I imagine....

I imagine a world where getting help for a substance use disorder isn't primarily met with resistance.    When I say resistance I don't mean from the individual who needs treatment, I mean, from the system itself.

We have a treatment system built to tell individuals that if they don't do it "this way", there is something wrong with them.  The vast majority of treatment centers are running on the 50's model of treatment.  The Minnesota Model of Treatment is simply this:    Teach clients the twelve step program (based on alcoholics anonymous), and, give some therapy.      Many treatment centers have been running with this 60 plus year old model since their inception, and, refuse to look outside of it. 

Imagine this scenario for yourself......you go to your doctor for an illness.    The Doctor pulls out a book from the 1930's and starts looking up ways to treat you.  How would you respond?  Yes, I know, me too, you wouldn't accept it.   I wouldn't for a second allow my physician to treat me with some archaic method of treatment when I know there are newer, and, more effective ways to treat me. 

But, here we are, with substance use disorders, doing exactly as I described.   All to many treatment centers are using information from a book written in the 1930's.   A book that is still pulled from today to treat people with substance use disorders.  Mind you, this is a book that has a completely unedited chapter titled "To The Wives".    Any discussion of updating that chapter, and any other chapter within this book is met with massive resistance from anyone involved.   It IS the bible of AA.    Now, this would be just fine, this book being unchanged within the realm of the halls of AA groups.   But, this exact book, with the core writing being completely unchanged since it's first writing, IS used in treatment centers across our nation.  Go into any treatment center and look on the walls.  They are filled with exact quotes from this book.

There will be many who will scoff at my writing.  Many, who with good intentions of helping others, are unable, or unwilling, to see the damage that this does to all to many.    Yes, AA works for people.   AA helped me for a time.   I have friends who are involved in AA and other twelve step programs, and they enjoy amazing lives as a result of their involvement.   But, AA is NOT the only way to get to, nor, stay in recovery from a substance use disorder.   

The "one size fits all" mantra has to die.    There are many other effective support group models that help people.  There are, and I know this will be a shock to many to hear, people who don't go to support groups at all, and, live amazing lives in recovery.  Some go to treatment, continue professional counseling, bring in positive hobbies into their lives, and, stay in recovery.   There are some who use medications to discontinue the use of drugs, and, there are others who don't.  Neither is wrong, and both can attain amazing lives in recovery.   

My mantra for a life in recovery is this......get busy!  Get busy in all areas of your life after treatment.   Get a job, go to school, or, learn a trade.   Seek professional counseling, see a medical provider to take care of your physical health, and, take a look at your diet and exercise in your life.    Rebuild relationships with your family, make friends with those who support your new found life in recovery.   These friends, yes, can certainly come from a twelve step group, but, as I have experienced over and over again, there are many who are not in recovery themselves, who DO support me being in recovery. 

I imagine a treatment system that treats the individual.   A system that finds a way that works for the individual, and doesn't use a method that only works for some.   I imagine a treatment system that doesn't place blame on the individual when the "one size fits all" method doesn't work.   If I go to my doctor and get a treatment for an issue, and one method of treatment doesn't work, my doctor will seek out different methods until one does work.  It should be no different with the treatment of a substance use disorder.   

Comments

Popular Posts