need rehab, but not ready for it

[freebirdbulker]

swim needs rehab badly, but isnt ready for it. they have been basically on a 5 month binge per se, they have taken a week off here and a week off there, but during times of use, its a wonder they make it out alive.

for example. swim got an 8ball to shoot and it was gone within 2.5 hours. they have been known to shoot 25-40 times a day. occasionally they like to give their veins a break and smoke it instead, where they turn into a compulsive smoker, taking hit after hit after hit for hours. not being able to stop. swim has suffered physical problems due to it. swim used to be huge into physical fitness, went for a run after months of habitual smoking and after a mile started coughing up black stuff and phlegm and felt like they were gonna die. swim recently spent 900 in 6 days to shoot it all away. in that time, they OD'd 2x (somehow made it through) went to the ER bc a friend took them, left the ER and then went right back to shooting and had a near heartattack. swim knows they have a problem, but feels if they go to rehab, it wont do any good bc they arent ready to quit. they love cocaine and the feeling of the rush and the needle too much. so swim is in a bind on what to do. go to rehab and not learn anything and only relapse after? or not go and keep on the path and end up dead? any advice is appreciated

[jeepack]

What you need is detox, then rehab... Not rehab... It's not true that you won't learn anything. But we all tell ourselves this. If you go through detox, you'll get healthier. I respect that you love the needle, of course, it does sound awesome when you think about it. And I know it is hard to go to these places because WE KNOW that we won't quit. I totally get that. But there is always one chance that we are wrong, and that far down the path of detox, we end up changing our minds, and deciding just to give abstinence a try, just once, and see how it goes. No one is saying that you need to quit or go into rehab. But try to aim for detox first, rehab won't do you any good untill you can think straight. There are thousands of success stories about people with your habit that gave it all up and are living wonderful lifes today, happier than most people are normally. I'm not saying "think positive and you'll make it" because that's mostly BS that you probably don't want to hear. But I am saying that there is awesome food in those places!!! And also, that it is ok to go into detox with the intention of starting again, you don't have to make up your mind before you go, you can make up your mind before you leave if you want.

What kind of rehab programs have you attended in the past?

[vita-disgrazia]

I have never understood the all or nothing mindset of americans.
Going to detox and rehab isn't a waste even if the addict ultimately ends up restarting addiction.
Whatever happened while you went for treatment stays with you in the same way the addiction will always stay with you.

Even when we don't think we've learned anything often times we have, it may take time for us to be able to process the lesson and really be able to apply and relate to it.

And a wise person once said, its what you learn after you know it all that counts.

vita-disgrazia added 8 Minutes and 48 Seconds later...

Lastly,

In regards to the question of going to rehab vs the path to death... its an easy choice really.

Death is forever. There is no path back from death. Death gives us only one "chance" ... there are no practice runs or dress rehearsals for death.
The comitment to death is final.

Rehab on the other hand can be attempted many times. There are a million paths to rehab. If one rehab doesn't "take" there are always more.

I suggest you don't commit to death before you commit (and re commit and re commit etc...) to help and rehab.

To die without even trying to really live is heartbreaking to me and frightening.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Low points, but I think this post really touches why seeking/continuing treatment is important. (Note: sleep deprived)

[10outof10]

I just wanted to ask freebird...when will you know that you're ready? It sounds to me that you have already made up your mind that treatment will not help, you mention "not learn anything", I just wondered where this was coming from and what advice you were therefore looking to gain from people. I would argue it is impossible to learn nothing from any life experience and as others mentioned the possibility of relapse is not necessarily a barrier not to go into treatment-if only to get a little healthier. That said I only have expereince of the UK so I just wondered how it works with funding etc as UK can limit you quite badly to a specific number of stays at residential rehabs. If it is the same where you are and if you are positive you are not ready it would be a shame to perhaps not have this chance later when you do feel more ready. In UK we have short term detoxes often called crisis centres, would this be an option to get you health up and you never know you may start to feel ready? But as I asked initially, and I think it would be beneficial for yourself to know this..when will you know that you're ready?