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Through the lenses of several highly accomplished documentary filmmakers, the current state of addiction in America is explored in nine segments, punctuated by the latest thinking on treatment and recovery by leading experts on drug and alcohol addiction.
The Addiction Project is produced by HBO in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).
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Posts:
2
Registered:
5/12/08
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(108 of 108)
May 20, 2008 7:06 AM
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congrats mandy! we need people like you, you have a great will power. i work for a rehab and trust me i have seen people getting cured 100%. the mantra is "keep your self occupied" work hard, when you get time or you feel you are free, start gyming excess gyming...that way you will never touch it again
JWP
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Comprehensive resources for those looking for recovery from addiction. http://www.addictionrecovery.net
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This is a comprehensive addiction portal focusing on topics of alcohol and drug abuse. http://www.alcoholaddiction.org
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Posts:
847
Registered:
1/17/08
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(107 of 108)
Apr 10, 2008 11:43 AM
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Last week I watched the Addiction: TV Junkie and had no idea that Rick Kirkham was addicted to crack cocaine while he was on TV. And then all that he taped about himself and his family. Some of it was really hard to watch. I do think that many people covered it up because of who he was. I think if he was just some regular guy he might have gotten sober long before he did. It was nice to see that he did over come his addiction and is doing something to give back to the community.
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Posts:
2
Registered:
2/26/08
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(106 of 108)
Apr 9, 2008 9:46 AM
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Heres what i dont get. All of these doctors who claim to know what works and what doesnt fill patients heads with a bunch of crap that is not in coherence with programs like alcoholics anonymous, but then when its time for a patient to leave treatment they tell them they really should go to aa.
I just watched an episode where this doc was talking about how life circumstances make people relapse. I know that in my time in aa i have been taught that i can stay sober regardless of the crap going on in my life. Wife or no wife, job or no job, car or no car, asshole boss or no asshole boss, these things will not make me drink.
I drank because i am an alcoholic.
I suffer from an illness which only a spiritual experience will conquer.
I know plenty of friends of mine that drank again after things in their life started going really well. They had absolutely no reason to want to take a drink.
The mental obsession returned and they had NO CHOICE!!!!
Back to the point, if these docs really want to help people recover then they should teach them the ideas and priciples that are the base for recovery in alcoholics anonymous, or just detox people and send them to aa right away.
One last thing. Alcoholics Anonymous has a tremendous recovery rate. The numbers that are publicized do not reflect the reality.
A lot of people that come into aa do not really want to stay sober, or they are not really willing to do the work. Of people who come in and DO THE WORK, almost all recover.
How It Works starts of "Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed are path."
If people dont follow the path ofcourse they will not recover. AA cannot force people to stay sober, we cant make them want this, the desire has to come from within.
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Posts:
1
Registered:
4/6/08
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(105 of 108)
Apr 6, 2008 12:41 PM
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I watched the program and have to agree on the topic of insurance. They have too much control and don't seem to understand the problem, the needed for treatment or the consequences of being refused treatment. Are there any groups being formed to address insurance and legislation in this area?
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Posts:
1
Registered:
2/2/08
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(104 of 108)
Feb 2, 2008 11:36 AM
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Has anyone tried the new vaccine that helps break cocaine addiction? My soon-to-be ex is 34. He started drinking and smoking at age 13, smoking pot, tripping on acid and doing coke in high school, then smoked crack for may be a year. Became born again, went away for 10 months, was supposed to stay for 12. Stayed clean for awhile by working, going to church, exercising. Got bored, went to bar, got back into drugs and has been battling it ever since. His "stop and go" system is set on "go". In the 8 years we have been together he has tried many times to stop drinking (which leads to coke use), he tries to stop smoking cigs every new year. A year ago he stopped smoking pot. The longest he went without drinking was 6 months. This past year has been rough. He is in construction and work always kept him busy enough to stay atleast focused on one thing in life. Construction has come to a halt and he started drinking and using drugs a lot more this past year, all the while taking anti-depressant meds (past year). He is a lost child. I would like to see him get clean, stay clean, have a good relationship with someone in the future, have peace in his heart. I feel that when he was younger, he was one of many kids that were forgotten in society, tossed aside by family and society because they did not know how to help him. If there is anyone out there that can help or give me some hope that someone using for so long can make a change in their life and find peace in their heart, I would really like to hear it. I am wondering how much damage he has done to his brain, his heart, his nose, his teeth. He would make a great subject for a documentary! He is a character, funny, very angry person, very conflcited, he is stuck at age 15, cannot move past the things he has done wrong in his life and cannot move on from the wrongs that have been done to him.
Please someone respond!
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Posts:
1
Registered:
1/10/08
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(103 of 108)
Jan 10, 2008 6:04 AM
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I have been an addict since I was 24 I am now 30 I have been to treatment once 6 months ago now I relasped 3 months out of recovery over an emotinal crisis I look back on that day now and almost hate myself for being so weak I was almost there I had 3 months on my way to 4 how come I did this to my self!!!! I can't even look at myself I am addicted to pain meds (Norco and Klonapin) and anything else I can get my hands on to help me through the day or night!! I WANT HELP!! And now have no medical insurance to get me in a treatment program I live in Ca and need a medical detox I really thought that when I was in rehab I would get out and be cured I really didn't understand how important it was to do the 12 steps now I do and I feel like it is to late I had my chance I don't know what to do if anyone has any info on how to get help with out insurance please respond to me!!! I don't want this desease to take my life and I want to really live!! PLEASE HELP!!
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Posts:
5
Registered:
1/6/08
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(102 of 108)
Jan 6, 2008 11:49 AM
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i have just seen your program on addiction, and just like every program i watch like this you spent the whole thing focusing on the problem! When the real question how do we as alcoholics and addicts stop!!! Everyone knows how to stay clean or sober, just don't pick up! Well if it were that easy then there would be no fascination with us as addicts/alcoholics as there is, by people who coincidentally aren't addicts/alcoholics! You cannot scare anyone into getting sober, and you certainly can't get anyone sober on self-knowledge alone! I have found a solution to my OBSESSION to use, therefore ot setting off the craving! You only get the craving if the drug or alcohol is in you. therefore the question now moves how to have the obsession lifted. I have found as have millions before me that no human POWER can do it, but we have a 12-step progrm that will allow anyone, based on their own self-HONESTY, to overcome the obsession, there-by never setting off the craving. I'm actually leaving now to help someone who has asked for help to his problem. I however can only give him the info. as i was given, and hopefully he does the work, which will result in him helping still others find their OWN solution, and then they will help others, and so on! That initself is some sort of power greater than me, maybe a simple concept but highly effective when practiced HONESTLY!
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Posts:
5
Registered:
4/11/07
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(101 of 108)
Dec 28, 2007 3:32 PM
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Anyone looking for buprenorphine treatment for their loved one or themselves and have been unable to find a doctor near them can now sign up on the national matching system and have a doctor contact you.
www.HelpMeStop.org
There is hope. Thank you HBO for thsi great educational program!!
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Posts:
2
Registered:
9/23/07
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(100 of 108)
Nov 28, 2007 7:57 PM
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I had posted an earlier message about my 39 year old daughter. Everyone keeps saying to put her out and let her go, but what I see is that once she uses the alcohol, her ability to think and act on her behalf is history. According to the study family supports them and gets them to help. She is a very ugly acting alcoholic. Tohight she plans to drop her outpatient and move in with a crack addict of 10 yrs that she met in the crisis center. What is the right thing to do? If this is a disease and I believe it is, why is it the only disease we put out on the street to fend for themselves?
suddenly
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Posts:
2
Registered:
11/14/07
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(99 of 108)
Nov 28, 2007 4:55 PM
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Dear lityl1, you need to call Clare Wilkens at following number, toll free 1-801-405-6823. If there is one person that will help....it is her. I'm also a N.Y.er (western) and
no Dr or clinic will help unless there is Insurance or $$$.
Do your loved one a favor. The testimonies are miracles.
--
Dudley W. Benedict
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Posts:
1
Registered:
11/20/07
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(98 of 108)
Nov 20, 2007 8:02 PM
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Help! My son has been using drugs since he was 16 (pot) and is now 27 and uses crack. He's been in private residential rehabs and court-placed rehabs for long term placement (in excess of a year). Nothing's worked. He's been in and out of jail - in and out of rehabs - and in and out of our home. There's medication for opiate use - what's there for crack? There must be something!!!! He is back out on the streeet after an attempted intervention the other day in which he absolutely refused to back in-patient, even though we were only asking him to complete 21 days. He's been through so many - he says all we do is send him away. Of course he's right, but what do we do? We've been to parent support meetings on and off for years and have tried to follow the advise of the experts - but it's not helping. Can anyone suggest an addiction specialist that might direct us or, even better, see him? We're in northern Westchester County in New York and there are rehabs all over, but he's been there-done that with them. What does anyone think of the posting on this documentary that promotes the idea that the old-fashioned way - separate them, put them out- is not the way. Instead strong family support and connection is. Is that preferred because we keep putting him out - maybe we shouldn't be? What should we do - help!!!
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Posts:
2
Registered:
11/14/07
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(97 of 108)
Nov 15, 2007 12:24 AM
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I just finished watching Addiction tonight. I was in an accident and have had 8 operations on my spine. I was prescribed opiates....8o mg oxycontin each 8 hrs, hydrocodine 10/325 8-10 per day,soma 4 per day, lyrica 150 mg's at 12 hr intervals, effexor 150 mg's each day, fioricet 50/325/40 4 per day, prochlorperazine 5 mg's per day,lidoderm patches 1 daily and lactulose one big swig per day.This regime went on for 4.5 yrs.
Any opiate will rob you; they will steal endorphins and all natural pain receptors, not allowing our bodies to heal themselves. Meth and soboxen are other bad drugs....this is what pain Dr's want you to take to get off other "bad" drugs. I know most U.S. docs are caught up in a limited medical field, to detoxify using natural means and methods would take away $$ from their practice and a threat.
I shopped for a detox in america and did not have $12,000 - $18 gs to start. Insurance was paying out $1400-$1600 per month for the list given, but would not pay or help to get me off what the system put me on. I received a call from a family member whom was street using oxy's, crushing 10-80 mg's per snort per day. He shared with me
" some one can help us both ". I made a call [ my wife did ] to a Ibogaine clinic and the next thing I know I'm out of the country.
Clare Wilkins owns & operates a professional clinic that meets or beats Americas standards for health care.
I was set free from the list given prior in one night. I also witnessed two oxy abusers and an alcoholic...I was totally floored by my new chance in life, but excited by the three others and a second chance. No with-draws, no desire what so ever! If I had not gone, I know I would have been 6 feet under.Call Clare @ 1-801-405-6823 or one of the associates.. Mark Blain @ 1-801-427-8533. The list goes on and on. If you or a loved one is into heroine, meth, oxy's, drinking just to name a few, call, you will not believe the testimonies from this clinic. I have been free from drugs for 3 months and my pain level went from a 7-8 per day to a 2-3. My body is so clean now that aspirin works.
--
Edited by onedudster at 11/15/2007 2:39 PM
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Posts:
1
Registered:
11/14/07
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(96 of 108)
Nov 14, 2007 11:11 PM
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it is sad really because for all their education these so called experts don't get it. to understand the mind set of addiction you yourself have to be an addict. the baffling featuer of this illness is the utter inability to leave it alone no matter how great the necessity or wish. i am a recovering addict and alcoholic who has been sober for years. watching this doc i can say i went much futher into the depths of addiction than the majority of the individuals shownand made it out. the scientist and doctors face the same problem today that they faced 80 years ago and that is because this something that can't be fixed with a pill. the only way out for people like me is to find a power greater than themselves. this requires a vital spiritual experince that usually happens in one of two places 12step recovery or church. it is too bad that hbo doesn't address this side of it. i think they sell their viewers short by not doing so.
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Posts:
1
Registered:
11/14/07
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(95 of 108)
Nov 14, 2007 10:15 PM
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I work in the field of behavioral health and I think this film touched on some extremely important issues regarding addiction (and mental health as well). I do believe that the majority of people who work in this field are dedicated to helping others free themselves of their addiction. I'm sorry for those of you who have had bad experiences with treatment providers.
Insurance companies have gained too much control and should NOT be allowed to dictate to us whether or not a health care treatment or diagnostic test is necessary. The public needs to take action to stop this!
The bottom line is all programs need funding in order to survive. Even the most dedicated health care workers have to pay bills. However people shouldn't be dying because it's easier to contact a drug dealer than it is to get into treatment. Modalities may be too slow to change, but in a society that turns to litigation every chance they get, this is no wonder.
Stay positive, don't give up and good things will happen!
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Posts:
1
Registered:
11/1/07
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(94 of 108)
Nov 1, 2007 11:11 PM
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i just saw the addiction documentary this morning and was really hit by it. it really made me happy to see people fighting for addiction to be classified as a mental disorder. ive had more than my share of friends(or at least people i thought to be friends) turn on me because of my dependancy on drugs with the attitude that its completely me to blame for my addiction and its my choice to keep using. i started using crack cocaine when i was 14, by 15 i was using daily, i also started oxys and morphine around the same time. i went into treatment sept2006 and got clean. relapsed after 7 months and overdosed this past june. since then ive stayed pretty clean a few minor relapses but nothing serious. i guess what im really tryin to say is i was made to feel like total shit by my peers, friends, and family all through my teenage, and it defenately didnt do any good for me(obviously), im just glad that something majors been made and put on tv, and i hope enough people see it and realize that addiction is a disease and should be treated like any other disease, not pushed away and forgotten about because people who've never been their or never been close to anyone thats been through it feel that its its entirely up to the addict whether theyre sober or not
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