Articles
Recovery from Addiction: Nine Reasons to Get Help
Jason Sackett, LCSW
September is National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, and a time for society to raise its consciousness to the impact of substance abuse. Many struggling with addictions want help, but do not pursue recovery, citing stigma and shame as the most common barriers. Time and cost may deter others, especially those who do not consider their alcohol or drug use to be a significant problem. If you know someone who may want help with their addiction, here are nine good reasons for them to choose recovery now:
9. The stigma related to addictions is decreasing. No one wants to admit that they have lost control of their life due to drug or alcohol use/abuse. Some feel this is an admission of weakness, while others see it as a moral failing. Actually, the American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, and National Association of Social Workers all recognize chemical dependency as a disease with biological connections. So why don't people with cancer, heart disease, and diabetes avoid treatment like those with addictions? Simple: those with more commonly accepted medical conditions are viewed by society as unfortunate, while those with addictions have been viewed as flawed or corrupt. Isn't this confusing? If someone says, I have an addiction, and I want help, isn't that smart? Fortunately, the national recovery movement and treatment community are helping to change this flawed view of people with addictions, so feelings of stigma do not impede their path to healing.
8. The suffering and damage related to addiction outweighs the pain of shame and stigma. Maria works, loves her husband, raises two children, and is addicted to cocaine. For argument's sake, let's assume that she lives in a small community, seeks treatment, and gets clean. Unfortunately, news of her problem becomes public, and people regard her as a monster (Note: considering privacy laws that apply to rehab services and the decrease of stigma related to substance abuse, this is a very unlikely scenario). However, without treatment, Maria loses her job, her husband divorces her, she loses custody of her children, and she eventually goes to jail. Being labeled a monster is painful, but can hardly compete with this level of suffering. ???
7. Recovery is cost-effective. Cost can be the universal and convenient deterrent to doing anything. For a person already skeptical about recovery, expenses for treatment become a convenient deal-breaker. Actually, cost should never be a valid reason to decline treatment. First, many forms of treatment, including comprehensive treatment facilities, are covered in health insurance plans. In addition, the most widely-used form of treatment—self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous—are free. At USC, employees and their family members are entitled to a free initial assessment and consultation for alcohol and drug related problems at the Center for Work and Family Life. Even in the instance of a significant fee or co-pay, it is hard to argue that such expenses will exceed the costs of financing an addiction, losing a job, or paying legal fees (DUI, criminal defense, divorce, or custody). Considering how much addiction costs a person financially, recovery will always be cost-effective.
6. Recovery is time-efficient. Time is another commonly-cited reason to avoid treatment, and just like cost, cannot withstand scrutiny. Treatment for addictions is available at varying times of day, everyday, to accommodate all types of work schedules. People serious about recovery do have to invest significant time in treatment, depending on the level of their addiction. It is unlikely this amount of time will exceed the hours spent buying, using, being under the influence of, and suffering the after-effects of alcohol or drugs. Ultimately, when a person with an addiction invests time in treatment, he or she gains time, because the many hours previously devoted to substance use/abuse can now be spent on other productive activities.
5. Family and relationships matter. In many cases, people with addictions choose recovery because their families threaten to cut them off, or their significant other threatens to leave them, if they keep using or drinking. For those who have not yet received such an ultimatum, wouldn’t it be better to never reach this crisis point? Seeking treatment now will not only preserve relationships, but will enhance their quality for the future.
4. Termination hurts. Even a highly-treatment-resistant person may consider recovery when a job is in jeopardy. Without work, buying alcohol or drugs is a challenge; living a happy life becomes a challenge, too. Again, if someone’s drug or alcohol use is increasingly problematic, why wait for the absenteeism, tardiness, poor performance appraisals, disciplinary action, and eventual termination? Why suffer the hassle of trying to find a new job with a tainted record, when seeking recovery can keep a person healthy and functional on the job?
3. Legal problems hurt even more. If someone you know has a substance abuse problem, but is reluctant to pursue treatment, you might tell them that at present, they at least have the choice to seek it or not. Once a person is arrested for DUI, possession, trafficking, or intoxication (of a controlled substance, or public alcohol use), the court normally orders treatment as a condition of probation. Failing to comply with this treatment may result in that person going back to jail. Many people state that the idea of life without drugs or alcohol is scary. For someone with a long-standing addiction, sobriety might feel frightening—but probably much less than going to jail.
2. Without your health, what have you got? When people are diagnosed with medical conditions, in most cases, they seek treatment (when it is available) to feel better, maintain functioning in their career and relationships, and lengthen their lifespan. For people with addictions, choosing recovery can help them achieve the same goals.
1. It’s the only good choice. Living life addicted to alcohol or drugs is not fun, healthy, productive, or happy. For this person, anytime is a good time for recovery, and right now is even better. Why not seek treatment before the big problems—and the misery that follows them—really hit?
________________________________________________________________________ Jason Sackett is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Employee Assistance Professional with the USC Center for Work and Family Life. For more information, contact the Center at (213) 821-0800.
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