My faith in the process of "Drug Rehabilitation" as it is conducted in modern times has only faultered more over the years. I have fairly strong opinions about the whole system, but please know that they are just one man's opinion and I could be totally wrong.
I don't believe that the way rehab is conducted is truly effective for the condition of addiction. When I talk about rehab, to be clear, I'm referring to the very common method of going somewhere for a month and popping back out to the streets afterward. I think it is an extremely foolish notion to think that such an adamantine hunger for drugs can be broken by complete strangers over the course of 30 or even 90 days. Don't get me wrong, statistically, I know this to be true, we all do. I only want to avoid shitting on folks for whom the process has worked.
I believe the only way to changed is from within. I believe it is a process that takes a great deal of time, fucking up, getting back on the horse, learning, growing, fucking up, learning and growing. I believe long-term programs like AA and others are amazing not for their speciic literature or "steps" but because you have a rather large group of people IN YOUR BUSINESS all of the time. They are all extremely fucked up individuals who have reformed themselves and unlike your family or friends, will not accept bullshit. They will remind you constantly of the missiong, your goals and why you have those goals.
When it's just you, alone in your room, thinking about what rehab taught you over the past month, it takes about 30 seconds to decide you want to get high. It is a brutal process of breaking you down and building you back up as a person free from addiction and such is like tellin a human being that you're going to teach them a system for no longer eating ever again. It just can't be done in 30 days by people with four year degrees and no experience.
I believe rehab is often successful for people who have already decided that they are going to get clean, but it's also a cop out for many. People can avoid any personal responsibility for their actions while they get comfortable with the idea that someone else will fix them. The idea that they are:
Taking TIme off Work
Throwing Down 30,000 dollars
Crying to their families and making promises
That everything simply must workout. There is just simply too much invested for it not to be real. How could a system that is an utter failure be the mainstay of treatment? Welcome to the world my friends. We are on a ship of fuckin fools so you're better off to keep your dough and get seriouis about the HARD WORK. You need to change, not have someone else change you.
Sometimes you're not ready. All I can say is, keep trying. If you relapse, go back to a meeting. It's my belief that in this world, a sincere and genuine plea to the universe or your God is enough to be granted some sympathy. Is it the universe or your own strength?
