A few months ago, I found myself face to face with 65 Metro Jail inmates in orange jumpsuits. Intimidating? Yeah. Ultimately rewarding? Absolutely.
On Saturday, I was in front of a new, even more intimidating group – 25 or so super-smart Vanderbilt graduate students, all women. Oy. I’m a public school guy who barely earned a bachelor’s degree.
These women are studying addictions; they’re future counselors, therapists, treatment center staffers and social workers who’ll be helping my people, addicts and alcoholics. That’s what the state of Tennessee calls people with “substance use disorder.” (Barf.)
I thanked the students for caring about us addicts. And even though I talked to them for an hour nonstop (Shut it, Brad!), I want to say just a few more things to the students of Vanderbilt Associate Professor Andy Finch – and anyone who chooses to work with addicts and alcoholics.
Please don’t give up on us.
It’s easy to do. Relapse is a HUGE part of recovery. Most studies say that 75% to 90% of those trying to get clean and sober will relapse within 90 days. Of those who make it past 90 days, studies show less than 10% make it to two years.
Why?
You get a cancer diagnosis, it’s awful, but you go ahead and get chemo. Diabetics take insulin. But many of us alcoholics and addicts – myself included – have a tough time accepting our diagnosis.
And our medicine is just a little more involved — fellowship, and 12-step meetings, and prayer and meditation and dealing with core issues and what not.
It’s not that 12-step programs are ineffective. “Rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path,” one fellowship’s literature says.
It’s that the level of surrender required to embrace the 12 steps does not come easily to most alcoholics and addicts.
So in the land of substance abuse treatment, you might see the same guy over and over again.
It might take us one or two times – or five or 10 or 21 times – to hit that magic five-year mark, after which success for long-term recovery is far more likely.
That can be tough for workers in treatment, like my friend Marty Dooley, who has worked in psych units, treatment centers, detoxes and halfway houses for years.
“You get a lot of eye rolling – ‘Johnny’s calling again, and he’s never gonna get it; this guy’s a piece of shit,’” says Marty, 35, who recently moved to Donelson from Boston.
Then there’s the overall trend toward closing down facilities and programs for people with substance abuse problem.
“Everywhere you turn doors are closing. More and more people need treatment and there are less and less opportunities for them,” Marty says.
“When you see someone relapse, it takes the wind out of your sails. Am I wasting my resources? Is it worth my time to fight for this guy? Should I fight for this guy or that guy to get treatment?”
A lot of time, Marty says, his coworkers have lost passion and patience for patients. And that can create a really dark atmosphere in the work place.
But Marty, a recovering addict himself, always rallies.
“It’s the one guy who lives. And knowing that Johnny keeps relapsing but his runs are getting less and less intense. It’s the little victories that keep you going.”
Marty relates because he himself relapsed, about 19 months ago – after getting 10 years clean.
So future addiction treatment workers of Nashville, I thank you for all you’re going to do. Your job will be tough, and there are days when you might feel overwhelmed and useless.
But is one life worth it? How about 10? How about the 15 to 30 million people living in long-term recovery?
How about my friend Marty, who reaches out to help dozens of recovering addicts each week in Nashville, without a paycheck this time?
Please don’t give up on us.
Thank you so much for focusing your talents, energy, studies and love on us. I’ll bet you can make a lot more money putting those talents and education elsewhere, but something in you made you choose addicts.
Just please stick with us when it gets tough. We’re gonna let you down, lots of times.
But how about that one guy who has relapsed five times, but now has 15 years clean, and he pays it forward every day? How about the businessman who drank alone for five years who finally has two years sober and loves on the family he ignored for so long? How about the woman who used to sell herself for drugs and now has 10 years clean and works in a treatment center to help other women on the streets?
What if you were the one who believed in the addict or alcoholic who finally turns it around?
We’re going to give you moments of hope and joy that you’ll rarely find in other workplaces.
Work in that hope, and surely it will be contagious.
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