The Law of Addiction

“Administration of a drug to an addict will cause reestablishment of chemical dependence upon the addictive substance.”

Dippers are often furious with me because they believe I caused them to go back to chewing. Why do they think this? Well, I have this nasty habit of making a really big deal any time a clinic participant takes one dip or maybe just a few cans. The dipper feels I am so persuasive in my arguments that he has no choice but to have a full-fledged relapse. In his opinion, I forced him back to the lifetime dependency which will impair his health and may eventually cost him his life. He is convinced that if I had not made such a major issue out of the incident, he would just have dipped that one time and would never have done it again. How can I sleep each night knowing what I have done?

I sleep quite well, thank you. For, you see, I am not responsible for these people’s relapses to chew. They can take full credit for becoming dippers again. They relapsed because they broke the one major law of nicotine addiction – they took a chew. This is not my law. I am not setting myself up to be judge, jury, and executioner. The law of physiological addiction states that administration of a drug to an addict will cause reestablishment of the dependence on that substance. I didn’t write that law. I don’t execute that law. My job is much simpler than that. All I do is interpret the law. This means, by taking a chew, the dipper either goes back to full-fledged dipping or goes through the withdrawal process associated with quitting. Most don’t opt for the withdrawal.

Every clinic has a number of participants who have quit in the past for one year or longer. In fact, I had one clinic participant who had stopped for a period of 24 years before he relapsed. He never heard that such a law existed, that even after 24 years, the ex-dipper is not totally freed from his imprisonment of addiction. He didn’t understand that the day he tossed his “last” can, he was placed “on probation” for the rest of his life. But ignorance of the law is not excusable – not the way the laws of a physiological nature are written. By the American standards of justice, this seems to be cruel and unusual punishment. But this is the way things are.

Maybe instead of going to a nicotine clinic, a recently relapsed person should contact his attorney to plead his case of why he should be able to have an occasional dip when he desires. Maybe he can cheat just once, get a sympathetic jury, be judged innocent, and walk out of the courtroom a free and independent person. Surely, in pleading his case before twelve impartial people, he will probably have no problem convincing them that he is innocent of any wrongdoing. And, as he happily walks out of court a free and independent person, he will probably have an uncontrollable urge and then open a can.

Detoxification

Detoxification is a big word, and is a really difficult path for any drug addict. Every day is a struggle of seemingly endless confusion and physical suffering. In a drug rehab facility, detoxification involves the process of getting rid of drugs in the body. Its main purpose is to safely and effectively manage withdrawal symptoms.

Detox removes all alcohol traces and drugs from the body, in which the brain adjusts to the sudden drop of drug levels. It ensures that an individual is physically stable to start therapy.

Here are the good-to-know facts about detoxification:

• Detoxification treatment programs assist patients during the withdrawal process and the time it takes varies from one person to another. Most detox programs take three to seven days long.
• Detoxification should not be considered a rehab substitute or therapy. It’s only the first stage geared towards full recovery.
• Some of the withdrawal symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea. In a rehab facility, rapid dehydration is prevented with the help of healthcare professionals who monitor patients 24/7 (medically-supervised detox).

Tips and Tricks to Avoid Relapse

Avoid Triggering Situations: Avoid passing your favorite bar or hang-out places to avoid cravings to drink or join a pot session. Set effective plans on how you can handle triggering factors to prevent the cravings and avoid relapse.

Join a Support Group: One good example is Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or SMART Recovery. These social support groups help rehabilitated individuals stay in touch with all the principles they have learned during rehabilitation. These groups serve as a source of information and accountability for previous abusers to stay sober.

Participate in Aftercare: Some examples of aftercare programs include Contingency Management, Motivational Interviewing, and alumni support. These programs offer continued resources, peer support, and motivational methods for the individual to remain abstinent.

Get Active: Regular exercise and engaging in meaningful activities will help decrease cravings, boost self-confidence, and increase optimism and overall happiness.

Conclusion

Don’t look for loopholes in the law of addiction. You will be convicting yourself back to chewing. While it may seem harsh and unfair, to many, dipping is a crime punishable by death. Don’t try to cheat the system – NEVER TAKE ANOTHER CHEW!

© Joel Spitzer 1983
The original article has been modified to be more relevant for dippers and chewers.