One Dave At A Time: Proud to be a Person in Long Term Recvoery

One Dave At A Time: Proud to be a Person in Long Term Recvoery: I recently watched a ground-breaking documentary called The Anonymous People. It's all about people who have recovered from alcohol and/...

Proud to be a Person in Long Term Recvoery

I recently watched a ground-breaking documentary called The Anonymous People. It's all about people who have recovered from alcohol and/or drug addiction using their voting power to not only de-stigmatize addiction but to create a ground roots movement, made up of people in recovery (including family and friends as this is a family disease), to demand that governments begin treating addiction as a disease rather than (the misconception) that it is a crime.

I am proud to say I am a person of long-term recovery. I recovered from this "seemingly hopeless condition of mind and body" (Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, 1939) January 7, 2005. My recovery started that day by going to a meeting attended by people in similar circumstances as me. I was taught a certain set of principles and traditions that I adopted into my life that have seen me through to this day.

Part of the problem that people facing addictions and/or mental health issues is a lack of service for those who want to get help. Before I attended treatment I was on a waiting list for almost two months. Luckily I was able to make it until then but for thousands, millions, of others that does not happen. The average waiting list for a publicly funded residential treatment centre is three to six months. The sad part about that is that when a person with an addiction finally decides to get help the motivational window for that decision does not stay open long. It lasts maybe a couple of days (if the person is lucky) to only a few hours. Once that decision is made we must offer help right away.

In the years I have been recovered I have met thousands of people who have put this disease into remission. People in recovery cross a wide spectrum of society for addiction is not prejudicial  to whom it strikes. My fellow recovered alcoholics/addicts are made up of teachers, doctors, lawyers, police officers, firefighters, counsellors, factory workers, mechanics, plumbers, etc. etc. Black people, white people, Jewish, Catholic, Muslim. Gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual. Right wingers, left wingers and people in the centre of politics. I'd bet that the recovered community is made up of the most diverse set of voters than any other community in Ontario or even Canada.

The current trend in treating addiction is something called harm reduction. As I wrote in a previous blog (http://onedaveatatime.blogspot.ca/2013/01/killing-people-slowly.html?spref=bl) harm reduction is just another way for people active in their addiction to die more slowly. It originates from the idea that a person in addiction has a choice in the matter and can control their addiction. Talking from personal experience let me tell you that that idea is bullshit. I could not control my drinking/drugging through will power. Asking an addict to do that would be like me asking you to control your diarrhea through will power. It can't be done. Addiction is a disease and must be treated like one. There are a set of tools that can be taught to a person active in their addiction to help them put this disease into remission. I keep saying remission because there is no cure.

Our current health care practices seem to be reactionary rather than proactive. We should be treating the disease before the person breaks the law or ends up on a gurney in one of our ERs. In the long run this would not only save money for our health care system but our social services system as well.

Don't get me wrong I am not absolving alcoholics/addicts from the responsibility for their actions while in their addiction. If they broke the law they must face the consequences. If they lost trust from family members they must earn it back. The first way to do that is by taking responsibility for  treating the disease itself and that is by seeking help. But asking that person to wait three to six months for that help may be signing their death warrant.

If you are a recovered alcoholic/addict or a friend/family member of one I urge you to sign the following petition to get help where it is needed.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/petition-for-more-funding-for-residential/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=button

Those of us in recovery fought the battle of our lives now let's fight the next battle so for our future brethren. 
Dave the Dude

One Dave At A Time: Christmas Eve's of the Past

One Dave At A Time: Christmas Eve's of the Past: My defacto step-son had a party this past Friday and I stopped by for a bit to see what was going on. I showed up around 7:00 PM and not eve...

Christmas Eve's of the Past

My defacto step-son had a party this past Friday and I stopped by for a bit to see what was going on. I showed up around 7:00 PM and not everyone was there yet but a few had arrived. I think I counted about five guys (including the step-son) and one girl. They were all playing video games on separate computers/laptops against each other. When I pointed out that this was the same thing they did every night but for the fact of all being in the same room they laughed and said it was better because they WERE all in the same room. Oh well, I guess they were having fun. Brings me back to the days that me and my buds had parties this time year. Specifically the annual Christmas Eve party at my buddy Chris' place.

I think the annual Christmas Eve parties started when we were around 17. While we had video games back then they weren't as sophisticated as today's are. We played on a Nintendo and the main game had something to do with Mario and Luigi saving the Princess. I think we also played some golf. In the late 90s we graduated to Saga NHL which was pretty cool. However, while we did play some games it did not encompass our whole evening.

The evening always involved the drinking of large quantities of beer (I think later on as my alcoholism grew I began to drink wine, showing up with three or four bottles just for myself). We would all sit around Chris' basement and chat while listening to some heavy metal music of the 80s. Chris and his brother Jeff had their rooms in the basement of the family home. It was like a basement apartment but without a kitchen or bathroom which we had to go upstairs to use. Chris and Jeff had decorated the room in a collage of heavy metal posters featuring the likes of Motley Crue, Led Zeppelin, Poison, Alice Cooper, Lee Aaron, Scorpions, Def Leppard, Ratt, Ozzy, and a slew of others. Back then people smoked inside and one could cut the smoke with a knife it was so thick.

There were always a few girls at the party. One or two of us usually had a girlfriend. As the night progressed more people would drop in and out as well as a bunch of Chris and Jeff's relatives. It was a great time. Chris always made his "famous" sweet & sour meatballs (I think that was the flavour) which everyone delved into a few hours into the party. The more we drank the louder we got and the sillier we became. I'm not sure how it started but for a few years in a row we held the hairiest ass contest. I always came out the winner but Jeff was always a close second. My friend Stefan and I would invariably get into some kind of political debate to the chagrin of everyone else. It would usually end in me calling him a Klingon and him arguing that he was more like a Vulcan. I know, I know we were kinda of nerdish but cute nerds. I still think Stefan is more Klingon than Vulcan...

The climax of the evening would be our annual holiday viewing of Al Pacino in Scarface. I mean, what says holiday cheer more than watching a dude get his leg chainsawed off? Or Pacino telling everyone to, "say hello to my little friend"?

Eventually everyone would slowly leave and after much urging I would stumble home to bed to return the next day for more Christmas 'spirits' and a delicious meal, which included roast duck and goose, made by Chris and Jeff's Mom. A great time was had by all.
Dave the Dude

Offended, offended, offended

The last few years it seems that somebody is always offended by something. For some reason people think that just because they are offended by something it means that they are right and whatever they are offended against is wrong.

The most recent case I heard about was a Canadian Tire Christmas flyer. The flyer had a section on things to buy for him and things to buy for her. Under the her section there were pots and pans, a robot vacuum cleaner, etc. Apparently a group of people are offended by this because it's, apparently, sexist and they are demanding an apology. Give me a friggin' break. Canadian Tire is a corporation, in a country that protects free speech. It can advertise any way and to whicever niche market it so chooses. If society feels that the ad is wrong then Canadian Tire will pay the price by a drop in sales. That's how things work in a free market society. Just because you are offended by something doesn't mean you are right. I'm 'offended' by stuff all the time but I don't let it ruin my whole day. Someone has to have a lot of time on their hands if they are so offended by something that they join a group and start protesting a Christmas flyer.

Now we're seeing this whole offended trend going international. Seth Rogen and James Franco have made a movie, with Sony, called The Interview. The premise of the movie is that Rogen and Franco are journalists that are going to interview the leader of North Korea and the CIA wants them to assassinate the guy. North Korea is extremely offended by this and has started it's own cold war against Sony. First it hacked Sony's e-mails and released several embarassing e-mails which put some executives in an unflattering light. It also released the pseudonyms that some celebrities use when checking into hotels. The latest strike in this cold war is threat that anyone who goes to see this movie or lives nearby a movie theatre that is showing it will be killed. U.S. authorities are saying it is a false threat. However, sevearl movie theatres have already cancelled the movie's run. I think this is the best thing to happen to this film. Now people are going to see the movie just to show North Korea it can't push them around. I predict this movie will be one of the highest grossing films ever because of this.

I could give example after example of people getting offended for idiotic reasons and thinking they are owed an apology or, in some cases, some type of financial settlement. Give me a break. If I have offended you in some way then good. Fuck you and grow up.
Dave the Dude

It's a Cat's LIfe

Some people are cat people and some people are dog people. When I was a kid I always thought I was a dog person but then when my sister turned 18 her friends got her a cat named Oscar. Oscar was a great cat both playful and affectionate. I went off to school and my sister shortly after so Oscar became my parent's cat. He came down with some liver issues and sadly passed away.

My parents had grown very fond of having a cat which prompted my mother to go out and get a new one. This cat was a Calico named Brandi. Brandi was one of those cats who hated being picked up and was, for lack of a better word, very bitchy. But we all grew to love her too. She saw my mom die of cancer and out lasted my dad who died several years later after suffering a stroke. I was living with my dad at the time of his death and took Brandi with me when I moved. Brandi lasted to the ripe old cat age of 17 and then I had to put her down after she became very sick with cancer and was in great pain. I remember taking Brandi to the vet when she first got sick. The vet asked me if I knew Brandi was blind and I was truly dumbfounded. I had seen no indication of this. Apparently animals are very versatile and can handle things like going blind well. When Brandi was put to sleep she was surrounding by loved ones - myself, my girlfriend and her son. Being sentimental I spared no expense for the her remains. I had Brandi cremated and put in a clay urn and a mold taken of her paw. It is prominently displayed in my house today.

A month or two after Brandi passed away I took my girlfriend and her son down to the animal shelter to pick out a new feline. My girlfriend chose my current cat and named her Taurus. Taurus is a great cat. She is the biggest suck of all the cats I've ever had. She starves for attention and, much to the chagrin of my girlfriend, is in everyone's business. You can't go to the bathroom in peace or eat a meal without her wanting some.

Taurus can be very destructive. Just the other day she chewed up my phone charge chord. That makes the number of chords she has destroyed five.  Unlike my parents I did not have the heart to declaw Taurus and as a result she has scratched a lot of things. If my mom were alive she would be aghast at what Taurus has done to furniture of hers I still have. She also destroyed the blinds in my room so she could look out the window. Then Taurus ripped off the material under my bed so she could have something to sleep on.  But every time Taurus does something destructive she looks at me with that innocent face and I can't help but forgive her.

Taurus' newest thing is jumping on my back while I'm sleeping and kneading. She started off doing this a few times a week and now his worked up to a few times every night. I try to see if I can out last here before the pain of her claws in my back get too much. She usually wins and I have to kick her off my back.

Taurus is a great cat and myself, my girlfriend and her son (even though he won't admit it) love her with all our hearts. She's a great companion.
Dave the Dude

The Irritation of This Wait is Going to Give me a Heart Attack

As I stated two blogs ago I had a recent trip to the ER due to some chest pains that may or may not have been heart related. A follow up appointment was made to the cardiologist. In my experience the wait time at a specialist's office is not long at all. I've seen several specialists over the years. So I went to this appointment thinking I'd be in and out in no time. Luckily I brought a book to read.

I should have realized that something was amiss when I entered the office and they were showing a movie. I've been to offices where they have the TV on but never a full-length movie. I checked in with the nurse and took a seat. I mostly read my book but would glance up at the movie, Mama Mia, periodically. One thing I did notice was that I was the youngest guy in the waiting room. Most of the other patrons seemed to be at least 15 to 20 years my elder. Usually when I'm in a waiting room it's pretty quiet but  these people were having loud discussions all around. Mostly about the movie they were watching. It was pretty amusing.

After about an hour wait I was called into a room to do a test on a treadmill. The tech shaved several areas of my chest and stomach with a disposable razor without shaving cream. He proceeded to rub the shaved area with an alcohol swab. Oy, did it sting. It stung for the whole test. I was then hooked up to several wires and proceeded to run at different speeds on the treadmill. After approximately 20 minutes I sat down out of breath. I returned to the waiting room to await the cardiologist himself. By the time I returned to the waiting room there was another movie on. I paid scant attention to it but by the time it was over and another movie was put on I still had not seen the doctor.

Finally I was called in to see the cardiologist. He told me that most of the time the test I had taken either showed something wrong or everything was okay. Unfortunately, in my case the test was inconclusive and I would have to return for further testing. I will also have to have a 48 hour heart monitor on as well.

The total time I spent at this office had been five hours. The week before I had spent six hours at the ER. I was not allowed to have any coffee 24 hours prior to the test and by the time I left the office I realized, for the first time, just how important my morning coffee is to me. I could barely keep my eyes open.

I have two more appointments coming up and have no expectations that the wait will be short. If it's one thing I have learned is that if my acceptance is higher than my expectations then I won't get upset. I guess I'll have to work on my acceptance of wait times between now and  my next appointments.
Dave the Dude

One Dave At A Time: Draconian Measures

One Dave At A Time: Draconian Measures: I was sent an e-mail the other day at work that explained some new rules a large alcohol and drug treatment centre was implementing in both ...

Draconian Measures

I was sent an e-mail the other day at work that explained some new rules a large alcohol and drug treatment centre was implementing in both it's residential treatment centre and sober living communities. After discussing it with some colleagues it seems these new rules are being adopted by several centres.

The new rules ban smoking on all centre and housing property of the organization. Okay - fair enough. If you don't want people smoking on your property that's okay. I don't agree with it as I feel when someone is quitting alcohol and/or drugs they have enough on their shoulders without having to worry about quitting smoking. Many disagree with me. I speak from personal experience and not some hypothetical scientific theory.

The problem with these new rules is that they go one step further. People are allowed to smoke off property but if a client comes back to the treatment centre or sober living community just smelling of smoke they are automatically discharged - kicked out in layman's terms.

I feel this extremely Draconian. It sounds to me like this was a decision by some upper management who don't deal directly with clients nor realize the hurt this can cause them. Treatment centres and sober living communities are there to help the still suffering alcoholic/addict. How can kicking someone out for smelling like cigarette smoke help anyone? Often people are their lowest when they are staying at these places (especially government or charity run organizations). To me these rules are like kicking someone when they're down. I know how hard it is for staff at treatment centres to kick people out. In some cases you are actually signing someone's death warrant. Do we really want to risk someone's life over second-hand smoke? To me this is health care gone overboard.
Dave the Dude

Emergency Room....yawn

This past week I had the infuriating experience that Ontarians have to face at least a few times in their life. Waiting in the ER. I'd been getting these weird chest pains off and on for a couple months now but they didn't last long. I awoke Monday and the pain was steady throughout the day. I shared this information with several work friends and my girlfriend who advised me to go to the ER. I decided to wait it out because I hate going to the ER. Tuesday morning came and I continued to have the same pain so after work I broke down and called TeleHealth.

TeleHealth is Ontario's medical hotline where you can talk to a Registered Nurse who will advise you on whether to go to the ER or not. I was hoping I would get advised to stay home. However, my RN told me to take a taxi or ambulance to the hospital stat. I decided to drive myself.

I arrived at the ER and after about 20 minutes got to see the triage nurse. She was wearing what appeared to be a see through welder's mask. Turned out it was part of our province's new Ebola safety measures. Anyways, after seeing the second nurse, much to the dismay of those in the waiting room (some who gave me dirty looks) I was taken in right away and hooked up to an ECG. After the ECG was complete I was asked to go back to the waiting room (much to the chagrin of those already there, including the ones who had thrown me a dirty look). And wait I did.

I sat down and began to read my book and people watch every now and then. The place was full. I observed that I seemed to be the only one with a book. I can never understand how people can show up to the ER or even a doctor's office without anything to do. Most of the people glanced at the TV with CP24 running (very low volume) or just stared into space. Several people were complaining of the long wait. I had gotten there at approximately 5:00 PM and many had already been there since around 2:00 PM. I would later learn that a lot of people were there for approximately eight hours.

I notice one lady who was there with he elderly mother who was telling anyone who would listen that they'd been there for hours and that she was told that if her mother's doctor had just called ahead they would have gotten in right away. This went on for a long time in which I went from feeling empathy to just wishing she would shut up already.

There was one kid there with his Mom and Grandmother who had been there for a long time. He became very agitated when told his Dad would not be coming to pick him. He kept telling his mother that he wasn't going to stay and that it wasn't fair. I had to agree with him. I later observed it was his Grandfather they were all there for.

Finally at 10:00 PM I got to see the doctor. I met with him for approximately five minutes and was then sent off to get a blood test. The lady who took my blood (the very same who gave me the ECG) jabbed the needle in. I have never had a blood test hurt so much. There were several other people getting blood taken and they were all in agreement with me. While waiting for blood I noticed an old priest lying on a gurney. He shimmied off it and was struggling to put on his jacket. I went over and helped him get it on. A few minutes later I saw the nurse run after him for he had decided to wander off. She got him back and laid him back on the gurney.

After the blood was taken I was sent back to the waiting room once more. An hour later everyone I had sat with to get blood taken were getting called back in save for me. It turned out I had missed my name being called as I was in the bathroom. Luckily I figured that out within 15 minutes. Turns out my ECG and blood tests were all fine. The ER referred me to a cardiologist and told me his office would call me the next day. The next day came and the cardiologist's office never called. I waited until the end of work the next day and called them myself.

I'll have to see what happens when I go to the office later this week for some sort of test. I was told not to have any caffeine for 24 hours and to wear comfortable clothes. Hopefully it goes well.
Dave the Dude

Can't think of anything inspiring to write about

I love writing and that's why I started this blog. But I have always been waiting for something to inspire me before I wrote anything. The last few months have been pretty non-inspiring. My life has not had any dramatic ups or downs and thus I have not had anything grab my goat to write about.

However, I've decided to write even if I don't have anything inspiring to write about. I'll just talk about how my week went if nothing else comes to mind.

This past week had no ups and downs. For me that is a good thing. Before I got into recvoery I was addicted to excitement. Might be the reason I was attracted to cocaine/crack. I was always trying to top my previous "adventure". When I got into recvoery I had to learn to enjoy a moderate life. Today I like my life nice and steady. A good weekend for me is an uneventful one. I'm content to have a coffee, hang out with friends and loved ones and watch a good flick or television show.

Speaking of television shows one of my favourite new ones for this season is Gotham. It's the story of Gotham before Bruce Wayne becomes Batman. The first episode opens with the murder of Wayne's family and the introduction of a young Detective Gordon (furture Commissioner Gordon). We also are introduced to young versions of The Penguin, Cat Woman and The Riddler. It's a very dark series and has lots of potential. Constantine is not bad either. I think it's the new Supernatural (for those of you who are into that show). Supernatural just started it's 10th season and seems like it might have "jumped the shark". Despite this I'll keep watching it for now. Another show I didn't like at the begining but have stuck around with faith that it will get better is Mulaney. The first few episodes were terrible but last night's was pretty good. I actually laughed out loud at several jokes. If you get a chance to watch Mulaney's standup speical check it out (you can see it on NetFlix).

That's it for now. So until next week...
Dave the Dude

One Dave At A Time: Misconceptions of the only Disease That Tells One...

One Dave At A Time: Misconceptions of the only Disease That Tells One...: I've been reading a lot of comments and a lot of opinion pieces about Rob Ford and the disease of addiction. As  a recovered alcoholic/a...

Misconceptions of the only Disease That Tells One You Don't Have It

I've been reading a lot of comments and a lot of opinion pieces about Rob Ford and the disease of addiction. As  a recovered alcoholic/addict I can truly say that it is a disease (or if you don't like that word use the word "illness" as Alcoholic's co-founder Bill Wilson did). The OMA and many other medical authorities consider it a disease as well.

Alcohol and/or drug addiction is a two-fold disease. It's a disease of mind and the body. For brevity sake I'll just talk about alcoholism (however, drug addiction is the same). When I was an active alcoholic as soon as I took that first drink something occurred in my body and I couldn't stop drinking until I either ran out (and couldn't find any more), passed out, etc. Those in Alcoholics Anonymous refer to this as an allergy. Besides the physical aspect when I was an active alcoholic I was obsessed over drinking. I could never get enough. I'd order a beer in a bar and as soon as I took my first sip I'd begin to worry about getting my second one. I was addicted to more. When I first started drinking it helped me relax, feel part of, be sociable, let my guard down, allowed me to escape pain, anger, etc. When the drink started turning against me (it started interfering in my every day life) I couldn't remember with sufficient force the consequences of a week or even a day before - all my mind remembered was that when I felt a certain way alcohol took the feeling away.

Having said that let me make it clear having this disease does NOT take away the responsibility for the actions one took while drinking/drugging. Once you realize you have the disease it's your responsibility to get help to treat this disease. A person who has diabetes has a responsibility to keep track of what they eat, use insulin, whatever is required. An alcoholic has the responsibility to treat his/her disease. In my experience the best way to do this is to attend regular meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous and to work a 12 Step Program. Part of that 12 Step program is the step of making amends (Step Nine). I am responsible for all the damage I did while in the throes of my addiction. I make amends for that damage, to the best of my ability, as part of the treatment of my disease. Making amends not only show that one has taken responsibility for one's actions it also shows that one is serious about staying sober. Alcoholics Anonymous members call this, "going to any lengths" to stay sober.

Rob Ford went to a treatment facility. Despite what some people think going to treatment does not cure this disease. This disease cannot be cured but it can be put into remission. Recovery is like building a house and treatment is laying the foundation for that house. It's up to the individual to take what he/she learned at the treatment facility and apply it to real life. Time will only tell if Ford can build his house.
Dave the Dude

One Dave At A Time: From Both Sides of the Desk

One Dave At A Time: From Both Sides of the Desk: My Dad's was a social worker and whenever we watched a TV show or a movie that depicted a social worker in a bad light he would get real...

From Both Sides of the Desk

My Dad's was a social worker and whenever we watched a TV show or a movie that depicted a social worker in a bad light he would get really upset. As a kid I never understood what the big deal was. But with the recent spot light on Rob Ford and his entry into an alcohol and drug treatment centre I'm beginning to understand my Dad's angst.

I've been hearing a lot of wrong depictions in the news and from callers on talk radio about what treatment centres and addiction are like. As someone who is a recovered alcoholic/addict and has worked for several years, at three facilities, as an addiction counsellor I'm beginning to get a bit upset.

The first time I got  upset was when I heard this guy call up a talk radio show saying he was a crack addict with two days sobriety and that he'd been trying for years to get sober without success. He also stated that it was virtually impossible for addicts to get sober. From my own experience I can say that one can be successful in recovery. One just has to start with a desire to quit and be willing to be totally honest with oneself. Getting sober isn't an easy thing to do, it takes a lot of hard work. But as I've learned in life anything worthwhile is not easy. Once someone obtains sobriety the job is not done. It takes a lifetime of vigilance for one to remain recovered from a "seemingly hopeless condition of mind and body" (Big Book of AA, 1939).

I went to three treatment centres. The first two were outpatient and I didn't go to get sober but to learn how to drink "normally". That was my mistake. An alcoholic is like squeezing all the toothpaste out of the tube. Once it's out you can't get it back in. Once an alcoholic always an alcoholic. After years of abusing myself and treating my family like crap I hit an emotional and spiritual rock bottom and was ready and willing to get sober. My third and, Higher Power willing, last treatment centre was just the thing I needed. It was a 21 day program and was completely 12 Step (AKA: based on the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous). It was also funded by charity and catered, mostly, to a population who couldn't afford to pay for treatment. The rules were tough and fair. No cell phones, no computers, no swearing, no being late, no wearing a hat inside or at a meetings. One had to be prompt to meetings and meals and there were days offs We were allowed to walk into town to pick up smokes, snacks, etc. but we only had 20 minutes to do so. If one refused to follow the rules they were asked to leave as they centre had a huge waiting list and didn't want someone who didn't want to get better taking a space away from someone who did.  From this centre I learned how to be responsible, accountable and honest. It was a good start to a lifelong journey of recovery. After graduating from the treatment centre I immersed myself in AA meetings. I worked for a bit then went back to school to become an addictions counsellor. I would later return to the treatment centre not as a client but as an employee.

After working a couple years at my Alma-mater I moved on to another facility. This one was mostly fee for service - meaning people had to pay to get in. What I quickly found out was that at a fee for service style treatment centre the rules were not as strict and often money came before rules. Exceptions were often made for rule breakers. This could turn out good and bad. If someone who broke a rule learned form their mistake then it was great but if someone did not then they often just distracted the people who were there to get better from the program. Although the rules were not as stringent there were still rules and many were the same. No cell phone, no computers and no fraternization between clients. Nine out of ten times when clients got together "romantically" it ended in relapse or even worse - domestic violence. Two unhealthy people getting together doth not make a healthy person. I would later move on to another fee for service facility with many of the same rules.

All the treatment centres I have worked at had a part (big or small) of their program dedicated to spirituality and the 12 Steps of recovery. In my experience 12 steps is the most successful way to recovery from this illness. One of the most important things a person must realize is that treatment centres do not cure you of this illness. It is not curable. Recovery is like building a house. Treatment helps one build the foundation. Once one leaves treatment it's up to them to begin to build the rest.
Dave the Dude