Rock Bottom: Is it Required to Be Successful in Drug Rehab?
There’s a commonly held belief that addicts and alcoholics have to hit “rock bottom” before they can be successful in a drug rehab program. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Though there are certainly thousands of drug histories that end with a horrible incident immediately preceding entry into the drug rehab stay that was the final treatment necessary to attain sobriety, there are just as many positive drug rehab experiences that grew out of just being tired of living under the weight of continued addiction. In fact, many report getting clean and sober in drug addiction treatment after an intervention that ended with them unhappily agreeing to go to treatment.
What is Rock Bottom?
“Rock bottom” can be anything, but it’s got to be big. For some, it’s a car accident that occurred while they were driving under the influence. For others, it’s losing their children because of their drug addiction. Decimated finances, a destroyed relationship -or 10 destroyed relationships, getting kicked out of school, losing a job -losing 10 jobs: all of these can mean the ultimate rock bottom experience depending upon the context. If you lose a job after losing your spouse after draining your savings and your bank account after losing another job after an accident caused by driving under the influence after getting two DUIs -then you’ve hit rock bottom.
Signs You’ve Hit Rock Bottom
The biggest sign that you’ve hit rock bottom is that you know without a shadow of a doubt that you’ve hit rock bottom. Rock bottom is hard to deny. Even an addict or alcoholic who has been living in denial for years will find it impossible not to admit that they need drug and alcohol addiction treatment when they are homeless or get evicted, yet again.
However, there are cases where the objective view of oneself fails. Addiction can make everything foggy; it’s no wonder that gaining a clear idea of where you are in terms of your need for drug addiction treatment can be difficult.
Do You Have to Hit Rock Bottom to be Successful in Drug Rehab?
Those are interested in helping their loved one are often concerned that treatment won’t work unless there is a rock bottom incident to point to. It’s true that it helps: when people hit rock bottom, they are miserable. They are more open to the idea of changing their circumstances and getting addiction treatment help. When coming off of a traumatic experience, the emotions are raw and the protective barriers that addicts and alcoholics use to distance themselves from pain and sadness crumble. It’s easier to demonstrate to someone you’re concerned about just how serious their drug addiction is when you can point out a recent and severe consequence of their addiction.
But even if serious consequences of addiction have occurred far in the past, it sometimes takes bringing it up along with others at an intervention to really get through to your loved one. No one has to hit rock bottom in order to benefit from drug rehab. They just have to show up -and keep showing up.
