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Ok, not quite. But please allow me to explain my title. This blog is an extension to my latest entry and subsequent comments regarding the UK Recovery movement. I have recently devised an A,B,C which could be used as the bedrock of the war on ignorance. That is three fundamentals that everyone in this field will have to come to accept.
A: Addicts want recovery. A reported 87% of addicts see abstinence as their ultimate goal, the place they would like to be.
B: Addicts can recover
C: With the right support, and in the right environment, many addicts do recover
Once these facts are universally accepted, the battle is almost won. I believe that more or less every approach to recovery can agree on this.Hopefully we can also agree on Alistair’s 12 principles of recovery, which I think bust many a myth.
Those who see recovery as something threatening need educating on the basics of the nature of recovery. Treatment workers need to know that Recovery doesn’t necessarily mean a mass exist from the clinics in to the fellowships.
As Michaela recently pointed out, we need to first find our common ground. I would be very surprised to find anyone who disagrees with my ABC, or Alistair’s 12 principles of recovery. So as a former Marketing student I would say this is how we sell recovery.
Once people have embraced Recovery as a concept then we can further educate them as to the different pathways to recovery. At this stage they should understand that a dislike of one particular pathway shouldn’t result in a dismissal of recovery as a concept.
Although I wasn’t at the recent Road to Recovery event, my latest thinking has largely been influenced by the reaction to Byron Katie’s presentation. All I will say is that when you’re trying to win over sceptics and cynics it is best to keep things rational and straight forward.
As Jamie says in The Thick Of It, “That’s how they get you, all that logic, reason, thinking sh*t.” Or words to that effect. I for one believe that is the way we will win the cynics over. I would go so far as to say I would prefer a scientific approach, we base this on hard facts and research.
On a slightly different subject, but remaining in the recovery education ball park. What are the key functions of a recovery service, and how does an effective recovery service differ from effective treatment service?
I hope this makes sense.
It does make sense! Although something in me struggles with purely scientific measures. In a world of lies, damn lies and statisitics I am wary of how data is manipulated. I do know we need to measure, I just think we need to think about what to measure first!
Thanks for this Mathew. I’m a wee bit tired and off to bed in a mo so will have a go at responding to your recovery education ball questions (and good questions they are to) tomorrow if that’s alright. It might link in to Michaela’s view (and I agree) that we need to think about what to meaure. I love to stretch my head as I think you do. Michaela certainly does.
Can I just say tho that they ain’t my principles. I’ve taken from the US and amended a bit. I hope to do a blog in the next couple of days where I can explain the changes and get some feedback from the Wired in community. I don’t see them as complete then. I think we are at the start of a process and there’s a lot more debate needs to happen. Elsewhere on the site tonight there’s been a bit of a debate around words vrs action. I think this is important and long may it prosper. Passion can sometimes blur the discussion but it’s important none the less.
Thesis then anti-thesis then synthesis.
At least I hope so.
Onward and upward.
Well put Matthew – and in a way my tired brain can comprehend! Having core values and messages whilst giving people freedom to have choices and find what works for them is key. I replicate Michaela’s measurement questions too. Thinking hats on.
Pucker bog Mathew – I tend to not blog on thse issues through choice, yet I just feel I do agree with all you say and all the comments.
A intersesting 2010 it is going to be for all of recovery!
Hi Matt and all.
You may find my article on mental health and recovery “Revolution in the Head” useful in terms of identifying key/core recovery themes.
Available here:
http://www.theartoflifeitself.org/2009/11/23/revolution-in-the-head/
Short link: http://bit.ly/65yQNj
Hope this helps and of course get in touch if you want any more info.
Take care,
- S.
Great blog ..I agree with everything except the 87 percent part.. not because I fundamentally disagree, I would just like to know who the target group were, who were questioned to realise this statistic. And where the figure came from. I want to be able to quote it and support support it with evidence as I am of your school of thought.
I think there maybe more than 13 percent out there that dont even know that abstinence is an option? What do you think?
In my experience many more on Meth and Valium think thats a result?
