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It is not that we can change each other. Also, it is not easy to change ourselves. This is because the behavior was accepted at an earlier time as though it was preferable. Many times it was strongly embraced. When that happened the nature of Mind-Life, which supports our choices, built a home for that behavior deep into our belief-systems. Such behavior remains entrenched within us until we become confident that the Power and Presence greater than we are, is always there for us. This means that as we grow our lives, we can adjust our behavior. It does not mean that we can do it by trying hard to act differently!

Changes in habitual experiences require new patterns of thought about them to be built. This is a thing of thought. Why does the construction of some of these new and better patterns escape our interests? It is because the earlier decision for excessive drinking, using drugs, compulsive lying, stealing, and so on, was constructed around the idea that someone else who we were attracted to, was used by us as an authority for what we thought would be happier living.

Often, but not always, the earlier person or persons of influence believed that right and wrong was the basic consideration one must make about life.  Many times, the consideration was connected with a religious idea about God’s being a judge of our behavior.  The resulting behavior for us was to compulsively do what was taught to us by another.  Or just the opposite happened: we may have adopted a behavior because we felt so oppressed by a rule that we felt our happiness could not be experienced unless a violation through some sensation could be practiced by us.

However all of this occurred, the way out of hurtful behaviors begins as we turn away from thinking that right and wrong are couched in our behaviors. This means that to consider doing what is right rather than what is wrong is not the basis for resolving our seeming problems. This is because there is no God that is punishing us. We are simply punishing ourselves. Does this mean that God is nonexistent? Not at all! God is everywhere, in everything, but rather than a judge, God is our supporter for our being lifted out of disappointments. The divine resourcefulness is not threatening, but is a wise guide that speaks to us from deep within ourselves.

The steps out of our challenges are as follows:

1. We are to believe that the Divine Providence is everywhere, within everyone.This Presence and Unlimited Power assists those who establish thoughtful goals to succeed in greater living. Where those patterns of higher thought are lacking, the Wisdom from on High remains forever patient, knowing that when we are ready, we will join in the swelling chorus that is for the benefit of all.
2. The Supreme Intelligence is more interested in our being happy than our being right. When we become happy, it is because we feel secure. When we feel secure, we move swiftly towards our goals. If we think very much about whether our behavior is right as opposed to wrong, we are feeling insecure and unhappy. Then, we cannot achieve our goals except that sometimes we achieve some of them by trying terribly hard. Life is not hard unless we make it that way.
3. The Life-Intelligence only knows us as whole, perfect, and complete. Therefore, when we feel guilty about our mistakes, it is entirely our own doing.   On the other hand, the Presence identifies with our using goals to achieve better living. Rather than being critical then of good and bad behavior, we are to become careful of our thoughts. There is a correct way to think and an incorrect way. When we think with the interest to achieve goals that express us well, we are thinking correctly. In that sense there is a right way or a wrong way, but our behavior is its outcome, and cannot be adjusted with ease unless our thinking is open to it.
4. We have been crafted to express individual depictions of divine destinies. No two of us are to become wholly alike. A concert of divine harmony is being played through us and as us. To the degree that we are out of step with it, the accord is still functioning magnificently well. Our goals are to step into the Melody of Life and be at one with It.

Can alcoholism be cured?

No, alcoholism cannot be cured at this time. Even if an alcoholic hasn't been drinking for a long time, he or she can still suffer a relapse. To guard against a relapse, an alcoholic must continue to avoid all alcoholic beverages. (See also "Publications/Pamphlets and Brochures," Alcoholism: Getting the Facts.)

Can alcoholism be treated?

Yes, alcoholism can be treated. Alcoholism treatment programs use both counseling and medications to help a person stop drinking. Most alcoholics need help to recover from their disease. With support and treatment, many people are able to stop drinking and rebuild their lives. (See also "Publication," Alcohol Alert No. 49: New Advances in Alcoholism Treatment.)

Are specific groups of people more likely to have problems?

Alcohol abuse and alcoholism cut across gender, race, and nationality. Nearly 14 million people in the United States--1 in every 13 adults--abuse alcohol or are alcoholic. In general, though, more men than women are alcohol dependent or have alcohol problems. And alcohol problems are highest among young adults ages 18-29 and lowest among adults ages 65 and older. We also know that people who start drinking at an early age--for example, at age 14 or younger--greatly increase the chance that they will develop alcohol problems at some point in their lives. (See also "News Releases," March 17, 1995: NIAAA Releases Estimates of Alcohol Abuse and Dependence and Alcohol Alert No. 23: Alcohol and Minorities

What is a safe level of drinking?

For most adults, moderate alcohol use--up to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women and older people--causes few if any problems. (One drink equals one 12-ounce bottle of beer or wine cooler, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.)

Certain people should not drink at all, however:

• Women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant
• People who plan to drive or engage in other activities that require alertness and skill (such as using high-speed machinery)
• People taking certain over-the-counter or prescription medications
• People with medical conditions that can be made worse by drinking
• Recovering alcoholics
• People younger than age 21.

Is it safe to drink during pregnancy?

No, drinking during pregnancy is dangerous. Alcohol can have a number of harmful effects on the baby. The baby can be born mentally retarded or with learning and behavioral problems that last a lifetime. We don't know exactly how much alcohol is required to cause these problems. We do know, however, that these alcohol-related birth defects are 100-percent preventable, simply by not drinking alcohol during pregnancy. The safest course for women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant is not to drink alcohol at all. (See also "Publications" Alcohol Alert No.50: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and the Brain; "Pamphlets and Brochures," Drinking and Your Pregnancy.)

Does alcohol affect women differently?

Yes, alcohol affects women differently than men. Women become more impaired than men do after drinking the same amount of alcohol, even when differences in body weight are taken into account. This is because women's bodies have less water than men's bodies. Because alcohol mixes with body water, a given amount of alcohol becomes more highly concentrated in a woman's body than in a man's. In other words, it would be like dropping the same amount of alcohol into a much smaller pail of water. That is why the

Is alcohol good for your heart?

Studies have shown that moderate drinkers--men who have two or less drinks per day and women who have one or less drinks per day--are less likely to die from one form of heart disease than are people who do not drink any alcohol or who drink more. It's believed that these smaller amounts of alcohol help protect against heart disease by changing the blood's chemistry, thus reducing the risk of blood clots in the heart's arteries.

If you are a nondrinker, however, you should not start drinking solely to benefit your heart. You can guard against heart disease by exercising and eating foods that are low in fat. And if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, have been diagnosed as alcoholic, or have another medical condition that could make alcohol use harmful, you should not drink.

If you can safely drink alcohol and you choose to drink, do so in moderation. Heavy drinking can actually increase the risk of heart failure, stroke, and high blood pressure, as well as cause many other medical problems, such as liver cirrhosis.  

Complications of Smoking

Smoking is a major risk factor for: oral cancer, larynx cancer, pharynx cancer, esophageal cancer, lung cancer, stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, kidney cancer, urinary cancer, and cervical cancer.

Smoking is a major cause of emphysema and bronchitis.

How to Quit Smoking?

• Develop a plan.
• Seek Counseling.
• Join a support group.
• groups can be found at college campuses and public health departments
• Ask your doctor to help you.
• your doctor can prescribe medications that will help make the process easier.

Medications that can help you quit

Nicotine Patch

The nicotine patch delivers a steady stream of nicotine into your bloodstream through your skin. It can be used daily for 6 to 12 weeks. If you are using the patch, apply the patch to a different place on your skin each day to reduce irritation. The nicotine patch is available without a prescription. Most grocery stores sell them.

Nicotine Nasal Spray

Nicotine nasal spray delivers nicotine into the bloodstream through the lining of your nose. It is available only with a doctor's prescription. Nicotine nasal spray should be used as part of a comprehensive behavioral modification program

Nicotine Inhaler

The nicotine inhaler looks like a short cigarette with a plastic mouthpiece. It allows you to get the nicotine your body needs to control your craving, but in a less concentrated, and less and less addictive dose. The nicotine inhaler should be used as part of a comprehensive behavioral modification program.

Nicotine Gum

Nicotine gum is a gum that delivers nicotine into your bloodstream through the lining of your mouth. The goal is to use just enough nicotine to maintain your nicotine level and hold back withdrawal symptoms. It can be used daily. The instructions on the package will tell you how long you should use it. Nicotine gum should be used as part of a comprehensive behavioral modification program.

What to Expect when You Stop Smoking?

Immediately after you quit smoking, you will feel more hungry, tired and irritable than usual. You will also experience a temporary increase in coughing, strong cravings for a cigarette and difficulty concentrating and maintaining focus.

Benefits of Quitting?

Your health starts improving immediately after you stop smoking.

http://www.mamashealth.com/doc/smoking.asp

What Is Ecstasy?

Ecstasy is an illegal drug that has effects similar to hallucinogens and stimulants. Ecstasy's scientific name is "MDMA" or methylenedioxymethamphetamine. That word is almost as long as the all-night dance club "raves" or "trances" where ecstasy is often used. That's why ecstasy is called a "club drug."

MDMA is synthetic. It does not come from a plant like marijuana does. MDMA is a chemical made in secret labs hidden around the country. Other chemicals or substances are often added to or substituted for MDMA in ecstasy tablets, such as caffeine, dextromethorphan (cough syrup), amphetamines, and even cocaine. Makers of ecstasy can add anything they want to the drug. So the purity of ecstasy is always in question.

Ecstasy is also called E, XTC, X, Adam, hug, beans, clarity, lover's speed, and love drug.

How Many Teens Use Ecstasy?

According to a 2002 NIDA-funded study,some teens are getting smart and turning their backs on ecstasy. For 10th graders in this NIDA-funded study, use of MDMA dropped from 6.2% in 2001 to 4.9% in 2002. There was also a drop in use by 8th graders (from 3.5% to 2.9%) and 12th graders (from 9.2% to 7.4%) compared to 2001. How many students in these grades have ever tried ecstasy?

A 2002 NIDA study reported that 4.3% of 8th graders, 6.6% of 10th graders, and 10.5% of 12th graders had tried MDMA at least once in their life.

Is Ecstasy Addictive?

Like other stimulant drugs, ecstasy appears to have the ability to cause addiction. That is, people continue to take the drug despite experiencing unpleasant side effects, and other social, behavioral, and health consequences.

No one knows how many times a person can use a drug before becoming addicted to it or who is most vulnerable to addiction. A person's genetic makeup, their living environment, and other factors probably play a role in their susceptibility to addiction.

HaRMFuL HaBiTS

I've been watching grass turn from brown
to green.
Trees void, fruit bearing and falling
leaves.
Rain, wind, heat, and snowy days have
passed. The birds migrating with the time.
I have been incarcerated for many years.
Kept telling the faces of the night I
will escape. keep praying, striving to
be free.
Never realized that one theft, would
create so many problems, leading me into
a lifetime kleptomaniac.
I never listen to maturity, never looked
past the day. Allowing other masters to
rule over my mind and body. Now wiser,
yet sadden for time wasted, taken away.
I should have remained my own commander.
I am weary, my respiration is short.
hoping I've not waited to late.
Having no excuses, no one to blame.
It is and always been my responsibility,
having the freedom to select. Should have chosen hobbies, instead of
Harmful Habits.