Ever play with one of these toys? You have to put the right shape in the right hole to move all the pieces inside the box. The box is the same. The shapes are unique.
Working with problematic substance use is like this toy: one box with many shapes or associated conditions. Although the box is the same for every client, the combination of conditions surrounding their substance use is unique to their life.
Our society is not united in our approach to problematic substance use. This is because it is complex. It’s a brain disease. It’s a health issue. It’s a social issue. It’s a criminal issue. It’s a behavioral issue. It’s a choice. As you can see in the comments of any news article or social media post about substance use (like this one), these positions are constantly debated, and can often clash, when it comes to healthcare delivery, policy, safety and financing. The truth is problematic substance use encompasses “all of it”. It impacts every sector of society and it comes with a deep cost to the individual, families and communities. This is a human issue that will never fully “go away”. It is our collective human problem.
The good news? Substance use can be properly managed. Individuals with substance use disorders do recover from problematic use. Recovery is a real outcome when the individual resolves their unique combination of shapes into the box.
That’s where we come in.
Houston Recovery Center has a deliberately different approach to misuse of substances. See what we’re doing to improve the health and quality of life of our clients and community at houstonrecoverycenter.org.