Chemical Abuse Analysis

This chapter discussed chemical abuse. I acknowledge that addiction is a very real thing. Addiction not only affects the individual, but it also affects those around them. This makes it a crisis. The chapter opened up by saying that whole economies have been founded on drug use. Drugs not only created revenue in the United States but it also created war. Drugs have started war between civilians and police, between drug dealers and even war between addicts and their addictions. The country benefits from drugs because individuals get caught and get sentence to harsh and length jail time. Some drugs can be very beneficial while others can be detrimental.
The unfortunate thing about chemical dependency is relapse and the fact that fact is that …show more content…
This statement reminded me of a documentary called Drugged. The individual filmed was Ryan. He was a 28 year old White male. He drank three pints of vodka daily for almost three years. He drank so frequently that his body became dependent on alcohol. I learned that alcohol abuse can damage the digestive system and can make it painful to eat. Ryan’s family was enabling him throughout these three years. He threw tantrums to get alcohol and they give in and bought him some. He was manipulating everyone around him. He became the family scapegoat. His family appears to genuinely care about him and wanted to see him well. However, they could not conceive the thought of him sober and neither could he. The treatment process can only work with the support of family and friends. His family was almost united in killing him. Ryan ended up dying during rehabilitation. The book talked about ACOAs (adult children of alcoholics). Being an ACOA has the potential to lead to a wide variety of pathological behaviors based on the childhood roles the individual held to keep homeostasis. This reminded me of Ryan because he was an ACOA. He started drinking heavily when his father passed. His rough childhood spilled over to rough adolescence years and a difficult …show more content…
It made me think about the time I visited for a class assignment. The individuals in these meetings told personal stories of their struggles with alcohol use and abuse from their past in addition to their struggles to remain sober. My thoughts and expectations for the meetings had only been shaped by media influences. Since I had no experience with alcoholics really in my life, all of my expectations were formed off of what I have seen on T.V. or in the movies. I was very nervous about attending it because I did not know what to expect. As uncomfortable as I was, I’m glad I went. It was an enlightening experience. I heard stories that were heart wrenching. Many stated that they were there because they hit rock bottom. This program was their last resort. Some were forced by law and/or their family/peers to come. Attending these Alcoholics Anonymous meetings changed the way I looked at addiction. It was no longer what the media and Hollywood portrayed, it was real. These individuals rotated between pouring their souls out and lifting up other members. I appreciated their self-awareness, honesty, and humility. I heard a lot of touching testimonies. They were mothers, wives, brothers, sisters, grandfathers, sons, daughters, and friends. Some were professionals, some were students, and some were unemployed. Despite their differences, they united in their common goal for a better life. I was saddened to hear about