Drug abuse and denial

Drug abuse can be ruinous to an addict's health and mental well-being and can also be devastating to the family and friends of an addict. Yet a denial of their drug abuse often blinds addicts to the cause of their problems - their dependence on drugs. It allows them to pretend that their using is not destructive.

Addiction is characterised by compulsive behaviour that the addict is unable to curb, despite the serious consequences. Addicts are often in denial that the negative effects of their behaviour are outweighed by any perceived benefits - making them unable to stop.

Denial in addiction

Like in all forms of addiction, denial is a natural defence mechanism taken to extreme and unhealthy lengths - becoming an obstacle to recovery and a "safe" delusion in which the addict can hide.

People generally do not like to feel helpless and out-of-control and this is particularly true for the addict. An addict will blame everything and everyone except their own substance abuse for their problems.

Another reason is that the addict may be using drugs to deny the fact that they struggle to find other ways to cope with stress, disappointment, anguish, fear and anger without resorting to substance abuse. Some even believe that there is no hope and that they are failures or people with poor morals.

It is this cycle of drug abuse and denial that makes an addict believe that one more drink wouldn't hurt, that they have their drug habits under control or that they need them to feel "normal."

Accepting responsibility

Denial is painful and causes frustration for those who care about the addict as the destructive progression of the drug abuse becomes obvious to everyone except the addict.

This does not mean that concerned friends and family members are powerless to act. In consultation with a professional, it may be possible to stage an intervention to help convince the drug abuser that there is a problem.

Those suffering from drug abuse need to acknowledge that they have a problem. They need to put the denial aside and realise that they have lost control over their lives. Once they have accepted responsibility for their actions, the drug abuser can seek help through counselling and treatment.

Drug addiction can be arrested and managed

Those in denial about their drug abuse need to understand that drug abuse is a manageable condition, and it is possible for drug addicts to overcome their addictive behaviour and re-enter their everyday lives as productive members of society.

This does not mean that addiction can simply be cured, or that treatment is a passive process, requiring no effort from the addict.

The most effective treatment for drug abuse can be found at an extended primary care rehab facility where individual therapy, group counselling and a daily programme of recovery can be instituted.

The value of a holistic course of treatment in conjunction with a 12 step programme is that it will provide addicts with the tools they need to deal with their own emotional problems and to relate better to loved ones and to society in general.