Editors Note
Some have asked why I feel it important to put a website and ebook out in direct opposition to what is currently believed in the addiction treatment field. In fact, it goes beyond that for if you ask most people they will tell you they believe addiction to be a disease and if it is not people won't get help. Why not just go with the status quo? Isn’t the system we currently have sufficient enough to deal with the problems of addiction?
I do not agree. Currently, if you ask a "treatment professional" they will give you a 10% to 30% success rate for substance abuse recovery. Some would argue that the reason for these poor results is due to the disease itself. That the disease is difficult to overcome, there is denial, or the person has not hit bottom yet to be motivated enough to change. They would argue for more in depth treatment and interventions, more consequences, and tighter controls. Yet, Project MATCH showed that treatment obtained the greatest results when it was brief, motivational, and individualized. In fact brief interventions get as good or better results than the current treatment practices. Finally, of those people who succeed in AA or treatment, it has been shown that the majority were already motivated to change.
I have been asked if I thought that taking away the disease would only encourage people to drink or use drugs. That the disease concept is needed to let people know they cannot keep using drugs or alcohol or face death.
This is a fear tactic and it does not work. If it did, our current system would produce better results for those seeking substance abuse help. Do people need to fear to remain sober? Some would argue, “yes”. Talk to a current outpatient program and they will tell you the majority of their clients remain sober for six months to a year. Most of these clients are court ordered to attend treatment and would rather attend therapy than sit in jail. But what about long term change? Recidivism is high, and relapse is accepted. What does this say about effectiveness of treatment?
Current treatment is not working. The majority of those who quit, quit on their own. They did not give up their will to a disease, but took personal responsibility for their behavior.
What about those who are finding it difficult to stop drinking or using drugs? I do not believe that because some cannot or will not stop that it must be a disease. The purpose of the disease concept is to justify behavior we cannot understand. I would venture that most professionals in the field would agree. Why do I say this? Because, moral inventories, amends, character defects, and different clinical therapies would be silly if addiction was purely a disease. Making amends or exploring childhood resentments would do little to eliminate something like cancer. What would be more effective is to teach the person the power of choice and empowerment in choosing coping responses to lead a more fulfilled life.
So, my goal is to offer an alternative view. I would like to replace the fear of disease with the empowerment of choice. If someone chooses to continue using, it will not be because they are diseased, but because they have not been convinced they can live life without it. It is my goal to help convince them with the truth. Change will occur not out of fear of some insidious and progressive disease, but because they are alive and realize they have every innate ability to succeed and be happy. With the proper information I believe this is possible. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy the site. You can get my ebook by clicking link below.
Timothy Welch
ALCOHOLISM SUBSTANCE ABUSE CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY
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