Would you agree that treatment is not a prerequisite to surviving addiction? As a recovering alcoholic and drug addict it took years of treatment and effort for me to break free of alcohol and drugs.
I would agree that it is nearly impossible to quit by yourself. Most addicts fee they can stop on their own. Some can – most cannot. As reported in well.blogs.nytimes.com.
For most, it is imperative to listen to professional therapists and assumed responsibility for behavior.
The reality of the situation – especially when looking at it from the positive perspective that you will no longer be addicted, is that treatment is not the end, it’s the beginning. Once one quits using, they have to find a way to live without drugs and alcohol.
I am not saying that treatment is not a magic bullet. The success rate even after intensive month-long in-patient rehab at the best facilities in the country has about 50% staying sober for more than a year.
There are places that claim a 100% success rate. I can tell you that 100% of those places are hogwash!
Treatment works to make recovery possible. But recovery is also possible without treatment. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach.
If you or someone you care about has an addiction problem, please seek help immediately. If you prefer to maintain anonymity, there are online drug classes and online alcohol classes too.