Is Prison the Only Way to Stay Sober?
When drug courts are not available and patients wait until they are facing a judge for crimes related to drug addiction to consider the option of treatment, many view prison as the only way out. Inside, it’s more difficult to get drugs especially in amounts that will maintain a high-dose dependency, and so many inmates are forced into sobriety. In and of itself, this is not a bad thing, however, many addicts who are frequently in and out of prison often feel that they can only maintain sobriety while under lock and key.
When addicted offenders are released, however, they are soon back to their old habits. It’s a cycle that is ongoing for hundreds of thousands of Americans, and many feel that the only way to stop it and get clean and sober is to simply stay behind bars for as long as possible.
Psychological Dependence Treatment Is the Key to Long-Term Recovery
The fact that so many offenders can remain clean and sober while in prison but are unable to do so when they are released points to the fact that detox alone – or treatment for withdrawal symptoms – is not the most important part of treatment when it comes to long-term healing. Rather, psychological intervention that addresses the underlying reasons for using drugs and alcohol is necessary as well as intensive relapse prevention treatment. The more practice the patient has in implementing new behaviors that don’t include drug and alcohol use when faced with stressful or tempting situations, the more likely it is that he or she will be able to continue to utilize these skills for the long-term.
Shane’s Story
Thinking that prison was the only way to stay clean and sober, Shane (not his real name) said he purposely solicited “police contact� in order to garner a parole violation that would put him back behind bars. He says: “I had been out for six days. I had been white knuckling it, going to meetings, trying to get to work and go home without picking up a beer or smoking a joint. But when my girl started using again, I knew I wouldn’t be able to stay clean for long. Didn’t want to die, and I knew I would, so when we got in a fight over it, I made sure to get the attention of a cop and talked some sh*t so I’d get taken in.�
Shane ended up serving four months for the parole violation, but while he was inside, his girlfriend overdosed. She was found dead in a hotel room. When Shane heard about this, he knew it was time to get real help. He didn’t want to waste his life behind bars and he didn’t want to die. Treatment was the only way out, and he took it. He’s now been clean and sober – on the outside – for four years.
Are You Ready?
Treatment is the best route to a better life. Contact us at Axis today and learn how we can help you turn your life around.