In episode 2, Taku Mhonyera, Head of Treatment at Crossroads, Johannesburg, discusses the ban on alcohol and the implications thereof for alcoholics and the medical community, with Dr. Tich.
The link between alcohol and levels of violence in South Africa has been greatly debated since the 1st of June when the ban on the sale of alcohol was lifted.
Alcohol addiction is widespread due to its easy accessibility and social acceptance. If compulsive and uncontrolled alcohol consumption, binge drinking, blackouts and reckless behaviour under the influence dominate your life, you may be an alcoholic. If you or anyone close to you needs help with an addiction to sex,gambling, substances, alcohol or food, please contact us for a free assessment.
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We are pleased to bring you the first in a series of talks, Conversations @ The Crossroads. In the first episode, Taku Mhonyera, Head of Treatment at Crossroads Johannesburg talks to Dr. Tich. If you or anyone close to you needs help with an addiction to sex,gambling, substances, alcohol or food, please contact us for a free assessment.
No Obligation Addiction Assessment
Book a No Obligation Confidential Assessment at your nearest Treatment Centre Today.
An addiction of any kind is extremely destructive. Failing health, divorce, loss of jobs, arrests, family tension, dropping out of school and ultimately death are just some of the results of addiction. These consequences apply when dealing with any addiction; substance abuse, alcoholism, gambling, sex addiction are the most common that require some form of intervention.
Watching a loved one
battle the consequences of addiction is difficult and often these
consequences affect the family and loved ones of the addict. The
nature of addiction means that the addict very often is unaware or
unable to see the real cost of the addiction, they rely on denial
mechanisms to block out these horrible truths. If they are aware that
the addiction is causing unmanageability in their lives they are
unwilling to seek professional help and believe they can manage on
their own.
An intervention is a deliberate process orchestrated by family and loved ones to get the addict to see their truth and hopefully seek professional help. It is used to motivate change and is usually a last ditch effort to facilitate the process. In most cases an addict seeks out help as a result of mounting consequences and unmanageability. The intervention process raises this “rock bottom” in the hope that the individual in question seeks out help sooner rather than later.
An intervention is when family and friends, with the help of a trained professional, confront the addict with facts and experiences of the addicts behaviour and the effect it has had on them and what action the addict needs to take next (Bottom Lines) also what the consequences will be if the addict does not follow through with the professional help provided (consequences). The process is planned and structured; the addict is usually unaware of what they are walking into.
There is no clear data on the success rates of interventions, as the outcomes are always different. An addict must be willing to want the help, and must have the right motivation to enter life in recovery. The danger is that this process could drive the individual further away – they may feel bullied or unwanted.
It is important to
consult a professional when planning an intervention, this could be a
doctor, addictions counsellor, psychologist or psychiatrist. The
intervention process is an emotionally charged event and proper
guidance and planning is needed for the desired outcomes.
The Process:
Have a plan; consult with a professional and relevant family and friends. Have treatment options ready
Collect information; between the parties involved, collect information regarding the addict – the behaviour, experiences and consequences resulting from the addiction
Decide on who will be apart of the intervention, family, friends, trained professional
Decide on specific consequences if the addict does not follow through and accept the help. Each of the members of the intervention “team” must decide on what they will do if the addict does not go into treatment – move out, allowance cut off, divorce etc.
Make sure you know what you need to say – a good suggestion is to have letters prepared
Get the addict to the intervention site, it is best that they do not know what is about to happen. Present the letters to the addict. The members of the intervention team take turns presenting their experiences; what changes they need to see and what consequences there will be if the addict does not agree to go into treatment. Do not make any threats if you are not willing to follow through with them
Outcome achieved, addict agrees to go to treatment and is taken directly to the facility.
Not all interventions are successful, often the addict will not accept the help and the situation can get heated. It is important that the members of the intervention team stand firm on the consequences to follow when the addict refuses the help. Be prepared for this. It is an emotional process, hold firm on bottom lines. Family and friends must able to remove themselves from the destructive situation and choose to no longer support the addicts behaviour.
A successful Intervention is well planned and structured. Consultation with a professional interventionist is always the best option. The process can be daunting, emotional, draining and sometimes scary – but it could be the push the addict needs to get help.
The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
"Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
Character defects are generally known as flaws, shortcomings or deficiencies that are found within a person who suffers from addiction. Although there is much debate around the fact that addicts and alcoholics choose to use drugs or alcohol, the main issue here is, the defects of character are what makes an addict or alcoholic continue to abuse their preferred substance. Character defects are usually the source of a person acting irresponsibly and in that process, creating suffering for themselves and others. A list of defects can include dishonesty, selfishness, self-centeredness, inconsideration and many more. Character defects can apply to any person, not just to addicts and alcoholics. No human is perfect.
What is the reasoning behind an addict acting out on defects of character?
There are many reasons that an addict or alcoholic may act out on their defects of character. Someone who is drunk may get emotionally or physically aggressive while drinking or an addict may lie or manipulate in order to enable their addiction. Many addicts and alcoholics act out on defects because of their own fears and insecurities and this leads to an endless trail of destruction and chaos. Most defects are acted on, in order to meet the persons needs. This can be explained by Carl Rogers’ 19 propositions where the needs of an individual shape their behaviour in order to satisfy those needs. This is true of addicts and alcoholics in active addiction.
What happens if the behaviour continues?
When an addict or alcoholic continues acting out on their defects of character, it usually leaves a trail of consequences and results in them feeling isolated, alone, and afraid. These consequences may include- financial, strained relationships, lost friendships, jails, institutions etc., etc.. Character defects are usually developed through experiences with others, which also forms part of Carl Rogers’ theory of the 19 propositions. We develop our character through experiences with others and the world around us. Our character is usually based on our goals and values. In active addiction we frequently lose sight of those goals and values. How do we change all of this?
Removing our shortcomings
Once the addict or alcoholic has asked for help, they then enter into a treatment programme or programme of recovery. It is stated in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, that we first need to complete a moral inventory of ourselves in order to identify our defects of character. Only then are we able to honestly look at ourselves and identify our part in a situation. When we take responsibility for this, we are able to see where we have been wrong. This happens in step 4 and 5 of the 12 steps of AA. In step 6, we become willing for our higher power to remove our defects of character. In creating the awareness around our defects of character in the previous steps, we try now to look at how to replace them with spiritual principles instead so that when we act out on our defects, we chose to do more good than harm and work on improving ourselves on a daily basis.
Dominique Le Claire Rossouw
No Obligation Addiction Assessment
Book a No Obligation Confidential Assessment at your nearest Treatment Centre Today.
The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
"Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
