Alcoholism is Permanent - But That is Not Discouraging

Many of the men and women who come to our drug rehab for help struggle with the permanent nature of alcoholism.  Surprisingly, the loved ones (ie. parents and husbands/wives) are particularly defensive when being told that the person in treatment needs to plan for permanent lifestyle change to ensure long term recovery.

It should not be so discouraging.  The lifestyle of recovery leads one to feel strong and happy.  There is more time than ever to do whatever the recovering person wants to do  (because little to no time is lost in a drug or alcohol induced stupor).

Here is a cool quote from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous:

"Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic.' Commencing
to drink after a period of sobriety, we are in a short time
as bad as ever. If we are planning to stop drinking, there
must be no reservation of any kind, nor any lurking notion
that someday we will be immune to alcohol."