There are actually other treatment options. One of them are the 4 phases, which are used in some treatment centers. Here is a web-site where you can get them and lots of other information about addiction treatment. Just copy and paste it in the address bar.


http://addictiontreatmentchallenges.com/addiction-treatment/drug-addiction-and-alcoholism-treatment-the-4-phases-part-3-of-4

There is also a treatment plan called Smart Recovery, which is a non-religious 12-step program.

http://www.smartrecovery.org/

And this last link is from the smart recovery site. It is for friends and family of addicts.

http://www.smartrecovery.org/resources/library/For_Family_Volunteers_Professionals/those_who_care.htm

Just to give you a little information on things other than the traditional 12 step programs.

I think I am a researchaholic. I pick topics and just go crazy finding out everything I can about it. Of course, right now, addiction is the main topic on my mind.

Wow! We are freakishly similar! I'm a research nut too. I have my master's degree in education, so usually that is what I research--educational techniques and such. I have my bachelor's in journalism, so I love to be a sleuth. But I'm new to addiction and recovery and I'll be researching that now too. Thanks for the info on programs. I got bad news just minutes ago when I called the hospital. The Impact program is no longer there. They have since switched to some sort of SummaCare something or other that does not take our insurance. Back to square one. Even more bad news was that I realized it doesn't even matter to him right now anyway. This is the saddest thing ever to watch!

Things are getting worse. I've been having an anxiety attack all day long, and Ben's mom just called to tell me Ben is doing crack with another girl. I'm so broken-hearted right now. I can't understand this addiction at all. I can't understand someone can be so hurtful. I'm not sure how to even calm myself down right now. He's also selling the air conditioner in the window here to his aunt. Headed for a steamy summer!

6 a.m. and Ben showed up to get one of the air conditioners and some of his tools. I was actually sitting on the couch reading posts on Daily Strength and crying when he pulled in. Nothing eventful happened. He thought I was sick since my eyes were so red and puffy. I'm going to the doctor this afternoon to get on medicine for anxiety and depression. My hands are shaking all the time and my chest is so tight from all the stress. I hate what addiction is doing to me. Brodie asked me last night if daddy had gone to the doctor yet. How can I tell him he may never make an appointment?

Tsimps- This may sound like an odd question, but can you explain to me what a crack addiction feels like? I'm struggling to understand what goes through Ben's head when he gets money or is trying to sell his things. I want to know what it's like--from the time the money is in your hand until your coming off it a day or so later. Reason being, we went to a water park with our kids about two weeks ago, and the whole time we were there, it felt as though Ben's body was there but not his mind or personality. He truly seemed like a shell of himself. He wasn't in a hurry to leave or anything, it was more like he was viewing everything from outside his body. My friend said it's because he can't really function without the drug at this point. Everything else is unfamiliar and uncomfortable. I'm just really trying to understand what he's going through and I feel like having insight into how his addiction works will help me.

Crack was not my drug of choice.I did cocaine,but crack has it's own twist on addiction.Put this up as a new topic.Ask for responses from recovering crack users.

Just wanted to post a quick update about Ben. In the middle of the night last night, Ben went to the E.R. and now he is in the psych ward until tomorrow due to suicidal thoughts and depression and anxiety. He met with a psychiatrist today and tomorrow he will meet with a social worker who is supposed to give him some options on places he can go for further assistance in overcoming this addiction. I have three phone numbers to call tomorrow to check on insurance issues and if they have a bed available. My friend just called me and told me she did some checking around for us and found a place called The Phoenix House which can take him tomorrow. She spoke with the director and they have a bed available for him tomorrow. I don't know any details about the program. It actually seems more like a men's home than a full-fledged program, but I hope he goes. He said he would today. He says he is more than ready to escape the clutches of addiction. I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings. I'm so hopeful that this may be the beginning of his recovery. I know the road is long and rocky, but just getting him to take this step was so important. I'm still so nervous about if this is really going to be the beginning of the end or if this is just another plea for me to give him another chance. Another opportunity for him to say, "I've tried everything." No matter what, I'm feeling mostly peaceful tonight. He is safe, and I'm free from the hold of his addiction for one more night.

Drugs is a losing game. Also, there's a reason they call it the DEVILS CANDY...Notice the Devil is a spirit, we are only flesh and blood, it's takes a spirit to destroy another spirit. Its takes a spirit to whip a spirit. Flesh and blood cant do it. That's where your Heavenly Father and Lord and Savior Christ Jesus come in. You see heroin may be stronger or crack may be stronger than humans but it is NOT STRONGER THAN GOD. Please know that!!! Why do you think the Third step is turn your life over to GOD.I dont care about that higher power non-sense. Turning your life over to God means to run to him in your mind and heart and pray fervently (passionately) and cry out to your FatherHe will deliver. I PROMISE. DRUGS IS NOT STRONGER THAN GOD!!!

The last two days Ben has used. He made it three weeks! After letting him come back to our home, even though deep down I didn't want to, I knew I would be in for some serious ups and downs, but it doesn't make it any easier knowing ahead of time. This time when he used, it was even harder for me to face it because I had become so hopeful. Yesterday evening, I went to my neighbors to sit and talk while the kids played in the yard. A. is a 15-year-old girl who has been starting to babysit my kids for short periods of time when I go to work until Ben comes home. She said to me, "Hey, Kim. What is Ben's new number?" So I give it to her and she looks at her phone and says, "I thought that was him. He called me at 1:30 in the morning and left me a really weird message." She let me listen to the message and it is quite obvious that he called her on accident and the voicemail recorded him buying crack. He is on the message saying, "C'mon man. Just give me a chunk. You know I'm good for it." And the guy, who sounds like a little demon, keep saying, "I got your number man." It was sooo embarassing. I left shortly after I heard the message and told her grandma and dad I would call them. Ben came home unexpectedly shortly after that and I told him about the message. I told him he should call them to apologize but he wouldn't do it. I called her grandma right in front of him and said, "C. did you listen to the message?" She said, "No." I told her that she needed to listen to the message and that it was very obvious what was happening during the call. I said I was so sorry and the that it had been an accidental call, but that she needed to listen to the message. He granddaughter that is in the third grade was here at the time, so I also said, "C., Ben is home right now. He just showed up. Everything is fine, but if you want your granddaughter to come home because of this message and the fact that Ben is here I understand." She said, "Yes. Send her home. Not because of whatever is in the message, but because it is late." It's funny, at first I was horribly embarassed by all this, but now, I'm somewhat at peace about it. I even told C. that although I was sorry about the voicemail incident, I hope she understands that his behavior isn't my behavior and in no way should reflect back on me. Aside from all that, Ben returned his new tennis shoes and spent the money on crack. He also spent about $200 dollars. I'm so sick and tired of all this. I just want to distance myself from it as much as possible. It would be so easy if we didn't have kids. Our five-year-old had just told Ben the other day, "I'm so glad you come home at night now." How heart-breaking to know that my son is being sucked into this cycle along with the addict. I'm creating two co-dependent boys! I need to end this, but I'm not sure how to do it. I already had him out once, so I know I have the courage to do it again, but this time I know it means it's over. This time, I know that I'm sending him out in the world to live in his car. He wants to stay here while he saves up a little bit of money to get a place, but I know that he can't save money! He is selling the shoes on his feet for crack! I'm in such anguish and feel so desperate. I want a magic wand, a fairy godmother just like the movies to make it all disappear and bring back the Ben I met and just was getting to know again for the last three weeks. It is amazing that a destructive force such as drugs is in this world. I'm sick over the fact that I'm powerless to stop it's run in my life and it's affect on Ben. I'm sick that my boys are also being affected by it. Just sick!