COMPLETE 4-5 PAGE ESSAY THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE REFERENCE PAGE (REFER TO THE POINT COUNTERPOINT ESSAY INSTRUCTIONS FOR DETAILS).

State the question from the list of approved topics, word for word.

Do addicts have to hit “rock bottom” to get help?

Introduce the topic and include the point and counterpoint without providing an opinion.

“Rock bottom” is a common term among those who are recovering from addictions. It denotes a state at which the addict was at their lowest in life when they felt most vulnerable and had to seek help. Some have referred to it as a live or die situation. Those who veer to the affirmative claim that the rock bottom is necessary, and addicts have to go through it before seeking help. Those who are opposed to the notion claim that it is certainly possible to seek help without having to hit rock bottom (Kirouac & Witkiewitz, 2017).

#1 Argument FOR. Include in-text citation(s) in APA format

The first argument to the affirmative is that rock bottom is a state that eliminates any illusion of self-control that the addict has. In most cases, addicts are usually not conscious of the seriousness of their situations. In fact, help is offered to most addicts in one form or another long before the addict has hit rock bottom. Most addicts however reject the help or do not take it seriously as they often do not think they need it (Obong’o, Alexander, Chavan, Dillon, & Kedia, 2017).

#2 Argument FOR. Include in-text citation(s) in APA format

Secondly, hitting rock bottom gives the addict a chance to begin living again and is the perfect chance for addicts to approach life from a healthy and productive perspective. Most addicts usually have lost everything by the time they hit rock bottom. When they are seeking help, they are essentially looking for a new lease of life. This includes new friends, a new environment, new knowledge and new habits. New habits are impossible to build before a person has hit rock bottom because they tend to be held back by their old ones (Kirouac & Witkiewitz, 2017).

#3 Argument FOR. Include in-text citation(s) in APA format

Thirdly, one of the most favorable factors for those who have hit rock bottom is the elimination of all perceived options. Most addicts describe rock bottom as the point at which they realized that there was no option but to seek help. Moreover, this point is defined by most as one at which they have lost all of what they deemed valuable in their lives. At this point, the addiction is clearly identified as the killer it is, and the addict sees no option but to quit. Most recovering addicts who have hit rock bottom describe this as their epiphany moment and turning point (Obong’o et al., 2017).

Concluding Sentence:

Anyone with initiative and ability to follow easy instructions can save the life of someone who overdoses on opioids.

Transition (i.e., On the other hand)

There are, however, those who claim that addicts need not hit rock bottom. They claim that addicts can and should seek help before things are at their worst.

#1 Argument AGAINST. Include in-text citation(s) in APA format

The first argument against the rock bottom scenario is the fact that at that point, any damage that could have been done has been done. Rock bottom is often the addicts’ point of greatest loss. At this point, the situation is often unsalvageable. It, therefore, makes little sense for the addict and their loved ones to wait until this point to seek help (Shamsalinia, Ghaffari, Khayeri, & Masoudi, 2018).

#2 Argument AGAINST. Include in-text citation(s) in APA format

Secondly, beginning life from rock bottom is difficult. Addicts often have lost everything. At rock bottom most addicts often have to rebuild destroyed relationships with family, look for new jobs after having lost their old ones, start eating healthy and taking medication after having been diagnosed with serious health problems, among many other aspects of life that have to be built anew. Opponents argue that it is much easier to avoid getting to this point that trying to rebuild one’s life once it has disintegrated (Klingemann, 2011).

#3 Argument AGAINST. Include in-text citation(s) in APA format

Thirdly, the point referred to as “rock bottom” is relative for everyone. Everyone has their own unique experience that they define as their rock bottom. It is absurd to wait for someone to hit rock bottom because it is an undefined position, or one that may change. Hence, it is much wiser to obtain help early enough (Shamsalinia et al., 2018).

Concluding Sentence:

Waiting until an addict hits rock bottom is not only absurd, it is wasteful of time and resources and makes the addicts life even more difficult to salvage.

A closing paragraph in which you state your opinion.

In conclusion, while it may be possible to get help without hitting rock bottom, I believe that it is necessary to hit rock bottom for a sustained transformation of an addict's life to occur. Opponents base their arguments on the fact that the cost of hitting rock bottom is too high and are avoidable. However, while this is true, hitting rock bottom has been known to cause a “eureka” moment as evidenced by most testimonies. I think that only rock bottom can lead to permanent change.

AT LEAST 4 sources from peer-reviewed journal articles, government reports or other textbooks, using APA 6th edition. List in alphabetical order.

Kirouac, M., & Witkiewitz, K. (2017). Identifying “Hitting Bottom” Among Individuals with Alcohol Problems: Development and Evaluation of the Noteworthy Aspects of Drinking Important to Recovery (NADIR). Substance use & misuse, 52(12), 1602-1615.

Klingemann, J. I. (2011). Lay and professional concepts of alcohol dependence in the process of recovery from addiction among treated and non-treated individuals in Poland: A qualitative study. Addiction Research & Theory, 19(3), 266-275.

Obong’o, C. O., Alexander, A. C., Chavan, P. P., Dillon, P. J., & Kedia, S. K. (2017). Choosing to live or die: online narratives of recovering from methamphetamine abuse. Journal of psychoactive drugs, 49(1), 52-58.

Shamsalinia, A., Ghaffari, F., Khayeri, F., & Masoudi, R. (2018). Helplessness and the need to withdraw from drugs: the beginning of the path to recovery. Addictive Disorders & Their Treatment, 17(2), 76-85.