Addiction
January 14, 2016
Sober living is worth a million bucks. Fortunately, it’s far more affordable than that. The simple joys in life are often just that: simple. The earth under your feet, the air in your lungs, and the clothes on your back are tactile reminders that you are alive and awake.
So, why does the addiction treatment industry thrive on excess?
Luxury recovery centers have convinced the world that sobriety is prohibitively expensive. That’s how they became a $35 billion per year enterprise. By sidestepping the pitfalls of overpriced treatment programs, you can progress toward a more productive sobriety.
As part of the Hippocratic oath, caregivers vow to “first do no harm.†When visitors seek help for whatever ails them, be it physical ailments, mental distress, or substance use issues, they are coming from a place of sincere pain. The worst possible response to these patients’ needs is to exploit them.
And yet, that is exactly what some “luxury recovery†providers do. According to a damning exposé on the subject, investigative reporters found instances of clients paying $24,000 per month for treatment that did not even cover their basic therapeutic needs. No counseling, no individual care; just bells and whistles.
These kinds of news stories illuminate what is truly reprehensible about the promise of luxury treatment. In order to break the cycle of abuse, we must identify the rampant problems in our broken healthcare system.
Some rehabilitation centers advertise glitz, glam, and a better life that is waiting for you just beyond the shimmering gates of their facilities. The reality, however, is often far grimmer. There is a pipeline of patients who are funneled through an uncaring system guided by greed rather than dedication to sobriety.
Some “luxury†establishments allow their guests to simmer in purgatory while charging their insurance companies exorbitant fees for the privilege of staying there. Meanwhile, the underlying addiction goes untreated while the luxury provider spends their windfall purchasing more property. More so-called recovery centers spring up, more people in need get bilked, and the cycle or neglect continues.
True sober living programs invest in humankind. Community is the driving force behind successful recovery initiatives, so promising a separate abode for every guest may actually be detrimental to the group aspect of sobriety. Instead of sequestering yourself in a posh room, detached from the world at large for the duration of your rehabilitation, you can reconnect to the vital, visceral parts of yourself that crave human connection on your own terms.
If luxury treatment centers lived by the same rules that guide your life, they would allocate the proper resources and spend them responsibly. After all, you don’t spend your entire paycheck on fancy window dressing while your family goes hungry. Why can’t upscale rehab facilities be as pragmatic as you? Before you register with a recovery community that seems too good to be true, make sure it’s not. Ask the tough questions, such as:
If your luxury treatment center is hesitant to answer those basic questions, maybe you should simplify your search.
Recovery is a lifelong process, but recovery communities are built to be a haven from which you grow and evolve. Even if you stay at a sober living center for 9 months or more, you are still fully expecting to return to the “real world†at some point in the near future.
The life skills that you learn at a therapeutic center are meant to ease your transition back to your everyday existence. You will be stronger, smarter, and savvier about recovery, but you will do so from the comfort of your own home (as much as we will be sad to see you go).
One major problem with luxury treatment centers is that they bear no resemblance to the real world whatsoever. Sure, you’ll love the caviar, massages, and gold-plated shenanigans, but how will you respond to the turbulence of a less pampered existence? Once you leave a luxury recovery community, your bank account is battered and your expectations are elevated beyond reproach. Your success with sobriety may feel lackluster once you are no longer surrounded by the creature comforts of a 5-star resort.
The key to recovery is looking forward with a sense of optimism. If you are immediately pining for the mansion you just left, your transition to reality may be needlessly disappointing. At any recovery community worth its weight in salt, the bottom line is to make you crave sobriety, not fantasy.
If you have experienced success at a luxurious recovery center in the past, then we want to celebrate your win. Good on you! But if you find yourself in need of further help, please do not associate sobriety with lavish expenses.
Simplicity can be sexy. The basic tenets of a life well lived are not necessarily pricey, but they do pay dividends in the long run. For example, a bracing swim or a challenging hike can remind you how awesome you are (and Mother Nature ain’t bad herself). Whatever your recreational activity of choice, reward yourself with healthy exposure to positive reinforcements that keep you thriving down the path to sobriety.
The less pampered your recovery is in the beginning, the more realistic your expectations are from that point forward. Set achievable (and affordable) goals and celebrate your victories. Rather than rewarding yourself with a filet mignon dinner every time you reach a certain milestone, save some cash and call a friend instead. After all, community is our method here at Ethos. That’s more than just a slogan; it’s an invitation to participate in your best possible life.
Contact us today and learn how you can break the cycle of substance abuse without breaking the bank.