The first principle of addiction recovery is definitely universal and that is the principle of surrender. In fact the very presence of surrender defines addiction itself. If you can overcome a drug or alcohol problem without coming to the point of surrender then what you were experiencing was not addiction or alcoholism to begin with. You may have had a “drinking problem” or a “drug problem” but by definition you were not truly addicted.

It is my belief that we cannot just run away from drugs and alcohol if we are true addict or alcoholic. Me, if I were to drink even one beer then I know exactly what would happen: my addiction would rear it’s ugly head and I would end up using all sorts of drugs in a very short period of time and be right back at my worst by the end of the week. It happens fast and I have watched it over and over again among my peers. Real addicts and alcoholics are completely destroyed by relapse, no matter how innocent it may seem.

I believe that every recovering addict and alcoholic is bound to relapse some day unless they are pushing themselves to keep making growth. Long term recovery is an exercise in personal growth. Complacency kills. If you get lazy in your journey then it is because you have decided that you have “arrived”. This is always a mistake and results in relapse.The solution is to pursue personal growth. It is only through personal growth that you can protect yourself from relapse.