Drug and alcohol addiction has been defined many ways with some believing it is a disease while others realize that it is a problem connected to a person’s cognitive and emotional state as recognized by the Narconon Fresh Start program. While it is okay to enjoy a drink of alcohol now and again or take a prescribed medication to treat pain, it becomes an addiction when a person begins to rely on and use alcohol or drugs on a regular basis as a way to cope or handle problems.
Both drugs and alcohol are actually very highly addictive substances that remain in the bloodstream, body tissue, and organs for considerable time, which means that they can build-up and create a tolerance. It begins to take more alcohol or quantities of drugs to reach the same state of numbness or euphoria, driving a person to become more reliant on these substances.
Rehabilitation centers like the Narconon Fresh Start program recognize that it is not about will power or one’s moral compass because anyone can become physically, emotionally, and mentally attached to drugs or alcohol to the point of becoming addicted. It does not make someone a bad person to crave these substances but it can lead to physical problems that cannot be undone and it can break up families and friendships, especially when drugs or alcohol become more important.
Because such strong physical, mental, and emotional connections are formed when a person becomes dependent upon drugs and alcohol to function, it can be challenging to treat and help a person break their addiction. Relapse is common with many rehabilitation programs, but the Narconon Fresh Start approach recognizes that addiction requires more than just drugs to treat drugs; successful recovery and the achievement of a drug-free life comes from treating the cognitive and emotional issues that have led a person to seek drugs and alcohol in the first place while physical symptoms are cared for holistically.
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