Independent Addiction Change

Debriel

While there are many views on addiction, there are only two ways to approach addiction change: dependently or independently. Within the Minnesota Model of addiction, an addiction-is-disease based model, there is no such thing as independent change. The proclaimed "interdependency" within this model looks a lot more like a dependency-on an environment than anything else. Could be one reason why there is little to no documentation of people who successfully change addictions within this model. If "dependency on a drug" is your primary complaint, how are you effectively achieving change by instead becoming dependent on other people or environments? You might be changing, but is it permanent, hard lived, is it for real? Are you, like Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, "Changing by not changing at all?" Perhaps so -- but if you want personal addiction change, consider dropping out of the Minnesota Model. Or drop out of professional services all together. As an opponent of the Minnesota Model of addiction and a proponent of non-medical models of behavior, I argue that independent addiction change is a viable option to traditional forms of addiction help, with education and desire as the primary ingredients.

"Treatment for addiction change is a misnomer. Education is a more appropriate term." -Jeffery Schaler, Ph.D.

Most alternative-to-disease models of addiction change are also dependency based. Up until 1999, Rational Recovery was a group dependency based model of addiction change. This, declared founder and President Jack Trimpy, has ended in the best interest of those who desire abstinence from drugs/alcohol. From the Rational Recovery Society Network website he announces: "Recovery groups thrive upon the dependence of addicted people who seek the implicit moral absolution of similarly troubled people who desire to procrastinate the painful decision to cease and desist from further use of alcohol or drugs. For this reprieve, they exchange their autonomy and identities as free people. Consequently, Rational Recovery cannot recommend recovery groups that convene under our name." The support group movement has ended for them, and thankfully so. I have no doubt that more people are changing under this model than ever before, and that they are doing so independently. Some of the so-called "feminist" models of addiction change are the most dependent based models around. Spiritual dependency on a "goddess, higher power" or fill in the blank is greatly encouraged as is dependency on a group. This is true of both Women for Sobriety and the sixteen steps of empowerment, which insult feminism by promoting the female stereotypes of helplessness and emotionality. Psychological dependency on other group members disguised as leaders is likewise at an all time high here; strikingly similar to that which is found in traditional twelve step groups. This is a potentially dangerous situation, as always is the situation when non-credited individuals are leading groups of emotionally distraught people.

When it comes to changing addictions -- there is no interdependence within a group setting. Interdependence is not found in relation to the other actors in your recovery, either. While incarcerated at an inpatient treatment facility you have no interdependence. The administrators and service providers do not depend on the patients; the patient depends on them, for humane treatment among other things. The same holds true for outpatient facilities. Counselor/consumer relationships are not interdependent -- you depend on your counselor for guidance, and in most cases your counselor is not even depending on you to pay your own bill. Even if you are paying, your counselor does not depend on your payment for survival. Of course, one might develop meaningful relationships with CO-patients or CO-consumers and be under the belief that the parties are interdependent, but chances are they are not. In all likeliness, your CO-consumers will suck your emotions dry and/or exploit you. And, as many the true addiction expert will advise you, support groups and treatment centers are not the places where meaningful long-term friendships should develop. One should find friends in neutral places, where people do not primarily identify as alcohol or drug addicts. This is a no brainier. The final actors in your addiction change process include your "support people" most likely your family or non-drug addicted friends. If these are good people, you do interdepend with them already. Your interdependence is not specific to your addiction change, although it might include it. Because the nature of human relationships includes the decease of them, it is in your own best interests to lean towards independence and not interdependence in relation to your addiction change and these people. That way, you are proactive and will have in place independent addiction change skills when life may be once again going badly for you. It is always in your best nterests to change your addictions independently.

The first proponent of an independent model of addiction change was Stanton Peele, Ph.D. His Life Skills Process approach to recovery focuses on an individual's values, talents, and life goals. By believing one can change and then committing to addiction change, one can focus on more meaningful life activities, and less on the devotion one had for alcohol or drugs. Peele's model realizes that other addictions, including addiction to a person or group of people, exist and can inhibit your recovery. His model allows an individual the freedom to achieve change independently, in the comfort and privacy of their own home, while improving their self worth and overall productivity. And, if they so choose, they do not have to tell a single soul about it. Peele took a bold opposition to disease models of addictions and treatment centers, more so because these methods are proven not to work than anything else. He assures us that just because we have an addiction to alcohol or drugs, that just because we have been labeled alcoholic or chemically dependent, that just because we are American Indian or Polish or whatever -- we are NOT sick. We are not diseased, and we have the power to end the behaviors that violate our values. Enter the year 2000 and yet another independent addiction change spokesperson -- Jeffrey Schaler, Ph.D. In his recently published book Addiction is a Choice, Schaler teaches us about The Free Will Addiction Model, also called Choice Model. By clearly taking the side against all medical models of human behavior, including addiction-as-disease models, Schaler provides the most sensible and effective approach to behavior change to date. In his Credo of The Free Will Model, Schaler takes "the best of the rest" and combines them into one clear cut and easily applied format. He validates the addict who chooses independent change, acknowledging that environments and other personal problems have more to do with a viscous addiction than the drug itself. He assures us that, unlike traditional models would like you to believe addicts are not weak - they are very strong. They possess what he calls an "iron will" in relation to their love of drugs or alcohol. This iron will must be confronted by the addicted. Once broken, the will of an addict is best applied to other activities, such as the virtuous addictions one already has.

If you want to change independently, you can. If you want to change dependently, you can. I would advocate for counselor/consumer based services and not support groups under these situations. A good counselor will serve more as an educator than anything else and will lead you towards independence. For if you continue to depend on somebody else for a long period of time, not only will you change by not changing at all -- you will either go broke or cost the rest of Americans a lot of money. Adding to the list of reasons why effective addiction change services are consumer funded, education orientated, short term, and conducted in a non-medical environment. But that is a rare find. And, you might not even need all of that anyway. If you are serious about change -- these might be the only tools you ever need:

Peele, Stanton. The Truth About Addiction and Recovery by Stanton Peele and Archie Brodsky (New York, Simon and Schuster, 1991).

Schaler, Jeffrey. Addiction is a Choice. (Open Court, 2000).