recovery programs, what works? what doesn't

[dogzz]

There seems to be as many thoughts on how to best quit ones d.o.c. as there are addicts. Ya there is NA, AA, swim's personal fav...online recovery sites, and so on. Swim's on a bit of a quest and would like as much input from others as swin can get. If swiy is an addict in recovery...what worked? what is, or was it swiy hung on to, to get through. What is or was what swiy did not like? (for instance, a big one swim sees with many is; in AA or NA the references to God)

What does/did swiy "wishes" was out there to help with recovery? People who are still using and looking for help....what would swiy really wish they could find? ANY and ALL comments, thoughts, ideas are welcome. Just a short brief comment or long expressed thoughts...

To swim, much is lacking in addiction recovery. True, people are what they are, and there are always going to be some experimenting and using drugs.
It seems though, that a lot of what is in place is done more by those that have not been there. (swim's opinion and personal experience) Could just be a personal peeve of swim, but swim REALLY does not like being talked to by someone who has not lived it. Another thing swim sees as a huge setback to recovery is COST. Ya, sure, in hollywood a spoiled rich ass can afford to shell out the tons of money to spend some time it what basically amounts to a vacation in a country club......but to a LOT of us, spending thousands to sit around in a group and talk is just not possible.

Or any thoughts about what might have possibly prevented swiy's getting into addiction in the first place. Swim's parents, when it came to drinking and drugs, simply said "don't do it!" swim would ask why and got the same thing "don't do it" After being an alcoholic and drug addict for a good 15 years swim finds out about alcoholism and addiction in relatives...aunts, uncles, grandparents etc..... Swim's parents never drank....swim had to find out what all the fuss was about. Swim wonders if parents had an open honest discussion about it....would swim have taken a different path? Swim had that open talk with swims daughter.....she did her experimenting with drinking, a few drugs.....and moved on....avoiding the mistake her dad made...

So there y'all go, from education and prevention for young to old....recovery through meetings, internet, outpatient, in-patient, doing it on your own.....what worked, doesnt work, wish there was, should try......short note, long explanation.....let's hear what everyones thoughts are. thanks

[methMADMAN]

Personally AA and NA work for me, but one thing that you said stuck with me....It irks me to no end how people want to teach their children ignorance! That's the BEST way to get a kid to want to experiment is to just say "don't do it"! The right way to teach a kid is to give them all the facts, including the upside of drugs. If you don't they will surely know there is an upside and want to find out what it is. At least armed with the truth they can make an informed decision.

[x cynic x]

Many programs work, as long as Swiy actually wants to quit.

[Big Fella]

Find a theory that resonates with you, Peele wrote an interesting article on some here http://www.peele.net/lib/moa3.html

SWIN did a 12 step rehad after a 7 year heroin and 10 year other substances addiction. However SWIM did not go to meetings as he had support elsewhere. However whislt SWIM (who works in the addiction field) does not ascribe to a disease theory, or a moral theory, he does see the value in keeping a close eye on things as though he is no longer an addict, SWIM has played with fire and was lucky to not get burnt, so he now makes sure he keeps a tight check on his thoughts and emotions "moral inventory" and carries the message of hope "step 12" to others as this keeps things in focus, gives his life purpose, and is a powerful tool for others to connect with.