Friday, May 23, 2014
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...
Sunday, May 18, 2014
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
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)