Do you think that someone who is an alcoholic or addict can someday use again without any problems?
969918
addiction isn't typically about the substance but the users dependence on something that makes them forget their problems. once an addict always an addict. that is why it is important to stay away from those things that may cause you problems in your life.
406888
Alcoholism is not something that can be cured. It is a disease and it is always there, even if you don't drink anymore. You will always have that temptation to drink, just like a smoker that quits will always want a cigarette. I guess the will to not drink anymore is the greatest "cure" that you can have. :)
294798
Not without extensive help.  They have to only be willing to change for themselves not for anyone else.  It is a very hard ordeal to be around, but it will take a long while for complete recovery.  A long hard road no matter which path is chosen.
503073
Yes.  But if it goes on too long and it affects his life and the family's, it's a problem you have to address.  Addictions come in various forms.  You need to keep conversation lines open.
1030522
God bless that person for trying to fight the addiction of heroin.\nIt will be a tough battle for the rest of one's life.\n\nIf that person is not in a program, then he should get into a program and find a sponsor - someone whom he can call up when the desire becomes too great - for he cannot always fight this addiction on his own.\n\nThat person can also find hobbies and things to do to keep his mind occupied so he doesn't have the chance to think about heroin.\n\nIf he has friends who do drugs, he would be better off not having anything to do with those friends because those friends could lead him back to using.\n\nI will say prayers for him that he continues to live a clean life from now on.
129374
Well you could do like the other users said and do an intervention, kick them out and tell them you will not do anything to enable them to continue this lifestyle. No money, no contact, no favors. But keep in mind that it is not at all uncommon for addicts to call you bluff and walk out of your life. The interventions that work are usually when the person really does want to get help. If your kids refuse help there isn't anything you can do to help them. In a different life I was forced into rehab by my parents and guess what? I went along with the program and got high the day it was over. I had to want to stop and that took another 15 years to happen. I have a brother who we did an intervention on for cocain and he walked. Right now he is homeless and claims that this is the lifestyle he wants to live. It is up to you what to do, but you might want to talk to a professional about this further before you make a decision. Good luck.
862181
That's what AA is for.  You can't do it alone, that's for sure.  If you could, you wouldn't be an alcoholic.  Yes, you have to dump your drinking/using friends.  They aren't real friends.  Once you get clean and sober, they don't want to be around you anyway--except to try and talk you into to joining them again.  \n\nAA:  http://www.aa.org
123581
Detox does little to keep them clean long term.  Many have been in and out of detox or treatment centers numerous times.  The lure of the euphoria keeps drawing them back.  Some of them turn into alcoholics if they can't get their drug of choice.\n\nIntervention works with some addicts who have people in their life who are very important to them.  These people have to get together and decide to stand firm, and present it to the addict that either he goes to treatment now and stays clean, or they will disown him.  Everyone has to stand firm, there can be no wiggle room.  Each has to confront him at the intervention.  If this involves the employer, the wife or husband, the parents, the best friends, the clergyman, etc.;  and they are all strong, then it may work.  But many addicts are loners.  If he thinks he is gonna lose his wife, his job, his kids, etc.  he may well quit.  You got to take him immediately to a treament center, which he stays in for a month, then he goes to a half way house for several more months.  He must stay in AA or NA meetings for life.  His old obsession of drug seeking must be replaced with an obsession to stay clean and sober.\n\nTough love is essential.  You are enabling his addiction even simply by being nice to him, and big time if you give him a place to live or money or love.  Half way houses are a cheap place for room and board for a recovering addict or alcoholic, in the company of his peers.  He has to be clean a day or so to get in one.  If he uses, he is kicked out.  He has to get a job to pay the small rent money.  It is a good place for an addict to recover.  They go to lots of meetings.
391035
No, it does not aways become an addiction.  You can drink an occasional beer and not have it be an addiction, right?  The same goes for some milder drugs like pot and caffeine (it's a drug!). For harder drugs like heroin and any form of coke or meth, their addictive powers are much, much stronger.  People do use coke recreationally, but I have never heard of a recreational user of heroin, crack or meth, so these are things you should pretty much stay away from.  There's a whole slew of club and hallucinogenic drugs that occupy a gray area, where they probably won't kill you are or lead you to being a homeless junkie, but they are pretty addictive and have the potential.  It's hard to say with certainty because there's so much propaganda on both sides of the drug war.\nPeople who work in drug treatment will often say that any use of a drug is abuse of a drug, but oddly they only apply this to illegal drugs, i.e. drinking a beer a month is use, but one joint a month is abuse.  People pushing for legalization point out low numbers of actual death by the use of certain drugs (like e).  This makes it harder in my opinion to sort through what is actually dangerous and what is not as much so, so a general rule I use is: if it could kill me with one use, I stay away.
300478
The previous poster was correct, however in an earlier post someone stated that addiction is not hereditary. That is incorrect. If you come from a long lineage of alchohol abusers or drug users the chances that if you were to use either you would be more likely to have the propensity towards addiction. However, please remember that we were all born with the ability to CHOOSE how we behave.
1051285
.this is a serious problem , you address the problem, then  you  use another negative to try to rationalize it. you know in your heart this person better than all of us. there is a pattern with a  person  with a  addictive personality disorder. and there is a 70% chance it will happen again. if he cares for you and himself!he would  be wise to seek help and treatment for it. it is a up hill battle .remember he made the problem, not you.
184543
Perhaps. Are they misleading people into thinking the substance is unaddictive? Then yes. If they are open with the addictiion causing potential, then it was the knowledgable choice of the person that is to blame.
438171
Yes, you can try. Try again when you are sober.
424555
Depends... if smoking weed and drinking beer get in the way of common life things then yes... but if the person can handle everything and drink and smoke all the time then i say let them be because they are not doing anyone harm.  If anything give up the beer.
93198
Well, I think you cannot control his drinking, no matter what you think.  I would say that daily drinking of that much certainly indicates a problem.  You could go to http://www.aa.org and there are some parts on there for people who are concerned about someone's drinking.  However, this is really about you, and my recommendation would be for you to check out Alanon.  You cannot cause, cure, or control someone else's drinking.  This is very difficult, for there is a level of denial on the part of the potential alcoholic and his or her partner.....
269027
An alcoholic is some one that drinks for the sole purpose of getting drunk!\nThat's me! I don't drink socially. When I drink I don't stop till I am drunk! I used to avoid hangovers by staying drunk!\n3 years of my life was wasted!\nThere is a time and place for every thing, now when I drink I am at home with family and/or good friends so that when I am falling down drunk, they put me to bed. That way I can't hurt myself or anyone else! I don't crave it any more like when I was younger, but that took a few years!\nAs for an addict, I think that is some one that has a physical dependence on some thing like I did when I was avoiding a hangover. I also know people that cannot function without their "fix" whether it be alcohol or some other drug. While they are using they are the best at what they do, but without it they can't even make a complete sentence, walk or hold themselves upright!\nI also agree with the person above that pointed out that it does not have to be a drug, it can be a feeling. Thus being totally psycological or being addicted to the chemicals produced in our bodies.\nREMEMBER, you are the only one who can change you!\nHelp is just that, HELP! The real changes are made because YOU want them!\nThat's MY point of view.
1143953
That person could definitely be an alcoholic.  One of the most likely predictors of alcoholism is a family history of alcoholism.  And anyone who needs to drink daily is an alcoholic, whether they are able to admit it or not. Emotional unavailability is one of the characteristics of alcoholism.  \n\nHere are some links that may help you.