Sunday, June 29, 2014

Complicit Parent

We tell a client to make a choice: either attend his individual and group sessions or leave the program.

The young man, who had been doing quite well for some time, decided his low-paying job was more important than recovery. And the baffling thing about it is that his father agrees with him.

It's baffling, because most parents choose to keep children in recovery rather than having them work a dead end job. Most, once they get past the enabling stage, realize the important thing is sobriety. Not a few dollars.

None of our clients came to us asking for help with employment. None came to us because they had problems making money. Most dragged themselves into our program because life as an addict wasn't working. They were beat up. Demoralized. Some were in trouble with the law.

None said "I need help getting my career on track" "I need job training." "My only problem is I can't find work." None of this came out of their mouths. Yet, after a few months of recovery, they convince their parents that the primary issue is employment.

While this may seem extreme, we look at every client as being in a life-threatening situation. We know the statistics about how many young people die with a needle in their arm. Or from an overdose of pills. Or from alcoholism.

For us it's as simple as that, recovery above all else.