How Do You Define Recovery?
Whether you are in rehab now, or just considering it, you have realized that when you are using drugs and alcohol, you are not in control of your life; your addiction is. With this realization, you have opened the door to recovery. There is a long and challenging road ahead of you, but at least now you have your eye on the prize.
So, What Exactly Is Recovery?
Even treatment professionals have a hard time defining recovery. The most recent definition from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) states that, “Recovery from alcohol and drug problems is a process of change through which an individual achieves abstinence and improved health, wellness, and quality of life.”
The AA Model
Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step programs are based on the premise that recovery requires complete abstinence and constant vigilance. The 12 steps are an ongoing process whereby you maintain sobriety, acknowledge a higher power, take responsibility for your life, repair past hurts, and reach out to help others.
The Moderated View
In recent years, a less rigid view of recovery has emerged. This moderated view acknowledges that abuse problems vary in severity, and the recovery solution may not be the same for everyone.
- Those with less severe drinking problems can learn strategies to moderate their drinking. Successful recovery for these individuals would not require abstinence, but controlled drinking, instead.
- Some people simply cannot maintain abstinence, and for them, modern drug therapy may be necessary to control cravings. In this case, recovery might be the responsible adherence to their treatment and therapeutic regimens.
- In the SMART Recovery® program, participants are encouraged to define recovery for themselves. The focus of these alternative support groups is to stop unhealthy behaviors by following science-based strategies.
Common Ground
Though the concept of recovery varies among experts and patients alike, there are two aspects common to everyone’s definition: 1) An individual must want to be in recovery, and 2) he must voluntarily take the necessary steps to maintain a sober life. If recovery is your goal, you must be honest with yourself about your willingness to get help and your commitment to follow a recovery program. Only then, will you successfully create and maintain your own recovery!
The Right Help for Your Recovery Journey
Have you imagined a life where day-to-day decisions no longer center around your need for drugs and alcohol? At Coast to Coast Recovery, we are invested in helping you achieve such a life. Our unique treatment matching protocol helps us identify programs that match your lifestyle and personal values so that you have the best possible chance for success. Call 800-210-8229 to begin your recovery selection process today.
