What is the Problem?
The individuals that come out to Reformers Unanimous come
with a wide variety of needs. Some come
for support for past problems of addiction to alcohol, drugs etc. Others come because presently they are
dealing with varied addictions. Many,
many times I have heard the statement; my
problem is___________________. You
can fill in the blank with addictions like heroin, cocaine, crack, alcohol,
prescription medications, or destructive behaviors such as pornography and
cutting.
I want to make a strong and somewhat stunning proclamation; your problem is not your addiction! Addiction is merely the symptom; the problem
is the underlying reasons why you began this behavior in the first place and
why you continue with this behavior today.
Your addiction was and continues to be your self-chosen answer to the
underlying problems and the pain caused by them. Addiction becomes your coping mechanism. These underlying problems may be physical, physiological, spiritual, or a combination of the three. When the underlying problem(s) are discovered and dealt with according to the truth of God’s Word, the need for alcohol, drugs, destructive behavior disappears.
The underlying problems may be physical. Many have come with addictions to prescription meds that began and/or continue because of physical pain. Physical pain is unpleasant, and needs to be managed.
My first bit of advice to all is; do not make opiate based pain killers your first choice in pain management. Today, doctors routinely prescribe opiates as the first option for pain management. Let me give you an example. My son, Dave, recently had all his wisdom teeth extracted. The doctor immediately prescribed an opiate based pain medication for post operative pain management. My wife, in agreement with our son, asked the doctor if there was a non-opiate based pain medication that could be prescribed. The initial response was no. After some deliberation and scolding from a nurse, the doctor agreed to prescribe Motrin 800 and write an opiate based (Oxycontin) prescription just in case it was needed. Dave only needed the Motrin for 1 ½ days and never needed the Oxycontin medication.
Three days after Dave had his wisdom teeth extracted; a man came to me with an addiction to prescription medication that began when the doctor prescribed an opiate based pain killer post operatively for wisdom teeth extractions.
This is not to say there is not a need at times for opiate based pain killers. There is, but do not make it your first choice in pain management.
My second bit of advice is this; find a doctor who is committed to finding the solution. The solution is not spending the rest of your life on opiate based pain medication (I do realize in some rare instances this may be the only course of action). Find a doctor who will explore all possibilities and is not content with just writing you a prescription once per month. It is only fair to inject here that this needs to be your goal as well.
There are other physical problems which may be an underlying reason for addiction. Other physical problems may be anemia, hypothyroidism, and mental illnesses such as bi-polar disorder or multiple personality disorder. Another free bit of advice to all is: go to the doctor and get a complete physical. Confide in your doctor and allow him/her to give you a complete physical examination.
As we conclude part 1 of What is the Problem?, may I add this disclaimer. I am not a doctor and the comments and advice given here is merely my opinion based on my reading and interaction with those suffering in addiction. As always, before you make any medical decision, you should consult with your doctor.
In part 2 I will address other underlying reasons for addiction.
There is a book I am reading that may be of help to some. It is available on amazon.com and is entitled; Your Drug may be Your Problem by Dr. Peter Breggin and David Cohen.
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