Addiction as a Social Disease

[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]

One of the purposes of in-patient addiction rehab is to remove the person from his or her environment. That’s because being exposed to those well-known harmful associations, including friends, is one of the biggest causes of relapse

Experts may disagree on how long in-patient rehab should be – one month, three months, six months — but none of it matters, if the addict reconnects with the old influences after being discharged.

This environmental factor (friends, acquaintances, associations, neighbourhoods, etc.) is especially crucial in younger addicts who don’t always have the financial means to change (for example) their address or who are reluctant to cut themselves off from their circle of addicted friends. The harmful connections are not being severed.

The focus of our efforts, especially in treating addicted youth, should be in altering the post-rehab environment for this group. I, for instance, displayed very bad judgement selecting my friends in medical school. At least two members of my class introduced me to a variety of drugs and the various ways of administering them.

Of course, I hold the ultimate responsibility for my actions, but it wasn’t until I shed myself of those harmful factors that I was finally able to get sober. It took me twenty years to eliminate all of these toxic friendships from my life, even though I started my recovery well before.

My friends today all have a good influence on me and some of these are in excellent recovery themselves. They do not present a danger to me. My addiction doctor always asks me at every visit: Are there people in your life who are a detriment to your Recovery? Today, I can honestly say no.

I consider myself more fortunate than most: I have always lived in safe neighbourhoods. I have options. I have been a privileged member of society with a good education and yet it took me more than twenty years to make my social environment a non-lethal one. How much more challenging it must be for recovering addicts with limited financial resources, living in dangerous neighbourhoods and with greater exposure to dealers and friends not interested in recovery

There is no way around it—these environmental changes must take place. People need regular attendance at recovery meetings. They need sobriety sponsorships, family support and interventions if necessary. It may be challenging, but people need support to relocate to a safer neighbourhood.

If possible, people should change their phone numbers, their email, their social media. Just as important as eliminating harmful influences, it’s equally important to find new, healthier friendships. Involvement of a social worker is important, as is a good family doctor well-versed in addiction issues. All of these measures create a safe environment for recovery and serve to rewire the addict’s brain.

 

 

[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]