The majority of people who use alcohol and mood or mind-altering substances are what we call recreational users. They are capable of using these substances with control. There is another cohort of people who use substances, who are referred to as heavy user’s. There consumption and the frequency of use increases. This is usually in response to a life event or an issue. These people use the substance as a way of coping with the phase or issue they are experiencing. Once the life event pass or the underlying issue is addressed, they can exercise control and return to recreational use. However, no so with the addict, the addict issue is the relationship with their drug of choice which is based on their inability to control the consumption and the frequency of use i.e. loss or impaired control. Due to a lack of understanding addiction by the addict and there loved ones, they believe that the addict is using due to some life event, or underlying issue and they live in hope that somehow or day they will regain control of their using. If we are talking about addiction this day will never come. For an addict’s life to become more manageable, they need to start a process of which the first step is abstinence from their drug of choice. Due to the addict’s powerful relationship with their drug of choice, this seems almost inconceivable and they become filled with fear. They then hold onto the belief that they are of the group of people who are going through a phase of dealing with underlying issues and can return to controlled use. They do not understand or do not want to understand their problem and thus will always apply a solution which does not work.
The addict in active addiction denial system is based on the premise that they are not an addict however they can return to controlled using again once they have sorted out their underlying issues which are causing them to use. Often the family and the addict cannot make an accurate diagnosis of the situation without professional help. The dilemma they are faced with is, is the person and addict in denial or can they return to controlled using? This uncertainty can keep the person in active addiction for years.
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