Battling Addiction - Fighting the Good Fight (Lesson Plan)By David J. Borges JrSynopsis - using war as a metaphor for addiction, identifying different componenets of war and their individual importance in our ability to win

Elements of War

Command Center (Higher Power) - Communication with the Command Center or Higher Power is essential in our ability to win battles and the war for several reasons:

1) Instructions come from the Command Center/Higher Power; this is the source from which we obtain information on the direction we are to go and what we are to do along the way (objectives).

2) The Command Center/Higher Power is aware of the larger picture; it has information which would otherwise be unavailable to the soilder on the ground. The Command Center/Higher Power has a "bird's eye view" of the battlefield/terrain whereas many times we can't see the forest for the trees.

3) It is the Command Center/Higher Power that soilders/you rely upon for support, supplies, reinforcements, etc... Whereas those around you might be able to help with the smaller encounters, it is the Command Center/Higher Power that packs the "big guns" or larger artillery.

4) The command center most often communicates with soilders through generals of recovery your sponsor, therapists, loved ones, other people in recovery.Boot Camp (Treatment) - The training ground where we learn and hone the skills that are essential to our ability to win the war in several ways:

1) Many of us have very poor life skills, including but not limited to: communication, self-awareness, awareness of our surroundings, copinng skills, self sufficiency, etc... This is a place where we learn and begin to practice these tactics.

2) When we first begin in treatment, our skills are often completely insufficient (and sometimes non-existent). It is for this reason that treatment often starts in a very secure place, often jail or an inpatient rehabilitation center. Once we have progressed to a certain point in these programs, they release us to the second phase of training (IOP/GOP) where we will be subject to some real world dangers.

3) It is essential that we train as hard as possible while in Boot Camp/Treatment because we only have a comparitively small amount of time in here compared to the long war ahead of us. This is a safe place in which we can begin to practice the skills that we have learned for application out in the field. The more focus, attention, and effort we put forth while in Boot Camp/Treatment, the less likely we are to be wounded, killed, or taken prisoner out there.

Mission Debriefing (Return and Report) - Since we are still in training while participating in IOP/GOP, it is essential that we return and report to the group about our experiences during our "training exercises." It is in this manner that we share our successes - the tactics which have worked that others can learn from as well as our failures - so we can explore the reason behind why certain things may have happened, etc... Often times we can learn almost as much from others' triumphs and adopt strategies which are successful and others mistakes as to what not to do, as we could if they were our own experiences...often times more - because it is often easier to view situations impartially when they are not your own than when you are caught in the whirlwind of your own BS.

Battlefield (Real Life) - It is out in the real world where the battle is fought and won or lost. This is a place fraught with dangers for those who have sluffed in their training and less so for those who put forth the effort to hone their skills while in here. The world is a dangerous place, but infinitely moreso for the ignorant than the wise.

Commrades (Friends in Recovery) - The chance of success for an individual can be greatly increased by the squad in which he operates. Surrounding yourself with those who are highly trained in the ways of sobriety will help you when you struggle. It is very important that you communicate with your Commrades/Friends in Recovery as well as your higher power. More often than not, when you get into a pinch, it is going to be another soilder (friend) who is right there with you that will help you out of it or help you to avoid pitfalls that they are aware of but you might not be. The Command Center/Higher Power isn't often just going to swoop in and fly you out to safety when you get in a hard spot, but one of your commrades might. Conversely, you want to pick your friends wisely. In a war, who are you going to want in your squad? Do you want the people who are always getting shot and hurt themselves watching your back or do you want the people who are kicking ass and taking names?

Double Agents (Frenemies) - We must always be on guard for those people who talk the talk, but do not walk the walk. These people are far more dangerous to us than those who we obviously can identify as being on the other side because you are more likely to let them in and then they will lead you astray. I have heard a couple of times now about people in treatment having "friends in recovery" and they make detours to the liquor store on the way to a meeting or end up convincing someone to get high with them because they are sick, etc...

Defense Strategies in Recovery - 12 Steps, Sponsors, Church, AIIA, Erase & Replace, Networking, Safety in Numbers, Charity/Service, etc...

Weapons of the Enemy (Addiction) - Addiction is a very cunning enemy and will exploit whatever weaknesses available to it. These can include but are not limited to: Fear, doubt, resentment, frustration, scarcity, celebration, over confidence...the list goes on and on.

Getting Wounded and POWs (Relapse and Return to Using) - We are likely to at some point become injured at some point during this war but the important thing is what you do with the injury? Do you analyze what happened to allow the injury to occur and better prepare yourself to deal with similar situations in the future or do you wallow in the fact that you have been hit until you find yourself once again a POW (Addicted)? Even worse...will you spend so much time as a POW that you begin to suffer from Stockholm syndrome and to identify with your captor, enjoying the addiction and working as an agent against recovery instead of an agent in recovery.