It is common for people in early recovery to minimize the extent of their addiction. It is not unusual, for example, for a person to stop drinking alcohol, but continue to smoke pot. Such individuals claimed that they don’t have a problem with pot, but this may simply be an example of denying the extent of their addiction and trying to remain in control. The fact is that our best chance for recovery lies in total abstinence from any mind-altering substance (except as prescribed by a physician who we are not manipulating). This is true for several reasons.
- Use of any drug increases the likelihood of using our drug of choice.
Studies have repeatedly shown that relapse among people treated for cocaine addiction most frequently occur when they are under the influence of alcohol. Many recovering alcoholics relapse when receiving medication such as Xanax or Valium. Recovering alcoholics who smoke marijuana typically return to drinking. The use of any mind-altering drug for the purpose of getting high is a relapse.
- Cross-addiction is likely to occur.
Addicts are vulnerable to switching addictions to another drug. This is called cross-addiction. For example, an individual may recognize that her meth use is out of control because she has burnt her life to the ground. She starts drinking and smoking pot, claiming she can quit these substances any time. But the fact is she cannot, and she can’t believe the promises are not coming true.
- We do not learn from experience while we are using.
Being drunk or high interferes with brain functioning, which interferes with learning. The most severe result of chronic alcoholism is a disorder called Korsakoff’s Syndrome, which includes severe memory impairment. Most alcoholics suffer from mild to moderate, reversible, drug induced brain dysfunction which affects the ability to solve problems. Some of this may explain why alcoholics and addicts forget the consequences of their last bender and, without help, cannot dig themselves out of the problems their addiction has created.
- Complete recovery requires total abstinence.
To recover we are fully present and aware. Being high interferes with our ability to be honest with ourselves, to be open-minded regarding our life and how we have managed it, to experiment with new ways of dealing with life, and to discover a spiritual solution to our problems. Our mind is the seat of our perceptions, experiences, memories, decision-making, judgment, emotions, and consciousness. If we alter it with drugs, we cannot see the truth about ourselves or feel emotional pain, both of which are necessary to facilitate recovery and live life fully.
- Drugs numb or sooth our feelings and therefore interfere with recovery.
Our society is pain phobic. The message we get throughout life is that painful feelings are undesirable, unnecessary and unwelcome. It should be no surprise that most of us will go to great lengths to avoid feeling pain of any kind. We have pursued numbness fearlessness and tenaciously, which has led us right through the gates of addiction and insanity. In recovery, instead of running away from our problems, we face them. Instead of avoiding our feelings, we embrace them. Instead of drowning out the voice of pain, we listen to it. Instead of avoiding ourselves, we confront ourselves. In recovery, we learn the pain can be an ally rather than an enemy. Pain offers important information, if we hold still long enough to listen to it. Our pain can help us learn about our needs and give us insight into our wounds and personal shortcomings.
(Based on the writing of Allen Berger, 12 Stupid things that Mess up Recovery, pp.13-21)