Addictions

Addictions. Sidney Poitier writes in Life Beyond Measure about his addictions to nicotine, alcohol, and gambling that he has had to overcome in his lifetime. Addictions are so easy to slide into, and so difficult to get out of. How do we parents help our young adult children avoid the snares of addiction? By our examples, most certainly; but that may not be enough.

Over ninety percent of the time, I believe, the addicted person must find his or her own motivation to quit. We can set good examples, express our love for the person, express our desire that the person will find the motivation to smash the ensnaring demons, but in the end, it will most likely be up to the addict to make the choice and find the will to quit. Of course, it helps mightily if the addict has a belief in God and a faith in God's love, mercy, and purpose for the addict's life, and if the addict becomes accustomed to seeking God's will in his life.

What is the reason people become vulnerable to addictions? Is it unresolved turmoil in their day-to-day lives? Mr. Poitier developed a concept of "neutral ground," whereby he quiets the inner turmoil and seeks a neutral ground of peacefulness. It sounds a lot like Jill Bolte Taylor's insights about the right hemisphere of the brain, in her book My Stroke of Insight. She says that the right hemisphere looks at the big picture, and is a place of peace where we can feel interconnected with others and with the universe.