This came to me yesterday when I was talking to a twenty something addict who returned to the program a few months ago after being in a coma for over a week due to a heroin overdose. And the day he came back he was quite serious about his recovery. In fact that's all he talked about.
But after being in the program for a few months he failed a drug test for opiates. After being put out of for a week as a consequence. he was allowed to start over.
Now one might think that because he’d relapsed again that his focus might be on getting a firm foundation in recovery.
But yesterday all he talked about was an entry-level job he’d found that offered minimum wage. He had a myriad of reasons why he needed to go to work. Pay bills. Get a car. Fines to pay. He owed his parents. His rationale list went on and on.
While I may sound cynical, my 23 years of experience working with addicts tells me that when addicts focus on everything but their primary problem they're ready to continue using. And unfortunately, that's my prognosis for this young man.
I believe one reason why addicts bring up the need to go to work is they know work is respected in our society. After all, who could criticize anyone for wanting to work? Unless we're trust fund babies we all pretty much have to show up to the job each day. And so it's an argument that few disagree with. Even when addicts bring it up as a reason for leaving the program.
In this man's case, he doesn't need to work because insurance would cover his stay at TLC. But the consensus around here is that he probably needs to go back to the hood and shoot dope.
But after being in the program for a few months he failed a drug test for opiates. After being put out of for a week as a consequence. he was allowed to start over.
Now one might think that because he’d relapsed again that his focus might be on getting a firm foundation in recovery.
But yesterday all he talked about was an entry-level job he’d found that offered minimum wage. He had a myriad of reasons why he needed to go to work. Pay bills. Get a car. Fines to pay. He owed his parents. His rationale list went on and on.
While I may sound cynical, my 23 years of experience working with addicts tells me that when addicts focus on everything but their primary problem they're ready to continue using. And unfortunately, that's my prognosis for this young man.
I believe one reason why addicts bring up the need to go to work is they know work is respected in our society. After all, who could criticize anyone for wanting to work? Unless we're trust fund babies we all pretty much have to show up to the job each day. And so it's an argument that few disagree with. Even when addicts bring it up as a reason for leaving the program.
In this man's case, he doesn't need to work because insurance would cover his stay at TLC. But the consensus around here is that he probably needs to go back to the hood and shoot dope.
