Your way is NOT the only way

When we say our way of living a life in recovery is THE way we are doing damage to those who might find their own unique path to a life in recovery. 

I know to many people who have found their own unique path and their life has improved in powerful ways. They are just as much in recovery as the next person no matter how each person found their way to recovery and how they choose to maintain their recovery. 

I have said in many venues my belief that we should implode our entire treatment system and build an entirely new system from the ground up.  Currently we are working with a system that is dominated by an antiquated treatment model created in the 1950's (Minnesota Model of Treatment) whos primary focus is complete abstinence. Now, this model may work for some, but it certainly doesn't work for all. 

Imagine going to your doctor and they pull out a book from the 1950's and say they are going to use that treatment method to treat your ailment from there.  You would likely cringe a bit.  But hey, maybe it works and you heal.  Let's say it doesn't....what would you do?  You would go back to your doctor (or maybe a new doctor) and ask for a different method of treatment. 

You can't do that with treatment for a substance use disorder. Why? Because of what I just pointed out....nearly all are running from the same model of care. When it doesn't work for someone they are sent back and are told they must not want it bad enough. They are shamed and guilted but never once are they offered a different model of treatment.  It crazy making when you think about it.

Harm reduction works my friends. Harm reduction doesn't JUST focus on one aspect, complete abstinence from the get go. Harm reduction says "let's meet them where they are" and see what we can do to help in all areas of their lives from day one.  Harm reduction says "let's not punish someone who says they can't stop using now and let's provide them with helpful resources so they know it's not just about complete abstinence". Harm reduction comes in many shapes and sizes and truly looks at the person as a whole and not just one aspect of an individual.

I imagine how many lives we could save if we truly opened or minds and hearts to these ideas. I imagine how many more families could be brought back together if we didn't slam the door shut just because someone says they are not ready or maybe never will be completely ready for complete abstinence. I imagine how many more people we could reintegrate into our communities if we didn't shame and guilt them for not wanting to do their recovery in a way that doesn't fit into our siloed view of what it should look like.

I have friends and family who prove this mantra that I am passionate about. I have a friend who quite meth and drinks and he is a highly successful community member, faith leader, and family man.  I have another friend who also quit meth but smokes marijuana and he is a very successful business owner, community member and an amazing dad and husband.  I have another friend who quit alcohol all together using a path that taught him skills to work on his self esteem through a network of men and he is also highly successful in all areas of his life. I have a niece who has years of abstinence and uses her faith to support her recovery.  I have friends who have success with 12 step programs and they are also very successful in their lives.  I have other friends who simply stopped on their own and turned their lives around and live very fulfilling lives. 

The mantra that their is one way to do this thing has to die so more people can live.  That's the simple truth of it. When we all look at recovery through a lens that is wide and forward thinking we can bring this to a reality like we have never seen before.