News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
A new study shows those addicted to alcohol who take charge of the addiction on their own and receive compassionate help at the same time, are more likely to make a change in the addiction.
Cedar Recovery Chief Medical Officer Dr. Stephen Loyd, said the road to recovery is never easy, but is always possible with the right support. He said that recovery is a journey that is best faced with company rather than alone. Loyd said that beyond having housing, the elements for successful recovery are a strong support system, including family, friends, and therapy.
“I actually have a talk on this very thing and I call it turtle on a fencepost,” Loyd said. “And the reason I do that is that if you see a turtle on a fencepost, you know it didn’t get there by itself and that’s really the role of, really the importance of friends and family and surroundings and recovery because nobody gets into recovery by themselves.”
Loyd said the emotions stirred up during a problem time often motivate people to seek change and start their recovery journey. Loyd said his journey toward sobriety began twenty years ago when he made the life-changing decision to seek help, a step that led him to where he is today as a doctor, proving that recovery is possible for anyone.
“It’s just a very down time if you’re stuck in addiction,” Loyd said. “A lot of people reach the end of the line during the holidays because of just that.”
Loyd said that some people believe recovery is a moral failure, but said that those individuals could not be more wrong. He said that addiction is a brain disorder, with numerous approaches available to treat the disorder. Loyd also said that many misconceptions about recovery can be cleared up by seeking professional help.
“A lot of folks think that the only way to achieve sobriety is the way they got there,” Loyd said. “And there are alot of different paths to sobriety, and for me those are the big misconceptions.”
Loyd said that his support system continues to remind him why he made that change, adding that, although he was scared to face his problem at the time.
The study, published March 8 in the International Journal of Drug Policy, is the first randomized controlled trial of a harm-reduction treatment for alcohol-use disorder.
