Category: Rehab Centers

Recovery is a multifaceted, personal journey involving more than symptom reduction. It’s about building a fulfilling, meaningful life, regardless of mental health challenges. At the heart of this journey lies ten fundamental components of recovery, each contributing uniquely to the process. Let’s explore these pillars, underpinned by extensive research and forming the bedrock of the recovery model.

1. Self-Direction

Recovery starts with the individual. A person’s unique needs, strengths, preferences, and goals guide the process. People in recovery assert control over their own lives, making informed decisions and shaping their path toward wellness.

Tips: Try setting personal goals, like practicing self-care for 10 minutes each day, to help guide your recovery journey. 

2. Individualized and Person-Centered

Each recovery journey is as unique as the person undertaking it. Tailoring plans to the individual – considering their life experiences, cultural background, and values – is key. It recognizes the person behind the diagnosis, emphasizing their individuality and uniqueness.

Tips: Work with your healthcare provider or counselor to develop a treatment plan tailored to your unique needs, preferences, and goals. This might include a combination of medication, psychotherapy, lifestyle changes, and supportive services.

3. Empowerment

Recovery cultivates personal power. People in recovery have the authority to make decisions and choices, fostering a sense of control. Empowerment fuels motivation and instills hope, driving the recovery process forward.

Tips: Do your best to actively participate in your treatment decisions. Learn about your condition and treatment options to make informed decisions about your care. 

4. Holistic

Recovery goes beyond mental health. It encompasses all aspects of a person’s life, including physical health, social networks, community participation, and more. A holistic approach recognizes that various elements interplay to contribute to overall well-being.

Tips: Incorporate practices that support overall wellness, such as regular exercise, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, and mindfulness or meditation. 

5. Non-Linear

Recovery isn’t a straight path; it’s a series of ups and downs. People might face setbacks, but these don’t denote failure. Instead, they’re part of the process, offering valuable lessons and opportunities for growth.

Tips: Develop a resilience plan to manage these challenging times, such as identifying coping strategies and supportive resources.

6. Strengths-Based

Recovery builds on a person’s strengths and resilience, not just managing their weaknesses. A strengths-based approach empowers individuals to draw upon their innate abilities and resources, fostering self-confidence and resilience.

Tips: Identify your strengths and use them in your recovery process. This could be creative problem-solving skills, empathy towards others, or even a strong determination to overcome challenges.

7. Peer Support

Peer support is a vital element of the recovery model. The shared experiences among people with similar struggles offer a sense of understanding, acceptance, and communal strength that can significantly aid recovery.

Tips: Sharing your experiences and hearing others’ can provide mutual support and encouragement. This could be through formal support groups or online communities.

8. Respect

Recovery flourishes in an environment of respect. This involves overcoming stigma, fostering acceptance, and ensuring that people in recovery have the same rights and opportunities as anyone else.

Tips: Practice self-respect and kindness. Surround yourself with people who respect and support your recovery journey.

9. Responsibility

People in recovery take responsibility for managing their health and wellness. This responsibility extends to seeking help and support, engaging in self-care practices, and taking proactive steps toward recovery.

Tips: Take an active role in your recovery process. This might include adhering to your treatment plan, practicing self-care, and seeking help when needed.

10. Hope

Finally, recovery is grounded in hope. The belief in a better future, that challenges can be overcome, and that a fulfilling life is achievable fuels the journey of recovery.

Tips: Cultivate a hopeful outlook. This could involve keeping a gratitude journal, practicing mindfulness, or visualizing your recovery goals.

Understanding the Fundamental Components of Recovery

These components serve as the foundational elements underpinning the concept of mental health recovery. Regardless of their specific circumstances, diagnoses, or personal background, they are universal and applicable to anyone embarking on a recovery journey.

Recovery is a deeply personal, unique journey – one about surviving and thriving. These ten fundamental components provide a roadmap, a compass to navigate the often complex terrain of mental health recovery. Each element contributes to a broader understanding of what recovery means, reminding us that recovery is not just a possibility – it’s an expectation.

Looking to sleep better and heal faster? We’re not talking about exercise–there’s another champion of self-care that’s also one of the best addiction recovery tools out there: it’s journaling. 

As little as 15 minutes of writing a day can improve memory, mindfulness, and mood and make sense of things when your life has turned upside down–or more accurately, right side up–after addiction. Here are 23 addiction recovery journal prompts for you to try.

23 Writing Prompts for Recovery & Daily Recovery Questions

There are a few different approaches you could take when journaling. You could write free-form about whatever pops into your mind at the moment without any guide or prompt. But when you’re not sure what to write about, answering thought-provoking questions about recovery, your feelings, or your past is a great way to process this major life event. 

These 23 suggestions will range from specific questions to broad ideas to explore. Either type is capable of providing a better understanding of how you got where you are today, highlighting your triumphs and acknowledging rough patches, and a safe space to reflect on the past and future.

Prompts if you’re just starting the recovery process

• What scares me most about recovery?
• What would I be doing right now if I wasn’t in recovery?
• Write a goodbye letter to things, people, or behaviors I know aren’t healthy and want to leave behind.  
• What did I do to strengthen my recovery today?

Prompts if you’re struggling to find motivation

• List 10 things you’re most grateful for since being in recovery.
• What do I want to accomplish tomorrow? What steps can I take to set myself up for success and how will that benefit my long-term recovery journey? 
• When I meet new people, what do I want them to think about me? 
• When do I feel most in tune with myself?

Prompts for dealing with setbacks

• What’s the last mistake I made that made me feel ashamed? Why did I feel that way?
• What emotions am I holding on to? What hurts right now? How can I find relief?
• What’s the most recent instance where I didn’t set healthy boundaries? What happened because of it and how could the outcome have been different?
• What distractions get in the way of being my most productive?

Prompts for living in the moment

• If my body could talk, it would say….
• What was the highlight of my day?
• What are the things in my home that are the most “me”?

Prompts for self-discovery

• What three important things have you learned from previous relationships?
• How can you better support and appreciate your loved ones?
• What are 10 words you’d use to describe yourself? Now list the 10 words you want to use. How can you make that happen?
• What’s something new I’ve learned about myself since getting sober?

Prompts for tracking your progress

• Where was I 1,3, or 5 years ago? What differences am I most proud of? 
• What would my friends and loved ones say are the biggest ways I’ve changed (for the better)? 
• What things can I appreciate better now because I’m sober?
• What have I learned about myself during the recovery process?

The Benefits of Journaling for Addiction Recovery

Science has shown that putting pen to paper can have real, tangible benefits on our health. These benefits include lowering blood pressure, boosting the immune system, and improving liver functionality. However, it’s journaling’s benefits for psychological well-being and cognition that make it so deeply beloved by the addiction recovery community. 

Journaling helps us process our feelings and work through emotions that are difficult to express, like those related to traumatic experiences. This is why writing down our thoughts is a powerful outlet for people struggling with mental illness like anxiety or depression but is particularly beneficial for those in recovery.  

The isolating nature of drug use can leave people feeling isolated and estrange them from loved ones who, after recovery, may not have a support network to express themselves to. There’s also the high probability that those newly in recovery haven’t been alone with their thoughts in a long time and aren’t sure how to deal with them. Journaling provides a safe, judgment-free place to lay out their thoughts–and because it’s so widely accepted as part of mainstream culture, it’s a practice a person can take up without feeling gimmicky and self-conscious.

Another easy way to support your recovery journey is to participate in Alcoholics Anonymous or other 12-step meeting groups. Find an AA group near you, today. 

Science has proven that having friendships in recovery can have major benefits for recovery. Support networks provide motivation and all-important accountability, which have been shown to significantly decrease the odds of relapse and increase overall recovery success. 

That said, achieving this supportive friend group isn’t always easy. 

Many who come home after rehab find that those close to them may resist the idea of their new sober selves, especially if these were people that a recovered person used to cavort with when doing their drug of choice. In these instances, it’s best to ditch your toxic, unsupportive old friends and find a new tribe of like-minded people who respect your new lifestyle and will support you in upholding it–here’s how to do just that. 

How to ditch unsupportive friends and cut ties

When it comes to friendships, especially for a person who’s newly sober, you want quality over quantity. It’s better to have few or no friends than to be surrounded by bad ones that don’t support your sober lifestyle. These are the “friends” that urge you to resume your old ways, scoff and belittle your attempts to better yourself, or continue to drink or use drugs around you. These individuals will actively hinder your progress and lead you to relapse. 

Even if your old friends aren’t actively deterring your progress, there’s still a strong chance they’ll keep you anchored to your previous not-so-great way of life. Addiction and cravings are strongly tied to memories. If you’re hanging out with the same people or in the same places, it becomes harder to distance yourself from your old ways.

There’s no one right way to cut ties. If you feel inclined, you can let them know you’ll be stepping back in order to focus on yourself and your recovery — though they’re invited to stick around if they’ll be supportive. If the relationship is highly toxic, it might just be best to ghost them entirely without a formal farewell. 

Finding a new friend group

First, what not to do. At least in the beginning, steer clear of places where you know people are dealing or using drugs like nightclubs and bars. For the best odds of success, put yourself in the mindset of a person who’s already sober and stable. Where do they hang out? What hobbies do they have? 

Apps, video chats, and social media have made it easier than ever to connect with others and find highly specific communities. There are plenty of events and resources dedicated to sobriety and recovery communities, and finding them is as easy as a quick search on your phone. Here are a few ways to find your people: 

Follow sober social media accounts

There are lots of accounts dedicated to recovery content–some funny, some uplifting. Whatever you’re looking for, you’ll feel comforted seeing their mass of millions of followers and know that you’re far from alone in your journey. Want to connect with people one on one? Create an account on recovery-exclusive communities like Sober Grid, which is like Facebook and Snapchat combined, but a platform dedicated to those recovering from addiction. 

Take a workout class

If you’re looking to expand your circle beyond people who are sober or in recovery but who are likely to uphold similar values to your new lifestyle, fitness classes are a great place to look. These are people who are (at least somewhat) committed to being healthy and likely to be very understanding of your drug-free ways. Bonus, you’ll also get a workout buddy! 

Volunteer

If you’re looking to surround yourself with upstanding people, joining others with a desire to give back to the community is a sure bet. Here you’ll find people with compassion and patience who are sure to be super supportive in your recovery journey.

Keep in touch with your treatment facility

Graduation from rehab doesn’t have to mark the end of your relationship with the professionals and clinicians who care about you. Odds are, your facility has an alumni program that regularly hosts events and other gatherings that allow you to either meet other graduates or those who are still in treatment. Either way, it’s a guaranteed place to find your peers without the burden of you having to initiate the first move.

Join a 12-Step group

Whether it’s Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Dual Diagnosis Anonymous, or any of the many other peer-based support groups, attending a meeting is a very low-stakes way to meet others who are in recovery. These groups are host to people in various stages of recovery (including those who have yet to begin), which could be beneficial for you, giving you a glimpse of how far you’ve already come as well as a peek into what success looks like. 

Addiction, and addiction recovery, can sometimes be a lonely experience. Digital apps are helping to close that gap, providing a sense of community, a source of accountability, and support on virtually every aspect of recovery. But there are hundreds of apps out there —  where do you start? Whatever you’re looking for in your journey, here are 9 of the best smartphone apps for recovery,

9 Must-Have Mobile Apps for Addiction Recovery

Most addiction recovery apps fall into these general categories, and many offer more than one feature:

• 12 Steps resources
• Directories
• Habit or sobriety tracker
• Information
• Peer support
• Relapse prevention assistance

The apps we selected are all free mobile apps, though some may require in-app purchases to unlock the full features. 

12-Step Meditation Daily Reflections for AA, NA, Al-Anon 

A great option for members of 12 Step groups. This app makes it easy (and pleasant) to work the Twelve Steps outside of group meetings. There are hundreds of guided meditations, soothing music and sounds, and audio recordings of the twelve steps and prayers that you can layer to create personalized audio tracks. You can also make a playlist with all your creations, making it the perfect app when you’re traveling or just need to create a calm, quiet space for yourself.

AA Big Book Free — For Alcoholics Anonymous

An essential app for anyone involved in AA. This app is chock full of useful features with full access to the Big Book and the ability to make notes, mark passages, and search the text. It also has AA prayers, podcasts, a meeting finder and a sobriety tracker. 

I Am Sober

There’s no shortage of sobriety trackers apps out there, which I Am Sober is. Besides being one of the most user friendly apps and thorough (it counts sobriety down to the second), our favorite standout feature is that the tracker also tells you how much money you’ve saved since quitting drinking. The practical nature of this side function makes it a great form of positive reinforcement when motivation is running low. 

I Am

I Am allows users to customize their phones with aesthetic and soothing images paired with positive affirmations.  You can also have pretty and empowering messages delivered as push notifications throughout the day. While not specifically an addiction treatment app, a big part of treatment is undoing the negative thought patterns. This does that in a user-friendly way while being cute to boot.

Recovery Path: Addiction Recovery & Addiction Help

This app does it all, offering CBT-based motivations and reminders, posting abilities, and even a directory. What we love most is the related support app for loved ones and even clinicians, providing a rounded-out community that offers encouragement and accountability in all forms.

Sober Grid

Imagine a Facebook that was exclusively for people who are sober or in recovery. Well no need to imagine, it exists! Sober Grid is a full-fledged social networking app that allows you to make posts, connect with others, and message people. Joining is completely free, and so is the app! It also features 24/7 live coaching available, making this one of the best apps for finding social support. 

SoberTool

This app is backed by science, as it was created by a licensed counselor. It offers the usual features you’d expect in a recovery app, but what makes it stand out is its craving analyzer which helps you recognize and work through triggers when they strike. There’s also a built-in community forum feature where you can speak to other people who are in recovery.

Nomo — Sobriety Clocks

Nomo keeps things simple, making it the perfect recovery app for people who want no-frills recovery support. It’s a sobriety tracker that lets you set as many clocks as you want, allowing you to celebrate both big and small addiction recovery milestones. Plus, collect virtual chips when you do! Nomo also has minigames to serve as a distraction when cravings strike.

WEconnect

Spoke to your sponsor recently? Went to an AA meeting? With WEconnect, you can earn gift cards and other tangible rewards for completing small and large tasks in your recovery program. This app can only be used by a person enrolled in a substance abuse treatment program at a facility that has partnered with the app — so this one isn’t for everyone. Those who are able to get an access code will find this a powerful complement to their recovery program that offers great incentives for creating good habits.

Did we miss your favorite apps for addiction recovery? Let us know in the comments! If you’re ready to go offline and get IRL support, find an AA meeting or NA meeting near you, today. 

Addiction and mental illness are treatable conditions. Have you ever wondered what happens if addiction and mental illness are developed at the same time? This phenomenon is called co-occurring disorders. 

Co-occurring disorders, or the circumstance in which a person has at least one substance addiction disorder and at least one mental health disorder, have advanced in understanding, and we now know much more about them. Now it is evident that treating only a portion of the issue results in treatment failures whereas treating all substance addiction and mental health disorders simultaneously as part of a holistic strategy has a much higher chance of success. Integrated treatment essentially means that both mental health and substance use therapy are provided by the same provider (or team of providers). 

What Is Integrated Treatment?

Mental illnesses are brain disorders that frequently result in a decreased ability to cope with the everyday demands of life, much like diabetes is a sickness of the pancreas. While addiction is a medical illness, substance abuse is a behavioral issue. Alcohol and other drug use habits that are harmful as a result of substance addiction and dependence cause severe impairment and distress. 

When mental illness and addiction go hand in hand it means that a person is suffering from a co-occurring disorder. This is when Integrated Treatment comes in. Integrated treatment refers to the employment of several treatments, such as the blending of medication like Suboxone and Subutex, and therapy like CBT and DBT. Integrated Treatment’s primary focus is to address both mental and physical aspects of addiction and how it is leading to mental health disorders.  

Why Mental Illness and Addiction Often Go Together

Sometimes it might be challenging to distinguish between an addiction and a mental illness. How can one tell if depression is brought on by substance usage, withdrawal from substances, or a diagnosable depressive disorder? How can one distinguish between anxiety brought on by cocaine abuse and anxiety disorders? How can someone tell the difference between mood swings brought on by the overuse of depressants like alcohol and stimulants like cocaine and bipolar disorder? Yes, it might be challenging to detect the difference. It can be unexpected to learn that a sizable percentage of people seeking treatment for addiction also have a mental health condition.

A person may be more likely to struggle with addiction if they have depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, trauma, or ADHD. Because they are unaware they have a mental illness, the problem has gone misdiagnosed, or they don’t like the medication recommended for their condition and how it makes them feel, many people who are experiencing emotional problems turn to drugs or alcohol as a form of self-medication. However, experts and people in recovery can attest that while these drugs may reduce symptoms temporarily, they ultimately worsen mental health problems. They are never cured. 

Is Integrated Treatment Impactful?

Yes. Integrated treatment is impactful because:

• It offers simultaneous treatment of a mental health condition and an addiction
• It uses the same expert team for the treatment of both illnesses
• It creates a solid network of social support while receiving therapy
• It utilizes a variety of therapeutic modalities to address each person’s goals and issues
• It offers flexible treatment options that take into account the unique requirements of each patient

Benefits of Integrated Treatment

Addiction treatment programs that offer dual diagnosis can help a person who is suffering from addiction and mental health disorders. Here are a few benefits of Integrated Treatment:

• Help patients understand the part that drugs and alcohol play in their lives. 
• Approach to both the mental health condition and the substance abuse
• Gives patients the chance to learn about the interactions between drugs, the symptoms of mental illness, and other medications
• Utilize these problems as a backdrop for investigating their own substance use
• Offer counseling that is provided in the form of individual, group, family, or a combination of these sessions 
• Offers therapy that is specifically tailored to the special requirements of people with co-occurring illnesses
• Encompasses support services, such as employment assistance, and may aid patients in their recovery
• Helps patients to determine personal recovery objectives and understand how each sickness will be recovered from

The Bottom Line…

Integrated treatment reduces symptoms and enhances the capacity for healthy functioning since it treats co-occurring illnesses concurrently. Abusing drugs or alcohol makes mental health issues worse.

Integrated treatment may help a person to develop healthy coping mechanisms and more effective ways to manage the symptoms of a mental health condition by treating substance addiction as well as the underlying mental health disorder.

There are more than 40 million Americans that are 12 or older, who meet the criteria of having a substance use disorder, a situation that the government has dubbed a crisis. Fortunately, more and more institutions are rising to meet this challenge and curb this public health issue. There are now over 14,000 addiction treatment facilities throughout the country in every state. The hard part is not figuring out how to get help, but deciding where to go. If you’re in this boat and trying to determine where to go to rehab, here’s why you might want to consider a Florida addiction and recovery center.

4 Benefits of Rehabs in Florida

A change of scenery is always a great idea for a person struggling with substance use disorder. In addition to taking you out of the environment where your drug abuse took place, going to rehab in a different state can be beneficial for your motivation and focus on recovery. Florida is a natural choice, it is repeatedly ranked as one of the most popular destinations in the United States. 

Boasting top-notch entertainment, nature, and cuisine, there’s something for everyone in the Sunshine State. However, being a tourist’s top pick isn’t a reason to consider rehabs in Florida, nor is it why it’s considered the rehab capital of the world. Proven experts in the addiction treatment industry, Florida has the facilities, experienced staff, and auxiliary support services to help anyone struggling with addiction. 

Reputation for effectiveness

Florida leads the addiction treatment industry in cutting-edge technology and innovative treatment options. There’s even an addiction treatment model named after the state, which has gone on to be adopted throughout the country. 

The pinnacle of the Florida model involves having separate treatment facilities for addiction treatment and housing. Patients attend therapy and counseling in a facility during the day but reside at non-facility-owned establishments which can feel more comfortable and welcoming. 

The Florida model also differs from the traditional rehab approach which houses patients for 28 days and then returns them back to their “real” lives. With a greater emphasis on peer support and community involvement, many patients who complete their programs eventually become peer leaders in the addiction treatment space.  

Lots of options to choose from 

With a high capita of treatment centers, you can find all sorts of different addiction treatment facilities in Florida. There’s no shortage of options with rehabs that accommodate different budgets and lifestyles. There are luxury rehabs that offer five-star amenities that more closely resemble a resort than a medical facility. There are those that specialize in serving LGBTQ+ patients, and others that are faith-based and cater to a specific religious group. Whatever niche you can imagine, there is probably one in Florida.

Another benefit of the aforementioned Florida model is that various institutions offer varying levels of care, which make it easy to create a bespoke addiction treatment program that best suits your unique needs. The close geographical proximity to so many other drug rehabs can make it possible to cherry-pick different facilities for inpatient, partial hospitalization, and outpatient care. 

Supportive recovery community

One of the greatest benefits of choosing rehabs in Florida is the expansive recovery community. Sober living communities, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Narcotics Anonymous groups are abundant. Many of those who come to Florida for treatment chose to remain here, adding to an understanding and open-arm population contributing to the recovery oasis as dubbed by the New York Times. 

Attractive location

One of the biggest obstacles to helping addicted persons get the help they need is motivation. However, Florida’s adjacency to gorgeous beaches, water sports, and palm trees can go a long way to overcoming a person’s resistance to going to rehab. A desirable location can convince a person to see their treatment through, or agree to get help in the first place.

Another major draw is that Florida is home to several popular destinations including Miami and Orlando. There’s a plentitude of activities on any given day, which can provide a much-needed distraction to someone in recovery. 

Addiction Recovery Options for Florida Residents

If you currently reside in Florida and aren’t sure which drug rehab to go to, you have a great resource in your neighborhood. Attend your local AA or NA meetings to connect with individuals who have been in your shoes and can share their addiction treatment experiences with you. Odds are that some of them have been to a drug rehab in-state and can help narrow your search.  

Odds are you’ve heard the term quitting cold turkey before, which means abruptly stopping something instead of slowly tapering off. It is unanimously advised against in addiction recovery circles as being both dangerous (this is how you end up with nasty withdrawal symptoms) and oftentimes ineffective. 

A similar and equally ill-advised approach for addiction recovery is something called “white knuckling”, meaning that a person tries to overcome addiction alone and solely through willpower. You can imagine someone metaphorically strapping in for a rough ride and holding on for dear life, resulting in the ‘white knuckles’ that the term is named after. Here’s why white knuckling sobriety is almost guaranteed to fail (and what you should do instead):

Why White Knuckling Doesn’t Work

White knuckling solely relies on the person’s willpower to help them overcome addiction. If you follow the 12 Steps, you’ll recall that Alcoholics Anonymous specifically addresses that willpower is not enough for a recovering alcoholic to achieve sobriety. That same willpower is the one that got the person into their problems in the first place and is clearly flawed when it comes to regulating alcohol control (learn more about Step 1 of AA). 

It’s not a matter of willpower

The glaring problem with this approach, whether you are a follower of AA or not, is that ultimately, addiction is not a disease of willpower. Addiction is a chronic medical condition that is just as valid as anything else you’d find in a medical textbook. No one would reasonably expect anyone to try and power through diabetes or cancer, which are also chronic diseases. The rationale behind white knuckling is more in line with the (now outdated) model of addiction from the early 1900s which viewed substance abuse as a moral failure. 

The Dangers of White Knuckling Sobriety

White knuckling is dangerous as well as ineffective, here’s why:

Unsupervised withdrawal

White knuckling means that a person is also going through withdrawal without assistance, some side effects of which can be deadly. Even if you’re not willing to enroll in an addiction treatment facility just yet, at least consider going through detox, where medical staff offers round-the-clock supervision to help you safely pass through withdrawal.

Higher odds of relapse

When a person goes to an addiction treatment facility, their program will include seeing a mental health professional that will help them uncover the root cause of their addiction, identify triggers, and teach healthy new coping mechanisms. Without that emotional support, white knucklers are ill-prepared to deal with the realities of life after addiction and are essentially walking a tightrope without a safety net.

Relapsing itself can be extremely dangerous because during the period a person abstained from drug use, their tolerance may have decreased considerably. If they consume drugs in the quantities they’re used to, they put themselves at significant risk of overdose. 

Alternatives to White Knuckling

Failing to address the psychological causes behind addiction can put a person at an increased risk of relapse. Here are a few ways to get that support for those who are reluctant to commit to going to drug rehab:

Taper off drug use

White knuckling and quitting cold turkey aren’t synonymous, but it’s not unusual for them to coincide. As such, do not abruptly stop using drugs in your effort to get sober. Purposefully taper your dosage to a smaller amount over a period of weeks to allow your body to gracefully adjust. This will reduce the likelihood of withdrawal effects and ease the severity of any symptoms you end up experiencing–in turn, minimizing your need for professional medical intervention. When you eventually get to the point of stopping use altogether, it’s strongly recommended to do so in a detox rehab anyways for your safety

See a therapist

You don’t need to be a patient of a formal addiction treatment facility to receive the benefits of therapy or counseling. There are many mental health professionals that specialize in helping those who struggle with substance abuse. They can help undo the psychological dependence you’ve developed on our drug of choice and teach you the skills you need to masterfully navigate the temptations or cravings you will inevitably experience.

Find a support group

Numerous studies have shown the importance of a support network in the addiction recovery process. It provides motivation, accountability, and distraction. Whether or not you are open about your substance use, you can find confidential, judgment-free support by attending AA meetings or NA meetings. Find one near you today to connect with others who have been in your shoes.

Addiction treatment can be life-saving, both in the figurative and literal sense. It can put a stop to the compulsive drug use that destroys marriages and other important relationships, makes it impossible to hold a job, and leaves your finances in tatters. The behavioral and medical interventions of treatment can give your body a much-needed break from the ongoing abuse, preventing often fatal conditions such as cirrhosis, kidney failure, or cancer that would otherwise shave years off your lifespan. Yet despite how universally beneficial (and in many cases, desperately needed) drug rehab can be, many who struggle with addiction struggle even more with taking that leap and enrolling in treatment.

An Epidemic Within An Epidemic

According to the most recent data from SAMHSA’s annual substance abuse survey, in 2019 there were 21 million people who needed substance abuse treatment but little more than 4 million individuals sought or received treatment. These drastic numbers beg the question: Why do so many drug users fail to get help?

The reasons why so few individuals ever step foot into some sort of substance abuse treatment facility are as varied and multifaceted as the reasons why people use drugs in the first place. Some of these barriers to treatment are fairly obvious and understandable. Rehab can be costly in terms of time and money and a logistical nightmare that requires arranging for childcare, time off work, and transportation. These factors can be incredibly discouraging and no doubt contributed to why only 1% of those who recognized that they need treatment actually made an effort to seek it out.  

The theme of the other main group of objections is a bit more shocking. A significant number of treatment barriers can be attributed to a simple lack of willingness. The vast majority of individuals with a substance abuse disorder either fail to recognize that they have a drug use problem (in 2019, 95.7% of individuals felt that they did not need treatment) or are reluctant to attend for fear of judgment from friends and family.

How 12 Step Programs Help Overcome Treatment Barriers

Twelve step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous and the dozens upon dozens of similarly structured groups modeled after it are uniquely positioned to help bridge the gap between treatment barriers. Narcotics Anonymous, Dual Diagnosis Anonymous, Al-Anon, and the like are peer-based groups that offer a low-stakes means for treatment-hesitant individuals to get a peek at what life on the other side is like.

In 2019 these self-help groups were the most common source of substance abuse treatment amongst Americans aged 12 and older. 

This is far from coincidence. There are a number of crucial factors that have led to 12 step programs being an attractive option to those who aren’t ready to commit to formal treatment at a specialty facility, these are the four biggest ones:

1. They’re Free

Arguably the largest barrier to receiving treatment is paying for it and is where 12 step programs shine. The majority of these types of recovery groups are free to attend, and many of the organizations that host these programs are often non-profits. That means there are never any fees to participate in Alcoholics Anonymous, whether you’re an established group member or otherwise.

2. They’re Confidential

Privacy is cited as another major concern by those who are reluctant to seek drug treatment. Many individuals express deep discomfort at the thought of being made to speak in front of others or being asked personal questions. 

At 12 step meetings, there are no such obligations and you can instead simply listen to others. Should you choose to share, there is a strict emphasis on confidentiality to the degree that any admissions to crimes or other tales of questionable legality are safe to speak of without risk of persecution. Groups like AA also ensure your privacy is protected by purposefully prohibiting signup sheets or any other trace of your attendance, and welcoming the use of aliases to avoid using your real name.

3. There’s No Commitment

The thought of being away from home, from loved ones, the workplace, or in many cases, drugs, can be a major source of anxiety. As such, the thought of enrolling in rehab, which would likely involve restrictions on where you can go, who you can see, and access to drugs, is largely avoided. Twelve step programs, however, have no such commitments. These peer-based groups are structured around a walk-in policy where participants are welcome to come and go as they please, as frequently or infrequently as suits them. 

4. They’re Everywhere 

No matter how accommodating (or free) these programs might be, they won’t do much good if they’re difficult to access. Fortunately, peer-based groups also excel at accessibility, with many of these organizations having thousands of chapters all over the world. There are plenty of directories available to find nearby AA and other meetings, as well as online-hosted meetings that can circumvent any transportation challenges. 

Taking Small Steps Towards Recovery

The nature of how 12 step programs are structured bypasses many of the most commonly cited reasons for avoiding treatment including financial limitations, time restrictions, and accessibility. More importantly, they do so in a manner that is minimally disruptive to the individual’s current lifestyle, promises anonymity, and requires zero commitment. 

If you or a loved one is hesitant about making the leap, joining AA, NA, or other targeted substance abuse self-help group can help you find the motivation to eventually move on to formal treatment. And this isn’t an endeavor that addicted persons have to go through alone. These meetings are open to all, both drug users and non-drug users. They are the epitome of safe spaces that allow you to pursue recovery at your own pace and on your own terms.