Reader-submitted: It’s widely reported that there is no cure for addiction. I actually heard someone recently say these words “I’ve been sober for 20 years and it’s a day at a time, I don’t know, I may use tomorrow”. If that sounds somewhat ridiculous that’s because… it is.
It’s not just absurd, it is absolutely dangerous.
In the tiniest nutshell I can manage, this is the story.
The addicts life is unmanageable. He realizes that he is powerless to help himself, if he weren’t, he would. That is Step 1. He becomes aware that HKBH can help him, and decides to mevatel retsono to HKBH. Steps 2 and 3.
Armed with HKBH, our fearless addict is NO LONGER POWERLESS.
Should the addict in the future neglect his spiritual health he does have a susceptibility to using again, though it’s nothing so fearful as if he misses a meeting he will wake up on skid row with a needle in his arm. We are nearly always talking about patterns of behavior, such as slacking on meetings, not talking to sponsor etc.
Recovery is done “a day at a time” because that’s the speed of life. It by no means should be interpreted that it is a life of fear, not knowing if there’s a relapse lurking right around the corner, there isn’t. Relapses are born in the man-made spiritual vacuum of our hearts.
To anyone affected by this disease, please I beg you. Know that the prognosis is excellent, we just need to take our medicine. That medicine is having HKBH in our lives.
Hisyatzvu u’reu es yeshuos hashem
Hatzlacha Rabah
(TLS welcomes your letters submitting them to neestips@thelakewoodscoop.com)
Here are some valuable numbers.
Rabbi Yekusiel Kalmanson; Director at Hittoreri Jewish Recovery cell #323-538-1692 an amazing human being and maybe THE best treatment center for a frum jew.
Chabad Residential Treatment Center office # 323-965-1365 also a fantastic treatment center and my current home. Should anyone wish to talk, leave your name(first only is fine) and number for Eli (me) or ask to speak to staff on duty.
i just lost one of my closest friends to the new “machalah” it is still so soon that i can’t express myself. we all knew but he would not talk about it. may hashem have mercy on us.
Your always addicted, it never goes away. For some people addiction is always waiting to tap your shoulder for one more time or one last time.
Not just drugs or alcohol, but habits as well. Some must always be on guard, unfortunately fear is one approach.
Shmuel Duvid, I lost a friend 2 weeks ago. This is really not a joke.
Fullbagger1340 was your post a response to the above or just an expression of your feelings?
Agree to p.s. my brother has recovered there, and still lives there.
P.S knows his stuff, Rabbi Yekusiel Kalmanson; Director at Hittoreri Jewish Recovery has a real talent and created an amazing program. It is unfortunate that this is needed but it is and he is great at it..
Why go to California when their is a fantastic Kosher treatment program right here in NJ called Behavioral Crossroads Recovery. I personally know the staff and highly recommend them to any adult suffering from this terrible machla. They treat the addict as well as as have a wonderful family program. For more information or if you or someone you love needs help call their community Outreach representative Mrs. Deena Lefkovits 732-674-3044
@ps-both once addicted your always addicted. I’ve observed meetings/support groups and you would be shocked of the diverse group including black hat white shirt married frum men. It’s historically a sad testament to our culture as a whole. Many people lack the needed support network. BTW sports or religion isn’t always the answer. The letter indicates simplicity , but not easy, and in most if not all cases it is day to day
I’m well aware of the diversity of this demographic. Likely the reason is because it is a human disease.
If your point is that an addict needs to always be fearful of relapse the evidence is not with you.
Many addicts recover and never use again.
Being fearful of relapse is like being fearful of falling into a hole around the corner from you with a fence around it. The hole is always there, but if you live responsibly you will not fall in. Anyone can recover fully, you do however need to commit yourself to being ultimately happy.