5 steps to accountability in addiction recovery

Drug addiction is an insidious disease. The truth is, you're never really cured. Once an addict, always an addict. And the road to recovery is winding and fog-enveloped. Dispair is common.

But living drug-free is possible. So is repairing the relationships that have been damaged through the abuse. To achieve this success, the following 5 steps can be very helpful.

1. Admit you're a addict. Nothing happens until a person has the humility and will to admit they cannot fix the problem by themselves.

2. Find an accountability partner willing to help you stay sober. This can be a family member, a close friend, or even a professional.

3. Recognize that you will need a way to be transparent about your behavior. Addicts by definition hide their behavior. Rehab centers will often use Urine Analysis to prove adherence to programs. New technology, however, like EyeCanKnow, can provide ongoing snapshots of truth about a person's behavior. These highly accurate tests can show whether someone has been clean since their last commitment.

4. Change your friend group. Associate with people who DO NOT use. This step is often the hardest, but to change an outcome, you must change the incentives. Hanging with people who do what you DON'T want to do will almost ensure that you will use again.

5. Put your life in the hands of a higher power. Appeal to help that is beyond human.

While not exhaustive, these five steps have proven to be extremely effective in helping people get their lives together and repair their relationships.