Mini Series 7 - What freedoms are allowed in treatment?

Busting Addiction and Its Myths

In this podcast, the producer of our podcast series, Tony, asks the following question:
What freedoms are allowed in treatment?

1. Treatment programs require a balancing of structure and the right level of freedom, so as not to signal license to behave irresponsibly.
2. The freedoms that are allowed consist of the things that make a client feel at home, such as the freedom to call home, watch anything they want on TV at night, the freedom to smoke at the right time and place, and the freedom to enjoy the fitness centre, etc.
3. Treatment teaches clients to use their freedom responsibly, albeit under supervision, something they will have to do without after they get home.
4. Where before recovery they did as they pleased pursuing the next high or some form of excess or excitement, now they are free to choose the action that supports their recovery or go back to the slavery of their addiction.

Before recovery, we acted on our whims, believing we were free when we were in truth enslaved by our disease. It doesn't occur to us until much later that there is liberation in the disciplines that we learn in recovery.