Can rehab work?
At the beginning of April Pete Doherty confirmed he would be entering rehab at the end of the month. As of yet, there are no reports or confirmations that he has done so. The singer has had a well-documented battle with drugs for over a decade. He has repeatedly been arrested for drug-related offences such as driving under the influence, car theft, and driving with a suspended license. As well as possession of crack cocaine, heroin, ketamine and cannabis. His offences have resulted in time in prison and multiple trips to rehabilitation. Can rehab work?
In the interview with NME Doherty confirmed that he was currently using crack cocaine and heroin before saying ‘I thought you might be interested to know that I’m booked into rehab at the end of April.’ So why is it rehab hasn’t worked in the past for Doherty? What is there to say he will even enter this time let alone succeed in getting off drugs? A neurological rehabilitation centre in Ontario has analysed the dynamic of failure in rehab, concluding that individuals who ‘fail in rehab’ become the locus of strong negative emotion, and anger and blame for this lack of success is shared across all participants; the individuals, the loved ones, and even the rehab organisation.
Spotting the early warning signs
Dr Neill states that awareness is the key to building a fulfilling, healthy and meaningful life after rehab; awareness of spotting the early warning signs that could lead to relapse and taking the action necessary to prevent it. His four early warning signs are as follows:
- Lying to yourself and to others. A key trait of a functioning alcoholic or addict is their ability to lie, if you find yourself slipping from the truth then do everything you can to correct it.
- Blaming someone else and making yourself a victim. Recognise you are on the slippery slope to victimhood and consequentially relapse if you find yourself laying blame rather than taking responsibility.
- Shame – If you feel shame from not being able to make your partner happy remind yourself that aside from loving, respecting and caring for them, their power to feel happiness resides within them.
- Euphoria – Be careful that your happiness in becoming drug-free doesn’t result in a shift to feeling invulnerable. If you feel invulnerable you are more likely to drink or do drugs without thinking about the consequences of doing so. The euphoria of success has been the downfall of many.
Commitment – Can rehab work?
It is up to you to make your life after rehab a success. Commitment to a drug-free life by working the 12 Steps and continuing to go to AA, NA or CA meetings is crucial as well as being aware of the signs of relapse and realising you are not invulnerable. You are a human being and so therefore always vulnerable.
Happy, sober alcohol and drug free life
Rehab can work and has helped hundreds of thousands to get through the misery of their addiction. Many move on to live a happy, sober alcohol and drug free life. Some people do take more than one attempt at rehab before getting there. Many get it in one attempt. The important thing to remember is that addiction is an illness from which you are never cured. However you can be well and free from it if you decide to accept the nature of the illness, do as advised by specialists in the field, and stay off the drink and drugs ‘one day at a time’.
The Haynes Clinic is an alcohol rehab centre and drug rehab centre. If you need help call 01462 851414 for free and confidential advise.
