At TLC we teach clients that living sober is about more than simply not using. Many clients come to us with a period of forced sobriety after being locked up for drug or alcohol related charges. Once they arrive they hopefully start learning the difference between not using - and living in sobriety.
And if serious, they discover the 12 step program helps us learn to live with spiritual principles.
As an example we received a client from prison the other day who is serving a term of intensive probation. Part of his obligation is to take his paycheck to his probation officer. Once the probation officer receives the check as proof the man is working, the check’s cashed, and the client receives the balance. The client's next obligation is to pay service fees to TLC. However this client lied to the manager, saying he hadn't been paid. But while the manager was doing a room inspection the following morning he happened upon a receipt from the man's parole officer proving he had been paid.
Had the client been living by 12 step principles he would have been honest and paid his service fees. Now he’s dealing with the consequences of his dishonesty and irresponsibility and may have to find another place to live – or perhaps return to prison.
We have another client who worked for our labor group. While on the job he would put scrap copper and aluminum in a bag and bring it home from work. When confronted about the stolen scrap metal he said the foreman had "given it to him." The foreman, though, said he hadn’t given the man anything and asked us to not bring him back.
It's sometimes a long process to change a client’s behavior. We teach that salvation and freedom from drugs and alcohol is found in the 12 steps. It says in the 12th step that we try to "practice these principles in all our affairs." When we integrate these principles into our lives we have a good chance of staying sober.
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