I’ve written several times about the Marty Mann Test for Addiction, and I’m a firm believer that it works. (You can find a link in the references below.) But how do we get people to try it? And, when they won’t, how do they realize that they really do have addiction?
I had a colleague who explained her trajectory this way: “I thought, ‘As long as I don’t get an OWI (DUI), I’m fine.’ Then I got an OWI and thought, ‘As long as I don’t use cocaine, I’m fine.’ Then I used cocaine and thought, ‘As long as I don’t use heroin, I’m fine.’ Then I used heroin and thought, ‘As long as I don’t shoot up, I’m fine.’ Then I shot up, and I realized I had a problem.”
I’ve referenced my loved one seemingly digging her way to China as we waited for her to “hit bottom.”
And, I was recently watching Ginny & Georgia on Netflix, where 16-year-old Marcus wet the bed while drunk, and that seemed to be the clue his parents needed that he wasn’t fine. He still isn’t convinced, though.
Far too often people point to others’ consequences to mollify their own. “I don’t have a problem! My xxx has a problem, and you should see zir!”
Or, they don’t see the consequences at all: “I have xxx; I’m fine!” XXX can be a home, a job, a partner, loving friends and family, whatever, but they don’t see that those things could be better.
- I live in a one-room apartment, but I can’t afford anything better.
- I used to have a better job, but calling in too often or leaving early too often left me with this not as desirable job.
- I have a partner who also has addiction, but ze is the only one who will put up with me.
- I have loving friends and family, but I don’t realize that after a certain time of the day they no longer answer my calls.
So how do we get people to recognize their addictions?
Drug testing won’t diagnose addiction to substances, but it will certainly help to identify it. I work with those who are ordered to abstain from alcohol and other drugs, and so I use urine cups to determine if they are actually abstaining. Often, they are not. They have lots of reasons why they are not, but never is that reason “because I have addiction.”
First, I’m told that the test must not be right. Then I’m told that the person only used “a little.” We discuss why ze used at all, given the abstinence order, and it’s never because “I have an addiction.” It’s because “I don’t have a problem, so I thought using a little is fine.” “I have never been out of control, so I don’t see a problem in using a little.” “I know I’m not supposed to use at all, but I was at a party, so I used a little.” And the list goes on.
And here’s the thing…I haven’t had a drink in over 10 years. I decided back in August 2015 that I can be a better role model for those who can’t drink socially than I was for those who can, so I stopped drinking, despite not having addiction. (For the record, I never really used any other drugs, including nicotine or cannabis, though I do still partake in caffeine and sugar.)
I don’t drink. I don’t even use a little.
Rather than normalizing how much people use based on others in their lives, I have faith that eventually we will see normalization of a lack of use. We’re already getting there! According to a recent Gallup poll, 53% of Americans, a majority for the first time, say that “drinking in moderation, or ‘one or two drinks a day,’ is bad for one’s health” (news.gallup). And, the lowest percentage of Americans in the nearly 90-year history of Gallup polling shows that alcohol use among US adults is only 54%. Great news! Absolutely wonderful news!
But can anyone explain to me the 3% of Americans who KNOW that drinking “‘one or two drinks a day’ is bad for one’s health” but continue to do so?
Addiction is a disease, and while we can’t yet diagnose it with any sort of medical test, we can use drug testing to draw a picture for those who don’t yet recognize they have the disease.
References
https://news.gallup.com/poll/693362/drinking-rate-new-low-alcohol-concerns-surge.aspx#
Guided by Guida 
Leave a comment