The mainstay of addiction treatment continues to be (even after almost a century of Alcoholics Anonymous) addicts/alcoholics helping addicts/alcoholics. Modern medicine has not been particularly successful in treating addiction. The medical school curriculum for addiction is woefully inadequate: there needs to be more professional training in this area. Although great strides have been made in addiction research at the biochemical/neurological level, the fundamental treatment in the community remains the same: addicts/alcoholics helping addicts/alcoholics. It is simply the best thing we have.
Therefore, based on her or his experience, any recovering alcoholic/addict can assist in the Recovery of a struggling alcoholic/addict. We are all qualified to assist if we are in a Recovery program. Sharing our “Experience, Strength and Hope” with others is assisting them. We assist by connecting with others in need of help.
We also must be able to listen and be open-minded. Every alcoholic/addict is different: a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all approach is not recommended. Our disease has made us more empathic. This may improve our listening skills and our communication with the struggling alcoholic/addict in ways that are not possible for non-addicts.
Assisting does not necessarily mean formal treatment. It may be something as simple as helping someone through a single instance of drunken bereavement or a solitary episode of substance misuse.
Being a health professional in Recovery also qualifies us to assist, if not formally treat, regardless of our specialty in health care. Our personal experience is what qualifies us, not so much our profession, in most instances.
In fact, the Twelfth Step of A.A./N.A. expects us to assist when we are ready in our Recovery to assist, provided we do not compromise our own Recovery in doing so. The “12th Step call” traditionally consisted of two or more alcoholics in Recovery visiting the home of a “prospect”, an active alcoholic in need of help. In the early days of Alcoholics Anonymous, these 12th Step volunteers often had only a few weeks or months of Recovery themselves when they tried to assist a new “prospect”! Sponsorship is itself a cornerstone of assistance in the 12th Step fellowship.
What kind of assistance can be provided? Support is holistic and at the same time individualized. Therefore, the types of assistance and interventions are infinite but need to be tailored to the individual. The following consists of a few general principles and suggestions (not meant to be exhaustive or complete).
Most importantly, the individual must WANT Recovery. Coercion is useless. No one can give the individual addict/alcoholic this desire. It must come from within. Only when this desire is present can we assist or help. This is a hard truth but it must be accepted.
Be patient. The harsh approach doesn’t work. It is worth remembering that many of us now in good Recovery came into treatment reluctantly and with misgivings and with several relapses under our belts before finally “getting it”.
If the prospect is willing, facilitate inpatient rehab where necessary. This can’t be forced on anyone.
Shame in the addict/alcoholic is toxic and must be eradicated, the sooner the better. Sharing our own experience with a prospect may lessen her/his shame. Lessening shame will facilitate treatment compliance and accelerate Recovery.
Families need to know that Recovery is FOR LIFE and that it is holistic. If, as the saying goes, a village is needed to raise a child, then this is especially true for the addict/alcoholic trying to maintain a lasting Recovery. He/she will need the continuing support and guidance of many.
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