Some people struggle with “hard” drugs such as opiates, amphetamines, and benzodiazepines. An addiction to these substances is difficult to overcome. Many people have to go to a treatment center to successfully achieve and maintain sobriety. Other people try to get sober by themselves.
While many people are successful at getting off “hard” drugs, the problem becomes how to fill the void in their life that used to be taken up by drug use. To this end, many people who have kicked "hard" drugs end up turning to alcohol to achieve similar results that “hard” drugs once did.
This may seem like the lesser of two evils, but alcohol can be just as damaging as “hard” drugs. Alcohol can just as easily be harmful to mental and physical health as well as relationships and lifestyle. An addiction to alcohol needs treatment every bit as much as an addiction to “hard” drugs did.
Some people may think that they kicked one bad habit and replaced it with a less damaging habit. However, that is not how addiction operates. The cycle of addiction repeats itself because it's not about the addictive quality of the substance, but about how the brain functions.
Addiction is a dysfunction in the brain, specifically in the pre-frontal cortex—the reward system of the brain. Addiction hijacks this area of the brain to motivate people to seek pleasure-inducing substances compulsively. This leads to the erosion of choice in the matter of using substances, “hard” or otherwise.
To put it simply, one becomes a slave to substances. Whether one is using “hard” drugs or drinking alcohol, they are still satisfying and perpetuating that dysfunction in their brain.
If someone makes the switch from “hard” drugs to alcohol, one thing is clear: there is an underlying issue to be addressed. This could be a multitude of things from childhood trauma to a co-occurring mental disorder.
The point is that there is something within the individual's life experience that needs to be diagnosed and healed. Drugs and alcohol are often used to mask these deeper issues, so the problem can be difficult to pinpoint. In this instance, seeing a mental health professional is the best course of action.
Dealing with the deeper issue will not only help individuals heal from what is plaguing them, but it can also help them achieve long-term sobriety from all substances and give them their best life back.
When an individual turns to alcohol after treatment for drugs, it can also be a warning sign of a “hard” drug relapse. Alcohol impairs one's judgment. This may cause them to fall back into old habits. Think of alcohol as the stepping stone to “hard” drugs. When one already has a past with drugs, that can be a very dangerous line to walk.
The reason recovery and being truly sober from all substances is so heavily emphasized is because when someone is still drinking after quitting drugs, they are still engaging in a form of self-medication. Self-medication can be dangerous for many different reasons. It can lead individuals back to the drug they originally quit. Given time, they will build a tolerance to alcohol and it will take more and more to feel its effects which can lead to a host of problems. Further, since their body is used to the high of “hard” drugs, the chance of alcohol overdose is extremely high because it takes significantly more alcohol to achieve the same effects.
The most obvious course of action is to stop consuming alcohol. This is much easier said than done, but it is necessary.
First, one should consult with their doctor or a health professional. Detoxing from alcohol can be dangerous and even life-threatening under certain conditions, so they should ensure they are detoxing safely. Seeking further professional addiction treatment is also a great option. Places like NorthStar Transitions are a perfect place to get the help one needs.
Finding a local meeting such as AA, NA, SMART recovery, or another type of recovery program can also help. This will put recovering individuals into contact with people who have gone through similar struggles. They may be able to help others in recovery navigate these difficult times.
It can feel almost impossible to maintain sobriety, especially when one's life feels chaotic and out of control. Luckily, it is something anyone can achieve with the right help and guidance.
The goal of all the hard work of recovery is to be happy. To do that, one can't have anything in their system that alters their mental state. “Hard” drugs and alcohol both do this.
Everyone wants to be able to enjoy life and not be a victim of addiction. Though it's hard, it is possible. Anyone can overcome substance use, even if they've turned to alcohol after getting clean from “hard” drugs.
Following the use of substances with alcohol can be a common struggle. What happens once you stop using substances? How do you stop drinking? These are just some of the questions you may be asking yourself. Struggling with substance use can be difficult to stop, especially if you've replaced "hard" drugs with alcohol. The best option to consider is to stop both drug and alcohol use. While you may feel that drinking isn't a problem, it can still lead to problems. Being intoxicated can lead to impaired decision-making and can also be a trigger that can lead back to more dangerous substance use. Learning to be sober from both drinking and drug use can be hard. If you are struggling with the use of drugs and alcohol do not hesitate to reach out to NorthStar Transitions today at (303) 558-6400.
