by Ryan A. Schwantes | Nov 6, 2017 | Q&A
You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions Every day I feel like I’m fighting to survive – to not drink. Is it always going to be this way?? That’s what I keep hearing. It’s really depressing. The answer is no, you won’t always feel this way if you have the...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Nov 6, 2017 | Q&A
You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions I looked through your websites and I agree drug addiction and alcoholism is not a disease. But I do think it is a lack of control and strength. I’ve certainly felt weak and made the choice to get high again. So I think you...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Nov 6, 2017 | Q&A
You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions I hate getting high. I really do. I don’t know why I do this. I don’t even like it anymore. Why do I keep doing this to myself? Am I one of those hopeless types? No, you’re not hopeless – rather, you are confused. You get...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Nov 6, 2017 | Q&A
You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions Whenever I get stressed out, I smoke crack. Is this a common problem you’ve seen? Does stress cause people to smoke crack? Again, like some of the other answers to questions like yours, the word “cause” is a problem here. No...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Nov 1, 2017 | Q&A
You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions Does mental illness cause addiction? The answer can be found in Chapter 6 of The Freedom Model for Addictions: “The recovery ideology of “underlying causes” has these people completely confused. According to the Surgeon...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Nov 1, 2017 | Q&A
You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions I had a traumatic youth. It was extremely stressful and chaotic, and drugs became my answer. Today, I still find myself getting high as I try to deal with my traumatic past and lost relationships and my guilt. How do I deal...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Nov 1, 2017 | Q&A
You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions I have depression. I was diagnosed when I was young, and I now have a severe drinking problem. I can’t figure out if depression causes alcoholism, or if my alcoholism causes my depression. Which is it? You are asking a...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Nov 1, 2017 | Q&A
You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions Does poverty cause addiction? First it is important to note that there are no external causes of addiction. There are reasons that individuals internally decide to use heavily (living in poverty might be one of them) – but...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Nov 1, 2017 | Q&A
You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions What are the causes of addiction? In order to answer your question, we must first define the word – causes, and then see if that is the correct term to explain why people use substances heavily. In Chapter 5 of The...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Nov 1, 2017 | Q&A
You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions Isn’t Addiction Genetic? In a word – NO. Take a look from Chapter 3 of The Freedom Model for Addictions: “Many of our readers as well as their family members are convinced that addiction “runs in their family” and that there...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Nov 1, 2017 | Q&A
You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions How Do I Resist Craving? To answer your question, you must first understand what a craving is from a logical standpoint. The Freedom Model for Addictions addresses this: “You don’t get cravings; rather, you actively crave, so...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Nov 1, 2017 | Q&A
You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions A friend of mine was talking with me today and started talking about this book. She then tried to explain the recovery society you talk about in it. Can you tell me about this – I’m not getting it. Yes, we can. Here is a...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Nov 1, 2017 | Q&A
You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions How do I stop using heroin? I’m scared to death of the withdrawals. You are not alone. Many people are frightened of opiate withdrawals. But we live in an age of a certain amount of hysteria and misinformation concerning...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Oct 31, 2017 | Q&A
You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions Why are drug and alcohol rates currently increasing in the US? The simple answer is because we promote the idea that drugs and alcohol have power over the human’s free will. This myth drives the entire powerlessness narrative...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Oct 31, 2017 | Q&A
You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions My family is pushing me to go to rehab. Is treatment really necessary to get over my addiction with alcohol and drugs? The answer to this question is two-fold. First, for those who use drugs heavily such as benzodiazepines or...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Oct 31, 2017 | Q&A
You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions I’m addicted to pain pills, and sometimes get heroin when I can’t get my prescriptions. Am I someone that needs to go to treatment? No one should go to rehab. (Medical detox from substance use is a different matter when...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Oct 31, 2017 | Q&A
You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions Is Naltrexone or Vivitrol a good option for getting over a drug or alcohol problem? The answer is yes and no. If you believe it will work, and you are already motivated to change, then the drugs will have their desired...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Oct 31, 2017 | Q&A
You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions I’ve been in and out of rehabs and 12 Step groups for years. I want to be sober, but in order to do that do I still need to be in recovery forever? Do I still need to go to meetings? The answer lies in two things – the...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Oct 31, 2017 | Q&A
You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions As a person who comes from a dysfunctional family, how do I get over my addiction? Do I need to replace my use with other activities, and do I need to fix my family life if I want to overcome my addictions for good? In other...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Oct 31, 2017 | Q&A
You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions Does Suboxone work for a heroin problem? Suboxone is an unfortunate temporary distraction that eventually gives way to your desire to use heroin over the long haul. It provides a false sense of security and the illusion that...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Oct 31, 2017 | Q&A
You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions Will Naltrexone help me get over my drinking problem? Naltrexone is as effective as a placebo. Its success as a miracle drug for alcoholics is grossly overstated. If you want to take the drug, and you already desire a change...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Oct 31, 2017 | Q&A
You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions Every time I get high, I lose control. How do I stop this?! The simple answer is to know that “loss of control” in regards to drug and alcohol use is a myth. Individuals take drugs and drink alcohol to the exact levels and in...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Oct 31, 2017 | Q&A
You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions I went to a drug rehab and they said that drugs hijack the pleasure center of my brain and that is why I’m an addict. Some of this makes sense, but it scares me. Is this true? In a word, NO. First of all, what motivates you...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Oct 31, 2017 | Q&A
You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions Is Heroin more addictive than other drugs? The answer is not as simple as yes or no because you are asking the wrong question. You should be asking is do drugs contain addictiveness like an orange contains vitamin C? The...
by Ryan A. Schwantes | Oct 30, 2017 | Q&A
You Asked, We Answered Addiction Questions I’m tired of going to AA and NA. Is the Freedom Model an alternative to Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous? Yes, The Freedom Model for Addictions is the only true alternative to the 12 step paradigm in the world...
