Methods for recovery

[attagirl]

I wanted to know what methods are used in the recovery from Cocaine usage? What do treatment centers use? How likely is a person to stop using and start recovering? How long would you say is a good treatment length to be successful.

[larrylive]

well at least thats my impression on the methods employed by the treatment centers. As far as I can tell they are not concerned with success, because that would eventually put them out of business. I have been through 2 inpatient, 2 out patient and a half way house. The majority of the people in TC's are repeat patients. And I have yet to find a TC or Counseling service that can/will give you the numbers, ie; thier success rate. Crack sucks and if we are going to beat it, we need to come up with a new solution.
If anyone is interested in brainstorming I am open and willing to discuss any and all theories.

I have lost it all, and I want it back.

Larrylive

[larrylive]

So I'll start.
I believe the most effective and important tool to get on my way to recovery is not haveing any money. And before you go jumping to any conclusions, let me say I have been there and done that. What may at first seem impossible is actually qiute do-able. My mom was my last payee, embaressing, yes. I am in my mid-40's. and both my kids are grown and living on their own. Unfortunately, thanks to crack we no longer have a relationship ( I pray for that to change). back to the payee, yes my mom was holding my money, and it may seem strange but at least my rent got paid, along with my other bills.
And now I usaully have food in the house.
So perhaps you noticed the past tense. Yes in my infinite crackhead wisdom I managed to alienate my mother. And sure enough my last three paychecks were blown, plus my tax refund. But the lord works in mysterious ways. The tax service provided me with a debit card. I am now signing up for direct deposit. Then I can use the card to make purchases of food and clothing etc.
The trick is to find someone to secretly create my PIN number, then be available for a run to the ATM and the post office to get money orders for rent.
Well thats my plan,if you have some good Ideas let me, I could use some.

Be Well,
Larrylive

[larrylive]

Well I surely was hopeing for a few more respondants to such a simple inqiury. I guess it just goes to show the lack of faith in the current methods used. And trust me, I agree. Having been more than a year since the previous post I must confess to being no closer to the solution, and quite possibly further in debt. I am now attending my third outpatient TC (treatment center) and they are strongly "suggesting" I either go inpatient or at least move into a half way house. They assure me this will increase my chances of recovery, but can offer no documentation to back up said claims. They have also assured me it's not about the money, although judging by the poor condition of the facilities, I think they are definately lacking the necessary funding. But I digress........

I truely believe, based on my experience and research that the answer to crack addiction lies in the theories of Pavlov/Premack known as operant conditioning, unfortunately I have not realized a way to implement this knowledge into a form of recovery. But I will, soon I hope.

fyi; Thier is no such thing as crack addiction, according to those who determine such things.(DSM IV) The diagnosis is crack(cocaine) abuse.
But I believe if you break down the behaviors, actions and attitudes(emotions) it is readily appearant that we (I) are dealling with a compulsion, and perhaps it can be said to be an obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)(aka: CDO, for the obsessively anal)
With this in mind I shall continue my search for a "cure". Any and all insite or suggestions are welcome. If not here, please forward to: recoveredcrackhead
at yahoo dot com.

regards,
larrylive