Offering More Than the Dealer

Treatment must offer the addict more than the dealer to be successful. This is a monumental task in most cases. For those addicts that have not reached their bottom or suffered many negative consequences, treatment will be seen as painful and counterproductive. For those addicts that are at the depths of despair, facing their demons without the glimmer of hope seems painful, pointless and such an overwhelming option that it is not even an option.

Regardless of the stage of addiction the addict is at, treatment must present opportunity while building and maintaining motivation. Recovery must be painted as a realistic and enjoyable option available to the addict with the caveat that work is required that will yield even better results than could ever be imagined. For many, addiction is fun and exciting, recovery must have this option available as well. For others, addiction addresses the pain and suffering like nothing else can. Recovery must minimize the pain and suffering while presenting a new way to live, cope and manage life.

Becoming a better option that the dealer is not an easy task. The dealer offers immediate results with little to no work. For most, treatment and recovery offers a pie-in-the-sky opportunity for a happy life which is so hard for an addict to visualize that quickly becomes nothing more than a pipe dream. Turning these dreams into reality is where the power lies.