Personally I see a prevalence of 12 step graduates in the drug policy community. The “Use is Abuse” attitude creates an all or nothing world for the recovering or not addict. This all or nothingness tells people, if I’m going to relapse, I might as well do it big. The idea that my mother, at 80, is a dry drunk because, even though she hasn’t had a drink in 40 years, she did it outside 12 steps. This denies the fact that there are many paths to enlightenment and the pursuit of happiness. Like the punishment vs rehabilitation debate, its not something easily answered but, evidence from around the world shows how successful the different philosophies are.
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