Addictions and Answers
Questions and Answers
page 2
|
SierraNow Features Addictions and Answers
Communities Please tell the webmaster about any problems that you encounter. |
A few years ago, I trained as a volunteer Facilitator at the famous rehab run by Scripps Memorial Hospital in San Diego. I did that work at the McDonald Center for Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Treatment for two years. One of my jobs was to give an orientation lecture to new patients. Occasionally, an M.D., new to the place, and wishing to get familiar with all aspects of treatment, would speak first. He’d give a very knowledgeable talk. Then ask for questions. Trembling, hungover, suffering withdrawal, sick in mind, body and soul, a patient would get up. Doc, you addicted yourself? No, the doctor would say. But I’ve trained for fourteen years in the field, and written extensively on the effects of intoxication on the cells of the brain . . . etcetera. Eyes would glaze over. This website is an outgrowth of a radio phone-in talk show I do on KVML, Sonora, California. “Addictions & Answers”. It is the only program I know that deals with addiction and recovery 52 weeks a year. But ultimately, in some existentialist sense, I don’t know why I began drinking, I don’t know why I stopped. I don’t know why so many of the people I used to drink and dope with . . . people smarter than me, more talented and probably more useful to the world; I don’t know why they chose not to stop, why they died. Therefore, as you see in the quote by Larry Bouchard to the right, I continually check my ideas with experts in the field; outside, objective clinical and medical information. As a further safeguard against me giving you too much of my own subjective opinion, all this stuff I’ve written was read and approved by Dr. Dave Moore, Director of Scripps-McDonald, San Diego. I am qualified to write this website because I have been through it myself. In 25 years of sobriety, I’ve gone to over a thousand meetings, talked to thousands of drunks and dopers;-- first hand experience in seeing what works, what does not. I represent no-bullshit hope. |
“What I recognize as addiction,” says Larry Bouchard, MA, SAC “is behavior that may have begun as fun or escape, but continues now even though the fun is long gone." Click here for more NEED HELP RIGHT NOW? Click here for more
Q: I am forty seven years old, my job is on the line and my wife says she is going to leave if I don’t stop drinking. I’ve tried to quit on my own, have even gone to a couple of AA meetings. The last one I went to, I was already drunk, got drunker when it was over. I am desperate. What would you do if you were me? Click Here to read the answer. |
Sierra would like to hear your ideas or comments regarding this site. Sierra@SierraNow.com
Last Update: 3/5/2001
Web Author: The Rainbow Company
