictions of addiction and alcoholism.  Most people in the pondering phase do not want to accept the fact that they are on their way to full blown addiction, are in the problem phase or have already become physically, mentally or emotionally addicted.

Addiction can be a physical, psychological, social or a combination of all of these conditions.  For the purposes of this guide we will define addiction that needs to be addressed as, “any time alcohol plays a negative and unacceptable role in an individuals life”.  Notice that I only included alcohol and not drugs.  Here is why, if you are utilizing illegal drugs you are not in congruence with the acceptable norms of our society.  If you are utilizing prescription drugs without a prescription or outside of the prescribed dosage it is clear that you have a problem that you may want to address.

Any other definition, explanation or attempt to categorize you into the box of addiction whether medical, social, moral, psychological, sinful or any other explanation or criteria is counter productive.  You as the individual that is faced with the issue must once and for all decide if alcohol or drugs are playing a negative role in your life or not.  If you do not rectify this within and for yourself you will not take the process seriously and you are best off not attempting to recover.

If you are the loved one of an individual that you suspect or consider to be an addict please understand the following fact.  Pressure produces resistance.    It is a normal aspect of being human that when we are pushed we will fight back.  Therefore, I highly recommend that you learn how to enlighten the individual you are concerned about without creating this resistance.