Results 1 to 22 of 22

Thread: Rehab helpful for drug addicts?

  1. #1
    Featured Member
    Joined
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    1,688
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 26 Times in 19 Posts

    Default Rehab helpful for drug addicts?

    I want to make this simple and drama free,please. I've been through a lot lately but still keeping my head up,going to school and working and being the best mommy I can be.All while hiding the fact of what I have been through over the weeks.
    Question is if a drug addict willingly seeks help and goes to rehab...what are the chances this person will be helped and come out clean and stay clean? Also,what exactly does rehab do? This person is choosing to be inpatient.
    Second question how do you support a drug addict through the treatment process when this persons ADDICTION has taken you to hell and back? How do you not say I HATE YOU for all of the troubles and pain. How do you deal with the fact that it was the drug,not them? Or is that just a belief that I choose to have,to make it easier on me? The drug of choice is crack cocaine.
    It doesnt matter who this person is in this post. Either way it is a loved one. Im confused and dont know if I should cut this person out of my life or try to be there for this person through this first attempt at real help.
    Help please.
    Oh and this person does NOT affect the way I raise my kids or do my school work.

  2. #2
    zxcire
    Guest

    Default Re: Rehab helpful for drug addicts?

    Rehab can be successful, but it depends on a lot of variables. The best outcomes are those in which the addict seeks help *like you mentioned*, in which the program is at least partially AA or 12 step oriented (just going by statistics here), and in which the program of recovery includes rehab and/or a halfway house environment for at least 90 days.

    I went to rehab and have been sober since. So I guess it worked for me, but IMO it's really more about what happens AFTER rehab, when the addict is back on their own, and the choices they make then.

    For yourself, you can consider going to Al-Anon meetings. That program can be really helpful in learning to let go and forgive. You can possibly go to joint therapy or group therapy meetings with the addict in their rehab program, dependent upon if those are options in the rehab. Good luck!

  3. #3
    God/dess
    Joined
    Oct 2006
    Posts
    8,427
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 30 Times in 22 Posts

    Default Re: Rehab helpful for drug addicts?

    you have to look at it as this isnt a choice the person made. if a loved one got cancer, you wouldnt resent them for it. no one chooses addiction. it is a choice to fight that addiction, but the addiction itself is a disease. treatment isnt just for the individual. it's for those around them, as well.

    as far as rehab being helpful, there are many statistics out there. are they doing it for themself? thats a big deal. if they are doing it for ANY other reason, chances are it won't last. many people relapse. many people need rehab multiple times. it doesnt always work. but it's a step and it's a start.

  4. #4
    Featured Member
    Joined
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    1,242
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts

    Default Re: Rehab helpful for drug addicts?

    Is this the Occasional Crack Addict?

    No here is going to have the answers you are looking for. I recommend going to recovery related sites for more specific advice and support.
    Quote Originally Posted by Helle View Post
    ::WARNING:: stripperweb does not contain the views of any actual strippers ::WARNING::

  5. #5
    Featured Member
    Joined
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    1,688
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 26 Times in 19 Posts

    Default Re: Rehab helpful for drug addicts?

    ^^ I know many drug addicts. Drugs are in my family, on my streets, in my job... everywhere. This particular one is close to me.

  6. #6
    Banned jasmine's Avatar
    Joined
    Nov 2002
    Location
    North Carolina
    Posts
    1,728
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Rehab helpful for drug addicts?

    I'm not sure how to go about forgiving. However, I do know that rehab can be very succesful. My college roomate willingly went for a crack addiction and is still clean over a decade later. She occassionally used X during the time I knew her, but never anything harder. I was awed, because I had always heard that addicts couldn't really do other drugs or it would lead to a relapse, but it never did with her. I believe that she hasn't even done X now for years.

    She said the main thing was she had to completely change friends and her lifestyle. She absolutely could not hang out with her druggie friends from before, or she would have been high the first night she was out. Instead she got a steady job and enrolled in college.

    I wish you and your loved one the best of luck. You will be in my prayers.

  7. #7
    God/dess
    Joined
    Oct 2006
    Posts
    8,427
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 30 Times in 22 Posts

    Default Re: Rehab helpful for drug addicts?

    Quote Originally Posted by jasmine View Post
    I'm not sure how to go about forgiving. However, I do know that rehab can be very succesful. My college roomate willingly went for a crack addiction and is still clean over a decade later. She occassionally used X during the time I knew her, but never anything harder. I was awed, because I had always heard that addicts couldn't really do other drugs or it would lead to a relapse, but it never did with her. I believe that she hasn't even done X now for years.
    if the person just likes drugs, period, that is true. but like.. for me, i can do other drugs and i still don't want to touch cocaine. addicts might become addicted to other things if they do them easier than someone else, too. but like i have anxiety medicine and i dont really think of ever being addicted to them because i was an upper girl. downers arent really my thing.

    She said the main thing was she had to completely change friends and her lifestyle. She absolutely could not hang out with her druggie friends from before, or she would have been high the first night she was out. Instead she got a steady job and enrolled in college.
    100% true. if i were back at one of the clubs i did coke with and hanging out with my old "best friend" i'd be right back on drugs. i had to stop being around those people and in that environment. when i DID go back to one of those clubs for a few months, i got right back into it.

  8. #8
    Veteran Member oohdamnbaby's Avatar
    Joined
    Mar 2007
    Location
    602, AZ
    Posts
    374
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Rehab helpful for drug addicts?

    Quote Originally Posted by britt244 View Post
    you have to look at it as this isnt a choice the person made. if a loved one got cancer, you wouldnt resent them for it. no one chooses addiction. it is a choice to fight that addiction, but the addiction itself is a disease. treatment isnt just for the individual. it's for those around them, as well.

    as far as rehab being helpful, there are many statistics out there. are they doing it for themself? thats a big deal. if they are doing it for ANY other reason, chances are it won't last. many people relapse. many people need rehab multiple times. it doesnt always work. but it's a step and it's a start.
    Exactly.

    I'm of the mindset that if a person really wants to get clean and beat their addiction, that a rehabilitation isn't always needed, unless severe detox symptoms are a worry. (I would rather give a million sweatpant man dances than go through cocaine withdrawals ever again.)

    If the addict in question is genuinely interested in kicking their habit, rehab can be successful.

  9. #9
    Featured Member Starfire's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2004
    Posts
    825
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked 25 Times in 11 Posts

    Default Re: Rehab helpful for drug addicts?

    My opinion about drugs and addiction is a little bit different than some of the other posters. (There are addicts in my family, btw. so this is from personal experience) You may want to look at some non 12 step affiliated rehab places.
    NA and AA are very cult like, and focus on the addiction way too much. They preach that not only are the addicts "sick" that people who are in their lives are "sick" too. I really don't buy the disease model of addiction-a person can choose whether to use drugs or not in the beginning. After awhile they become physically dependent but they still don't have a *disease*.
    Rehab programs that are NA/AA affiliated tell you that if you stop going to meetings and whatnot, you will relapse. They force you to brand yourself as an addict/alcoholic for life instead of moving on from your drug problem.
    Just another perspective to think about. I would also recomend this book: http://www.amazon.com/Truth-About-Ad...7275451&sr=1-1

  10. #10
    God/dess
    Joined
    Oct 2006
    Posts
    8,427
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 30 Times in 22 Posts

    Default Re: Rehab helpful for drug addicts?

    ^ oh i totally agree with you on the 12 steps. i'm not a fan. but i do think it is a disease. it's something in the brain chemistry, and that has been scientifically proven.

  11. #11
    Veteran Member oohdamnbaby's Avatar
    Joined
    Mar 2007
    Location
    602, AZ
    Posts
    374
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Rehab helpful for drug addicts?

    I was never physically dependent on amphetamines but was definitely very addicted to the drug. Drug dependency is a chemical balance - it doesn't only stem from your body becoming hooked on the drug.

  12. #12
    Featured Member Starfire's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2004
    Posts
    825
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked 25 Times in 11 Posts

    Default Re: Rehab helpful for drug addicts?

    The thing with drugs though....you can CHOOSE to start using them or not. i think britt might be a good example of a non 12 stepper? You didn't use the 12 steps to get over your problem, did you? Instead you changed your behavior/environment, right?

  13. #13
    God/dess
    Joined
    Oct 2006
    Posts
    8,427
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 30 Times in 22 Posts

    Default Re: Rehab helpful for drug addicts?

    yes, you choose to use them. but you dont choose addiction. you and i could both do coke every day for a month, and one of us could end up addicted while the other wouldnt. that's because of something in our brains. some people are just wired for addiction, while others arent.

    just like you and i could both drink heavily for a year, and then tomorrow you'll never have a drink again, but i'd be an alcoholic. you know?

    (and yes, i just changed the people/places in my life. but i'm still around people who do coke, and i choose not to do it. so i dont know how that fits in.)

  14. #14
    Featured Member Hello_Kitty27's Avatar
    Joined
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    1,818
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts

    Default Re: Rehab helpful for drug addicts?

    Well first things first, the person must WANT to get help and WANT to stop using drugs. If they do not want it, it will not happen. No program in the world will work if there is not a part of them that wants and desires to kick the habit.

    If at all possible, you may want to consider talking to a professional who works with addiction. Like a therapist. For me personally, it is so hard to separate the DRUGS from the PERSON when it comes to which in which I was wronged or hurt, etc. I wish I had gotten help, or talked to someone. I didn't and what's done is done.






    (just click to donate FREE food to those in need...REALLY!)

  15. #15
    Veteran Member oohdamnbaby's Avatar
    Joined
    Mar 2007
    Location
    602, AZ
    Posts
    374
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Rehab helpful for drug addicts?

    Yes, you choose to begin using drugs but you don't *choose* to become addicted to the drug.

    I don't know of anybody that would *want* to be an addict. It's not fun.

  16. #16
    Featured Member Starfire's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2004
    Posts
    825
    Thanks
    2
    Thanked 25 Times in 11 Posts

    Default Re: Rehab helpful for drug addicts?

    I edited this post because I dont' want to hijack this thread too far from helping the original poster.

  17. #17
    Senior Member AtomicPunk's Avatar
    Joined
    Feb 2008
    Location
    in my head
    Posts
    87
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Rehab helpful for drug addicts?

    Since I'm a "newbie" (altho not really) I'm not sure if I should reply to this or not b/c it may be long but I will anyway. This subject kind of hits on why I don't come here that much altho I like the forum. I'm a recovering addict/alcoholic going on nearly 2 years sober. Alcohol was my ' drug of choice" and coming here depending on my mindset can sometimes bring back memories both good and bad. First off everybody who said the person has to want it was 1000% rite. I've been about 2 dozen rehabs both inpatient and out. The first several were just to stay out of some kind of trouble.....usually jail. I knew people thought of it as a disease and would use that to my advantage. I did learn some things in the rehabs that I still sometimes take from but they weren't why I ultimately got and stayed sober it was b/c I wanted to. Simply put I was tired of living the way I did. I think rehab can help but they alone aren't going to get and keep someone clean and sober. I actually have a really hard time putting into words how and why I got and stayed sober. I think for each person it's different and what worked for one person isn't necessarily going to work for someone else. They are millions of people that have had success with rehabs. there are also millions of people who have had success in AA and/or NA but they never worked for me. I've been to 100's of AA and NA meetings in NJ, PA, NY and S.E. Flo.I don't like the to say they're cult like altho it can be appropriate. With AA and NA it's their way or the highway. In the opinions if you don't do things an exact certain way, their way, or you're never going to make it and I'm proof that's not true. Like I said I have a very hard time putting this stuff into words which is why I guess altho a singer,or should I say ex-singer, and at least from what I was told a good one, I was never a great lyricist. What ultimately worked for me, beyond being tired of living that way was, becoming comfortable in my own skin. I used to have a very difficult time with that. I am different breed of cat and I had a very hard time living in a world where people expect you to act and look and think and behave a certain way. Now I don't just accept that I'm different but I'm proud of it. So altho I think rehabs can help I think that the most important part of recovery b/c that's where the different thinking begins. After that it's getting involved in other activities that the person really likes and feels passionate about..... note the avatar. And that's just one example of many many different things I've gotten into since being sober. I would have a much easier time telling you whether or not that person was on the rite track or not based on behaviors.....the things they did, the way they acted, the types of things they said etc.. Anyway I hope this was somewhat helpful. I really do know a lot about this from years and years of personal exp it's just hard for me to explain in a generalized way. I know you don't know me but if you ever want to PM me to ask any specific questions feel free. I hope all works out but it can be a very long process. The first year or so of my sobriety they changes were very gradual but then suddenly there was a lot of very drastic change. That was when I stared to not just live sober but like being sober.
    Last edited by AtomicPunk; 04-03-2008 at 10:23 PM.

  18. #18
    Featured Member
    Joined
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    1,688
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 26 Times in 19 Posts

    Default Re: Rehab helpful for drug addicts?

    You guys have been so helpful,thank you SO much I needed to hear everything here. I will respond more later on . Thanks everybody so much

  19. #19
    Banned jasmine's Avatar
    Joined
    Nov 2002
    Location
    North Carolina
    Posts
    1,728
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Rehab helpful for drug addicts?

    One thing I forgot to mention that my roomie always did, which seemed to be her most succesful trick for staying clean. Everytime we went to a party or anyplace she thought there might be temptation she would talk about and make herself think about the come down, which she said feels like you are dying and is the worst possible feeling on earth. I guess with crack it lasts WAY longer than the high.

    BTW - Sorry if this isn't helpful, I don't know much about drugs. I just suddenly remembered that she used to do this ALL the time. Don't know why I didn't think to mention it earlier.

  20. #20
    Veteran Member LadyLuck's Avatar
    Joined
    Feb 2008
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    521
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Rehab helpful for drug addicts?

    Having had a close relationship with someone who is now clean 10+ years, what I have understood is that the best thing rehab teaches to those who really WANT to be healthy is how to replace bad, negative behaviors with actions and choices that are of a positive and useful nature.
    There never was a good war or a bad peace.

    Benjamin Franklin

  21. #21
    Senior Member AtomicPunk's Avatar
    Joined
    Feb 2008
    Location
    in my head
    Posts
    87
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Rehab helpful for drug addicts?

    Quote Originally Posted by LadyLuck View Post
    the best thing rehab teaches to those who really WANT to be healthy is how to replace bad, negative behaviors with actions and choices that are of a positive and useful nature.
    I agree with that completely. Even tho rehab wasn't directly responsible for me getting sober,I have noticed I've applied things I learned in rehab to my life and sobriety. And most of the time I didn't even realize that's what I was doing til later.
    I fully believe the 2 main keys are 1st wanting it which rehab can help with. T Then the 2nd most important thing, and this part takes time, is feeling comfortable in your own skin. All the rehabs I was in a recurring theme was people not feeling normal then they'd do their drug of choice and bang feel normal. I know now that was the not feeling comfortable in your own skin thing but I didn't get that then. There's a lot of things I heard in rehab that didn't make any sense to me at the time but they complete sense now and that's when you know you're at least starting to get it. Like I said about 15 years of dealing with it. I went into my 1st rehab when I was 20. I'm 35 now but started drinking alcoholically around 15 or 16.

    A quick story. Last week I had to go to court for something that happened way back in 2006 and I felt like I was dealing with someone else's problems.
    The thing I had to go to court for was the last time I drank. When I think back on all the things I've been thu it feels like I'm remembering someone else's life. It feels like it was a completely different person. That's how much I've changed since being sober and most of that change has happened during the last 6 months or so.
    I told you that b/c, now I don't know what the person you know has been thru, but during the first few months of my sobriety was like living in a state of shock. I'd sometimes get panic attacks thinking back to all the things I had been thru and all the experiences I had. I couldn't believe I really went thru everything I did and even more so that I lived to tell the tale. Again I don't know this person but it's possible they could go thru some of that too.

  22. #22
    God/dess
    Joined
    Oct 2006
    Posts
    8,427
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 30 Times in 22 Posts

    Default Re: Rehab helpful for drug addicts?

    Quote Originally Posted by Starfire View Post
    I edited this post because I dont' want to hijack this thread too far from helping the original poster.
    i didnt see your comment, but i think it would probably be HELPFUL to the OP since she's having trouble with negative feelings towards whoever the addict is.

Similar Threads

  1. drug addict co dependent relationship- after rehab
    By yogibear179 in forum Life Support
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 11-24-2010, 07:21 PM
  2. Anime Addicts
    By Athenathefabulous in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 03-26-2010, 10:24 PM
  3. Replies: 5
    Last Post: 07-08-2008, 11:12 PM
  4. Replies: 2
    Last Post: 03-02-2005, 12:16 PM
  5. Re: Do you think most prostitutes are addicts?
    By angelina in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 17
    Last Post: 05-26-2003, 03:59 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •