The Recovery Manifesto

The definition of manifesto according to Merriam-Webster is: a written statement that describes the policies, goals and opinions of a person or group.

We usually hear about a manifesto following some sort of tragedy when the psycho who committed said tragedy releases it to the media. Then there is the famous Communist Manifesto which, according to who you talk to, could be seen in a positive or negative light. Other manifestos include Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a dream speech” and The US Declaration of Independence  and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I’ve decided to come up with my own manifesto:

The Recovery Manifesto

I believe that addiction is a disease. As stated by many physicians, most notably Dr. William Silkworth (Alcoholics Anonymous, 1939), addiction (Silkworth was talking about alcoholism but I am including all mind-altering substances) is disease of the mind and body. The physical aspect is much like an allergy whereby an addict has an abnormal reaction to the substance he is taking. For example: An alcoholic will take a drink which will set off an abnormal reaction whereby he cannot stop drinking until he runs out of booze, passes out, etc. If that were the only part of the disease then the addict could just stop whatever he was taking. However, there is a mental aspect of addiction whereby the addict does not believe that he has a problem with the substance and that it is the solution to the difficulties he is facing in life. As a result of this insane thinking the addict continues to take substances despite the evidence that is causing more harm than good.

There is no cure for addiction but there are certain methods whereby an addict can put her addiction into remission. Although there are many actions an addict can do to help addiction into remission the most successful one and primary tool should be a 12 Step Program. I.E. – the 12 Steps as laid out in the basic text of Alcoholics Anonymous (1939). Once the addict has taken the Steps and incorporated them into her life she can then make use of other tools of recovery to enhance her new way of living.  Some of these tools include proper nutrition; exercise; mindfulness (staying in the now) and alternative self-care methods such as hypnosis and acupuncture.

Whereas I acknowledge that the 12 Step Program is the primary tool for putting one’s addiction into remission I in no way believe that it is the answer to all of life’s problems. If an addict suffers from an other disease (such as mental disorders) then the 12 Step Program, while being beneficial, will not be the primary treatment of the disease.  Doctors are knowledgeable of the treatment of diseases while another fellow addict who is recovered is only knowledgeable when it comes to his own story and can therefore only expound on that. A fellow recovered person is only there to share his experience, strength and hope not to give advice based on opinion.

A person in recovery has the right to be happy, joyous and free. While this write is essential it cannot be used to trample upon another person’s efforts to be happy, joyous and free (as long as that person is also practicing the principles of recovery – honesty, openness and willingness).

As a recovered person I am responsible for my actions (both while in recovery and during active addiction) and must accept the consequences of said actions. It is hoped that those actions will be positive ones and as a result the consequences’ of those actions will be positive as well.

While respecting the spiritual foundation of anonymity I recognize the need to educate the public on the disease of addiction with the hopes that such education will destigmatize addicts and promote better treatment for addicts as sick people rather than criminals. The spiritual foundation of recovery includes, but is not limited to, not revealing which 12 Step fellowship I belong to and the names of other fellowship members. I am fully within my rights to reveal my own identity in hopes of educating non-addicts but not within my rights in revealing other addicts’ names who have not reached this stage of development within their own recovery. Addiction is a major societal and health care issue and I will do my best lobby those in power to treat it as such.

It is hoped that by sticking to this manifesto more people will be able to find recovery and live their life to its full potential.

Dave the Dude

Drinking and Driving - Been There

Drunk driving has been the main subject of talk on the public airwaves following the recent tragic deaths of three children and their grandfather. The motorist who caused the accident was allegedly drunk at the time of the accident. Whenever a story like this comes up in the news I say a little prayer and mutter the words, “but for the grace of God go I.”

I am a person of long-term recovery not having taken a drink or mind-altering substance since January 7, 2005. However, prior to that date I was an active alcoholic/addict and driving under the influence was a regular occurrence. For that I am deeply ashamed. I put the lives of those I drove with and those on the road at risk. Part of recovery is taking responsibility not only for your disease but for the actions carried out while active in that disease. As part of 12 Step Recovery I take responsibility for my actions by making amends. When it comes to drinking and driving the only amends I can make is what’s called a living amends – not drinking and driving (not drinking or drugging at all for that matter) and trying my best to help those suffering from the disease of addiction to stop so that they do not drink and drive. During the time I drank and drove I never injured myself or anyone else and as a result did not have to make any direct amends. Saying this I could have easily had an accident and injured or even killed someone. It was only by divine intervention that this never occurred.

Rationalization is a mainstay for the active alcoholic/addict. We rationalize the reasons we use and we rationalize the behaviours that come as a result of that using. I was a king at rationalizing my alcohol/drug use. When I drank and drove I rationalized to myself the many reasons it was okay. Insanity is part of the disease of addiction and the type of thinking I was using to rationalize my drinking and driving was clearly insane.

I remember early into my recovery I was hanging out with some friends at a type of reunion. Although I was not drinking some of the attendees were. I noticed that one of my friends was drinking a lot and made a comment that he should slow down as he was driving. Upon hearing this, another friend turned to me and said, “you’re one to talk”. At the time I had no response and shut-up. I talked to my sponsor a few days later and related this story. He told me that I should have said, yes I drank and drove and I was an asshole for doing so but that doesn’t mean others should. Thankfully I haven’t had to caution anyone else about drinking driving since then but I am prepared if the situation ever arises.

When hearing about people drinking and driving I have some sympathy for them as I’m pretty sure they are suffering from alcoholism. My grand-sponsor once said, “if someone drinks and drives they are clearly alcoholic for that is insane.” While saying this I don’t condone the behaviour but I do pray that the person gets the help they need and for the families they have injured.

Dave the Dude

I'm An Addict But Am I An Alcoholic?

At heart I’m an alcoholic but by the end of my drinking/drugging career I was a daily crack addict. I’m actually grateful that I was addicted to crack because it was the thing that brought me to my knees – literally. I often share that I was a whisky swilling, carpet crawling crack head. If it weren’t for the crack ramming me into my rock bottom I, sincerely, believe I would have continued drinking and ended up dying of pancreatitis.  

When I finally surrendered I had no qualms about becoming totally abstinent from all mind altering substances. The only substances I ever quit on my own were marijuana and tobacco. I did quit powder cocaine on my own but only because I switched to crack. Once you have crack you never go back. In my dealings with other people trying to recover from addiction I’ve found those who seek help due to an addiction to a substance other than alcohol often find it hard to admit that they cannot safely take a drink again.

There are several reasons for this the foremost being that drinking can lead one back to whatever one liked to use on a regular basis. Notice I didn’t say lead one back to one’s drug of choice – I didn’t use that term as I know I never had a choice when it came to alcohol and/or crack. Dr. William Silkworth called the phenomenon of craving an alcoholic faces when taking that first drink an allergy. An allergy can be defined as an “abnormal reaction” to something. The other night at a meeting I heard someone use this analogy perfectly when explaining why an addict shouldn’t use alcohol. I know that once I had at least two drinks I would be looking to score some crack. The person at the meeting asked the question, when a normal person has a couple of drinks do they start seeking out crack (or opiates, etc.)? No but the addicted person does – this is an abnormal reaction to drinking.

Another reason an addict shouldn’t drink is that alcohol lowers one’s inhibitions and can allow the mental aspect of the disease to kick in. A couple of drinks in and the disease is telling the person, hey let’s go score it’ll only be for this one night. The disease of addiction is the only disease that tries to trick the sufferer into thinking he/she doesn’t have it.

Maybe someone starts drinking and doesn’t return to their regularly used substance. The danger here is that a dual addiction may kick in and the person starts to use alcohol to escape life instead of what they used before.

Once I completed the 12 Steps, as laid down in the basic text of Alcoholics Anonymous, I could truly state that I am a recovered alcoholic/addict. The 12 Step program is a cognitive behavioural program with a spiritual aspect. When one uses mind altering substances he is blocking himself from the spiritual side of recovery. If one is truly seeking spiritual growth than one should have no qualms about not taking any kind of mind altering substance (this does not include mental health medication prescribed by a physician).

Dave the Dude