Sure I smoke pot, but it's not a problem. It just helps me relax. About one in ten American adults has a problem with alcohol or other drugs, and many more are affected by someone else's substance abuse. Anyone who uses drugs or alcohol may develop an addiction. Unfortunately, one of the major characteristics of addiction is denial.
Denial is a very powerful and effective way of coping with pain.
However, it allows problems to escalate tremendously before a person acknowledges the problem and seeks help. Usually everyone involved feels the emotional turmoil of fear, resentment, suspicion, isolation, embarrassment and anger. The most important step to take is to break the barrier of silence. Once you have acknowledged the problems and the feelings, there is usually relief from wondering, hiding denying and feeling guilty. We are fortunate to have a wide range of community resources available to help both the substance abuser and those affected by someone else's addiction.