Days like yesterday can be frustrating, days when we deal with serious addicts who let their families and themselves down because they can’t do the hard work of recovery.
And it’s not that they don’t want it. Some have come from the other side of the continent to join our program. Their parents have bought plane tickets and spent other money to get them here. Then, once they arrive, they embrace their addiction again and keep using.
My heart goes out to their parents and families because I hear the pain in their voices as they try to comprehend. We understand because many of us put our families through the same thing - until we finally got the idea that we're responsible.
Addicts sometimes get into recovery when parents and loved ones are worn down, burned out. When they’ve had enough. At that point they give up and often let their addict offspring sort things out for themselves. And that’s when change begins.
Hopefully the change comes in time.
