grievingThe holidays are a time of remembrance for all of us. There are memories of the past, along with a hopeful look to the future and better things yet to come. Intermingled with the past, present and future is also the remembrance of those whom we have lost to addiction.

Recovery Through the Holidays

Mixed with the festive spirit of the holidays, the beautiful decorations, the get-togethers with friends and families, and the message of goodwill towards one’s fellow man, there is a more somber message from Narconon Arrowhead this season.

Throughout the month of December, the Oklahoma-based drug and alcohol rehabilitation center is sending out the message of Recovery Through the Holidays on its social media pages and its website, offering helpful new tips on rehab treatment and sobriety.

There are too many lives which have been lost to drug and alcohol addiction, and Narconon Arrowhead is remembering those lost with the release of its new Recovery Through the Holidays campaign. While the campaign remembers those lost to addiction, it also is dedicated to helping those on the rehab program at the facility learn the skills needed for permanent recovery. It is a celebration of those in treatment and those in recovery, while at the same time remembering the hundreds of thousands less fortunate who have lost their lives due to substance abuse and addiction.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that drug-overdose deaths have been steadily increasing over the last twenty years. In the United States, 114 people die every day due to an overdose; and another 6,748 people across the nation are treated through emergency rooms.

Guilt, Cravings & Depression: The Barriers to Recovery

There are actual Barriers to Recovery which the addict must overcome if he or she is to achieve sobriety. Those barriers are guilt, drug and alcohol cravings, and addiction-related depression. It is safe to say that most individuals who start using drugs have no idea of the challenges they will face in trying to quit using.

Individuals end-up trapped in addiction by the guilt stemming from past transgressions committed while using. The often overpowering physical and mental cravings for drugs or alcohol can last months or even years after first using, oftentimes making quitting the drugs or alcohol seem impossible. The emotional rollercoaster ride that the addict experiences takes the user to the rock-bottom of depression which sends them back to using in an effort to temporarily feel better. It is perhaps the most vicious of all traps.

Gary W. Smith, CEO of Narconon Arrowhead, recently wrote that the guilt, cravings and depression that consume the life of the addicted person will be the formula for disaster that causes “ abusers to over-medicate to the point of dying themselves or taking the life of an innocent bystander.”

Fortunately, there is hope, and a way to overcome these three barriers to recovery through effective treatment. The Narconon program delivered at Narconon Arrowhead specializes in handling the three barriers through its effective, drug-free approach. Applying the simple but powerful technology of the Narconon program contributes to life-long sobriety.

Drug Prevention Tips

With knowledge comes understanding. Once a person understands something, it then becomes possible to do something about it. Thus, with addiction, it is important to understand what it is, and what it is not. It is also important to understand what can be done to resolve it, and how.

The Life Cycle and Mechanics of Addiction, authored by Gary W. Smith, sheds new light and understanding on the problem of addiction, and its resolution. It is a new and hopeful look, and a workable one.

The executives and staff of Narconon Arrowhead wish you a happy and safe holiday. They know how important it is to take the first steps to a happy and sober life. They will be delivering drug rehabilitation and education services throughout the holiday season. If you or someone you love needs help with substance abuse, please call Narconon Arrowhead at 800-468-6933.