Characteristics of the Nonfunctioning Addict

They can actually enjoy professional success, maintain active social lives and hide their demons from the ones they love most — for a while, at least. As with everyone addicted to drugs and alcohol , high-functioning addicts are not a lost cause. A high-functioning addict may chalk up their drug and alcohol use to being standard behavior in their profession.

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They may also justify it as a reward for their hard work or career success. But for the high-functioning addict, this is just a regular occurrence. Look at who your loved one socializes with. If you notice your loved one has suddenly put down their guitar or stopped playing soccer, it could be because his substance abuse is starting to take over his life. Wait until they appear remorseful over bad behavior…not while they are inebriated or recovering from a hangover.

Homeless Heroin Addict Shares the Truth on Opioid Epidemic and Drug Addiction

With addiction, however, because self-help is such an important part of recovery for so many, we lose track of this truth. We privilege personal experience. Because the science often seems to contradict our stories, we lose sight of truths that capture the success of larger populations. The solution is not to ignore personal experience or dismiss it as a possible source of knowledge.

If we want to create effective treatments and drug policies, however, we need to put our stories in the context of the data and always question our assumptions.

There’s an Addict in My Closet — BOOK BY BOOK PUBLICITY Reader Views

As many people in recovery know, the first step to solving a problem is realizing that you have one. Maia Szalavitz is an author and journalist working at the intersection of brain, culture and behavior.

Getting Help and Going Forward

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There’s an Addict in My Closet

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  • The Myth of the High-Functioning Addict!

Deadly Rehabs That Target Kids. Stupid Myths About Recovery. Don't Believe The Marijuana Hype. Keith Richards revealed in a new interview that he has nearly given Putin Says it's the drugs in rap that bothers him, Lil Xan is out It's hard to know how to talk about addiction. But sometimes it isn Munden's eighteen-year personal struggle with addiction in conjunction with his professional experience treating the disease offers unique insight into the mind and reality of chemical dependency.

5 Telltale Signs of a High-Functioning Addict

The book is written to family members and individuals who struggle with this disease. It challenges our medical and legal systems to step up and acknowledge an epidemic that is destroying our society. There's an Addict in My Closet offers a realistic and clear understanding of the disease, how to identify it, and guidelines for treating it.

Munden offers hope through his own life story and the successes of countless patients.

Will My Insurance Pay for Rehab?

The far-reaching affects of addiction are immeasurable and make Dr. Munden's book a must read for anyone. The Truth about Addiction from a Doctor in Munden has been practicing medicine for thirty-five years.