An Addict Getting that Monkey off His Back

“Having a monkey on your back” is a phrase which has usually meant to have a nagging problem but has come to be associated closely with having a drug addiction. This makes sense because a drug addiction is very definitely a problem for the addict. An addict must satisfy those cravings and is driven mentally and physically to get more of the drug. Tony knows what having a monkey on your back means to a person’s life and survival.

He explained what happened to him when he was caught up in the trap of addiction. “I felt really terrible about all the things I had been putting my family and my friends through. I was lying. I was stealing from them. I was really down on myself.” His life was a mess and he was ignoring everything except getting the money to get more drugs and then getting the drugs and getting high.

When he found Narconon, he knew there was finally hope to get out of this seemingly never-ending cycle. Narconon provides the treatment which addresses the mental and physical aspects of addiction. Withdrawal is accomplished with the assistance of the trained staff. No substitute drugs are used to prevent withdrawal symptoms, but the use of innovative relaxation techniques and nutritional support make the process much more tolerable. Those going through withdrawal at Narconon often comment that it was easier than other withdrawals they had gone through.

The sauna-based detox is also a key part of the Narconon program of recovery. When drug residues get lodged in the body’s tissues, the results can be the return of cravings, even years after stopping drug use. The Narconon New Life Detoxification flushes out these residual drugs and other toxins, leaving a person feeling refreshed, alive and alert.

Tony smiled when describing the sauna portion of the program. “When I got into the sauna portion of the program is when I really started to feel good. All my feelings were coming back. I was able to laugh again. I was able to sleep. The world was good.”

The final phase of Narconon treatment consists of a study of six courses that provide the life skills necessary to fix those damaged areas of an addicted lifestyle and then to maintain a drug-free life once back home. These are unique courses of self-discovery where the student finds out where he went wrong and so can avoid the pitfalls that led to addiction. For example, one course is the Personal Values and Integrity Course where the participant looks at his past misdeeds and comes to grips with his responsibility. He can then move forward with his life, free of his past.

Tony said, “There was a point later in the program where I was able to confront some of the bad things I was doing and deal with those. It just felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. Now that I’ve been off drugs, my life has been great. I no longer have that monkey on my back and I feel like I can accomplish anything I try.”

Narconon gives an addict the real chance to get rid of that very demanding problem of addiction, live a fulfilling and productive life and accomplish his dreams. Lasting recovery is what an addict needs and what Narconon can provide.

Tony completed the Narconon Arrowhead drug rehab program in Oklahoma.