The next and more promising stage is when substance abusers’ suffering becomes too much for them to continue, when the same survival instinct that told them to drink or use in times of pain and stress now shines light on their diseased state. Sadly, most addicts and alcoholics loose the battle against addiction before ever reaching this metamorphosis. This realization has to come from within; the same mentally-ill brain that says to drink somehow snaps back into gear momentarily to say, “STOP!” For the substance abuser at this stage, recovery is no longer a vague option or whim but a dire necessity.

This stage happens at different moments for each drug addict. Perhaps it is the loss of a job that clears the mental fog of addiction, or a sentence to prison. Maybe it’s just a certain look your child gives you one time that lets you know this disease has progressed far enough. Whatever the situation or circumstance is that brings this realization about, it needs to be capitalized on promptly.

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