Having gone the course and having no illusions about addiction's tenacity, I probed the young man, with his parents' permission. His drinking problem turned out to be serious and he had already started taking drugs to satisfy his cravings. It happened in ours. I believe the road to recovery lies in recognizing the symptoms and dealing with them honestly, no matter the pain. Help is available.
People tend to believe that addicts can beat the disease if they are disciplined enough.
The otherwise successful professionals we met during the family visit to the rehab center belie this seemingly logical point. As a general rule, if you can beat the craving yourself, you're not truly addicted. The 12-step program stresses belief in a Higher Power and turning to God for help. Working within a group of peers, this approach guides the sufferer out of the wasteland of addiction towards a plateau of spiritual serenity. When the alcoholic and addict work with the program assiduously, they are on the road to recovery.