A Sober Life

Drug addiction is typically caused by deep seeded emotional problems that exist from past trauma. People use drugs to numb the pain. Feelings of guilt and shame are masked by drug and alcohol use. A vicious addiction cycle occurs because the behaviors and associations that go along with drug use only cause more guilt and shame.

Families who have mentally ill relatives whose problems are compounded by substance abuse face problems of enormous proportions. Mental health services are not well prepared to deal with patients having both afflictions.