Avoid Co-Dependency The War on Addiction

The latest addiction in our city is the growing addiction to prescribed pain pills.  I personally know a woman who's been on a prescribed pain medication for over ten years. She's an addict, denies it vehemently, but she is. I've warned her, told her and yet she claims, "If the doctor prescribes them I can't be addicted."  

How sad, this abuse of prescription medication has lead to a sweeping problem in our society. It seems as long as there is money to be made there will be people pushing such substances either legally or illegally.  We do face so many addictions, there is food, behavior, drink, prescriptions and non prescriptions, smokes and on and on the addictive list goes.

It could be said that we as a society have been guilty of codependency ourselves. Maybe we should ask ourselves if we do enough, say enough or stand up to the denial sweeping the addictive many growing in numbers. Are we becoming out numbered?

Doing anything to extremes or doing it all the time is addictive behavior. The guidelines to addiction are very straight forward and need little common sense to determine once addiction sets in. We all know what is bad for us and yet many people simply have an addictive personality. They cannot stop themselves. It is best for these such personalities to avoid the things they are prone to abuse all together. It is when we as a society over look addictive personalities and warrant their over indulgence as something of a rarely as we ourselves occasionally over indulge. The key word rarely, the addict plays on this occurrence comparing our occasional behavior to their abusive behavior.

Using something to extremes, in a manner in which it is not intended is abusive to it's purpose and therefore abusive behavior. The addicts overuse of things or behaviors to the point of being harmful makes the excuse it naturally occurs in others, so their behavior is not abnormal at all.

Note: This is not rational and yet the addictive person uses any reference they can to excuse their behavior as normal.

A Simple 1 - 2 Guide 

1. Don't pass up honest teachable or boundary setting moments.
2. People with addictive personalities constantly push boundaries, it is up to us not to allow them to do so.

It would be a perfect world in which none of us had to deal with addictions, addicts or the like, but this is not a perfect world. People with addictive personalities have a way of sneaking up on us, not to say they are bad people they are not. Addictive personalities should be treated with the same respect as any other medical condition. People with addictive personalities should not be considered a person who can handle what the non addictive person can. They have issues with certain substances and or behaviors and we must always keep this in consideration.

To avoid adding addictive personalities to your life consider the reality of the people you choose to associate with. Don't imagine a person who's behavior is over the top will change.  This sort of behavior may serve as a warning.  It's not that difficult to avoid addictive people, the first step is not to exercise denial yourself. 

Examples of Change

If you realize your teenage daughter eats an entire box of Twinkies you would undoubtedly want to stop buying Twinkies. Talk to her about the dangers of overeating, adding anyone can fall victim to such binge eating and the way to deal with it is to avoid the foods you binge on all together. This is a really natural healthy way to address such habits and prevent them from occurring again.

Your friend drinks to much one night while you are out. Point out they in fact did over do it and you don't expect that to happen again.  Never ignore unhealthy addictive behavior yet discuss it instead. 

If your alcoholic or substance addicted friend or relative thinks their addiction goes unnoticed, don't pretend with them, in fact set them down and tell them you notice they have a drinking or substance problem and should get help to stop.  Have an intervention!

As long as we, the society, over look this problem or choose not to get involved we contribute to the pains it creates. It truly takes a village in more ways than one. Stopping the epidemic of addiction stops the demand, thus the supply.