Busting Addiction and Its Myths

Tony Tells It like It Is aka the perspective of a young recovering addict and what he has observed amongst other recovering and not recovering young addicts. So what we learn from Tony telling it like it is for himself as young, recovering alcoholic/addict is: “You almost never find an addict who is using just one drug, or someone who is ‘only’ an alcoholic. The world of addiction today is filled...

Welcome back to Busting addiction and its myths lucky episode #13…we call this episode Treatment Doesn’t Work, Or Does It? Here’s what we cover: My guest Tony and I bust the myth that some people believe in, that is that treatment doesn’t work. That is true if you don’t do the work and if you aren’t honest with yourself, and you aren’t willing to surrender your old ways of thinking. Many affluent,...

I think it’s time we do a roll up of what we’ve learned so far, as I see our podcast as a tutorial on addiction for families and anyone else who is close to an addict or alcoholic. Addiction and alcoholism are diseases and are considered mental illnesses by science. They are not moral failings or manifestations of the lack of willpower. Addiction and alcoholism negatively affect the family to such...

Busting the myth that your problem is my problem. In this week’s episode we talk more about codependency, why it happens, how you end up replacing your own agenda of self-care with the other person’s neediness, and how it is absolutely essential for your own sanity to address it. In this episode, we learn that: There is a big difference between giving of yourself and giving yourself away. Between...

In this episode, I discuss how the myths and stigma associated with alcohol and drug abuse is the greatest barrier to healing at the personal and societal level. The typical myth is that somehow an addiction is a moral failing and that the addict just needs to exert his will power to “get over it.” Some of us need to change the way we think if we are to be truly helpful, that is to see addicts as...

Enabling, what enabling? In this episode, we ask you to shine the light on your own denial and enabling if you happen to love an active addict or alcoholic. In this episode we learn that: The road to hell is indeed paved with good intentions which are well-meaning but misguided when it comes to addiction. Denial is a big part of enabling, since families will invariably deny that they suspect or ha...

This episode deals with the extreme self-centeredness of the addict/alcoholic and all its manifestations, including wildly irresponsible and sometimes violent behaviour. We cover these topics: Addicts are self-centered in the extreme, and will violate every value they once held dear. These violations include behaviour that is violent and physically dangerous. They are always chasing that ultimate...

Join the battle to bust opioids and the ignorance that comes with it. In this episode, you will learn more about OD deaths, what you can do to help raise treatment standards, lower the barriers to treatment access and address co-dependency in your own home. We will learn, again, that the vast majority of OD deaths involve multiple substances and the worst of them is fentanyl. Doctors are typically...

Let’s talk about enabling In this episode, we discuss how enabling can inhibit the chances of an addict’s recovery by shielding them form the realities of a grown-up life. The truths we reveal in this episode: The enabling of loved ones makes it easy or possible to keep the addict’s addiction alive and progressing. Many people close to the addict/alcoholic enable them without having any idea that...

Young Tony’s story of redemption In this episode, Tony, a terrific young fellow from the UK, shares his story of how he became an alcoholic and marijuana addict, starting with his circle of friends in a perfectly typical middle-class environment, ending with his surrender to achieve victory over drugs and alcohol.  The topics Tony addresses in this episode are: How marijuana and alcohol became a n...

It’s a disease, stupid! Paraphrasing a famous political slogan from the US, this episode offers slam-dunk proof that addiction and alcoholism are disease states, and that the addict has lost his power of choice when the disease compels him to inflict harm on himself and others. We cover these topics: 1.  Addiction and alcoholism are recognised by the leading scientists in the US as chronic, relaps...

In this episode, we reveal more truths about addiction, in that it makes the whole family unit dysfunctional. We also discuss the deadly opioid epidemic and the truth behind the deadliest street drug: Fentanyl. We cover these topics: - Addiction doesn’t just affect the family, it makes the whole family unit very sick - Cross, or poly-addiction is common among addicts these days, as there is so muc...

In this episode, we reveal that addiction must be treated as the primary disorder, that families need to retain a trained professional, and that the addict’s crazy decisions are made by a damaged brain. Does that get your attention? We cover these topics: 1. Addiction must be treated as the primary disorder, as the cause of mental and behavioural problems, and not as the result. 2. Addicts/alcohol...

In this episode, we bust the myth that an addict who doesn’t get it the first time is a loser, when in fact he is on his way to success. He will, however, duck the issue every chance he gets.  We cover these topics: - The facts about relapse. - What commitment looks like. - How love is not the issue. - The games addicts play. - You are the problem, crazy, right? - What will it take: heat.