Is it a Disease? Is it Moral Defeciency? Is it Lack of Will?
Whatever it is, millions of us have “it”.
Therefore, despite everything you may have heard, that equals millions of ways to treat “it”…
From Methadone to Meditation, Treatment Centers by the Sea to Downtown Detox Clinics. And meetings…and meetings…and meetings.
Or not…
While there is no denying that 12 Step programs are the most accessible (and affordable) of the rapidly escalting number of treatment options, the majority of Alcoholics and Addicts who have quit drinking or using drugs have never seen the doorstep of a 12-Step meeting. And they never will.
At the same time, millions of formerly hopeless/helpless drunks and dope fiends have found a new way of life in the rooms of N.A. and A.A.
(Just trust me when I tell you not to EVER bring up the topic of getting clean and sober without the 12-Steps in a 12-Step meeting. Denial may not be a bad word, but it’s not exactly a compliment.)
If you’ve read this far hoping that I would have an answer for your particular brand of addiction, I am sorry to dissapoint you. There are plenty who will tell you what you should do. And how you should do, where you should do, and why you should do.
Shouldy, shouldy-do, do.
At my last count there was over 100 “formal” or “official” 12 Step Organiziations. There are hundreds of thousands of churches and synagogues. The SAMHSA Database lists more than 14,000 treatment facilites, (many more are run from houses and/or Recovery homes.) Medication advances like Suboxone and Subutex make detox safer and more comfortable. And the Salvation Army has free treatment centers in practically every U.S. State.
Today, “Alternatives to 12-Step” programs can be found with a simple Yahoo or Google search. It seems as if there are new alternatives every week. Some rational, some not so rational…
My point, if there ever really was one, is that it doesn’t matter what “kind” of drunk you are or the religious or moral values currently buried by your addiction. You, and I, are two of millions. And absolutely, positively unique. That means there are millions of ways to get sober. (Hallelujah!)
Pick one, or two. Or start your own.
And let us know how it goes. Or doesn’t go.
We’ll leave the light on for ya…
He said,
4 responses so far ↓
P. Bench // January 5, 2007 at 4:25 pm
One might argue that, no matter how unique or special I may be, my addiction is not-and that my belief system will continue to keep me seperated from the very people that could help me most…
But thats like saying that if the call is long-distance, G-d can’t be present in the conversation.
I don’t buy it .
D. Estitute // January 6, 2007 at 4:39 pm
What’s to buy?
That a ’spiritual awakening’ has sparked sobriety for millions doesn’t automatically compute to a ‘connection’ with the Cosmic Riddle.
Faith, either in a god or in living sober, doesn’t come with handy conditionals that I can use to assuage my mood any particular day when being ‘clean’ really, really sucks for this 24…
I either believe, or I don’t.
jay // January 12, 2007 at 11:23 pm
“I either believe, or I don’t.”
So much for “gray” areas.
Are you saying it’s 100% or 0%??? Because that math doesn’t add up very well for this addict. In fact, all I need to be at any given time is 51% (committed, motivated, “willing”).
Majority rules.
D. Estitute // January 14, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Really? 51%?
Oh, you’re in the gang that figured out that “half measures” do indeed avail us something, as opposed to nothing like it says in the book.
If YOU’re okay with “half”, bro, it’s a great day then.