Wanted to expound on Myth #2

MYTH: Addicts have to hit rock bottom before they can get better. Recovery can begin at any point in the addiction process - and the earlier, the better. The longer drug abuse continues, the stronger the addiction becomes and the harder it is to treat. Don't wait to intervene until the addict has lost it all. This is a view that is espoused in some circles and is dangerous. What is accurate is that there is no formula for determining when addicts as a group should begin treatment. They can begin recovery at any stage of addiction. Because some individuals do not have insight into their disease and cannot be physically forced to enter treatment, they do need to reach rock bottom first. However, many addicts realize that they have a problem, and it is best for family and friends to intervene as early as possible and offer them an alternative to dependence on the substance - before the substance becomes increasingly more of a priority and replaces people and activities that they once valued. This whole idea of "hitting bottom" is out of date. Some people will wait years - even decades- for their friend to reach this mythical point in their alcohol and drug use. But why wait for them to"hit bottom"? Why not help them by raising their bottom? There are ways to encourage someone to reach for help much earlier and by doing so, we can avoid a lot of unnecessary pain and heartache - and maybe even save their life. For some people, hitting bottom will be six feet underground.

When I am asked "Does everyone have to hit rock bottom?" I would say no. Tough love and setting bottom lines can prevent a substance abuser from prolonging their usage. There are loving ways to refuse to rescue someone that in the long run will help him or her to choose recovery. Loving means doing the right thing to help. This can take all of our strength and energy at times. We all hate to see someone suffer - even when the suffering is a consequence of his or her bad choices. This approach, or some form of it, is something you might consider; Raise the bottom. The next time this person you care about appeals to you to get them out of a bind (loan them money, pay their electric bill, buy them gas, pay for a lawyer), think twice. You might just be prolonging their disease and robbing them of the natural consequences that they need to experience in order to seek help and begin to connect the dots.