Drug court is not always the right answer for one with a drug problem. Drug courts across the country have different schedules, rules, and requirements but almost all of them serve as an outpatient type service. The drug court participant is required to report to the court a specific number of times per week or month, pass drug tests and fulfill other mandates as directed by the judge. For some, it works. For others, it doesn't. There are several good reasons for finding a drug court alternative.
By the time an addict or alcoholic decides to get clean and sober, he or she has withdrawn from the sober world and become surrounded by fellow users. Once the addict chooses to not use drugs or drink again, the drug friends are no longer an appropriate group to hang with and the sober ones have moved on.
Loneliness can become a trigger for relapse. Even if the addict makes sober friends, staying in the same area during the early stages of recovery can be a problem because the chance of running into former drug friends is always there.
A drug court alternative such as residential rehab or a sober living house removes the issue by removing the addict from familiar stomping grounds.
Drug court typically meets once a week or more. Participants are from the same geographic area because their offenses happened within that court's jurisdictions. This greatly increases the chance of a participant knowing several other participants. Putting this group together for an hour or two each week, and then having them leave to head home at the same time can be stressful for them. Triggers abound when former party partners are in early recovery together. A drug court alternative, such as a residential rehab, alleviates that problem because participants come from many different areas and didn't know each other prior to recovery.
Weekly or bi-weekly appearances in drug court cannot provide the same level of accountability that a residential rehabilitation treatment center provides. Checking into drug court for a couple hours per week gives some level of support and encouragement. Starting recovery in residential rehab, while surrounded 24/7 with counselors, peer leaders and others in recovery all day and night means that whenever triggers occur or doubt creeps in, there are experienced people nearby to help the addict work through it.
Drug court serves a purpose, but if you or a loved one have an addiction and feel a drug court alternative might be a better option, call The Haven to discuss your situation.
Categories: Drug Addiction Support Treatment Rehabilitation
