Making Friends in Addiction Recovery

January 30,2013

Enrolling in a drug and alcohol rehab center can be a jarring but also a very liberating decision.

Enrolling in a drug and alcohol rehab center can be a jarring but also a very liberating decision. For some, the time before choosing rehabilitation could have been rough, messy, and left more than a few bad memories to deal with. Often times, rock bottom is the reason why people finally choose to get help. Remaining problems (in the aftermath) such as emotionally damaged family members, financial ruin, and other difficult life problems can plague a recovering addict.

There are heavy anchors that bear down on a recovering addict's shoulder, that tend to be too much strain for any one person to handle. Upon entering rehab, and after adjusting to it, some find solace in making friends amongst others who deal with similar problems.

Making friends with recovering addicts can be extremely helpful to some. This is especially true if these friends happen to have a long streak of success in staying sober. The insight and support these friends can provide is priceless to a person newly struggling with a sober lifestyle, and with other life problems in relation to a drug abusive history.

It is important though, to realize that making friends in addiction recovery can also have negative side effects. As unfortunate as it is, the majority of people who seek help for addiction do end up relapsing the first, second and even third time in rehab. Although this outcome is directly dependent on an individual's will power and desire for change, it is hard to tell who can actually turn out to be a good influence. Recovering from drug addiction is extremely delicate. When choosing friends from a recovery program, it is important to remember that they can potentially become a bad influence should they relapse, or, if their addictive tendency transfers to another bad habit. Chances are, if either of these outcomes happen, it is likely that these individuals will look for others to partake in their bad decisions.

There are other alternatives for making friends while in rehab. There are many programs that recovery institutions utilize to introduce healthy habits and hobbies. Religious, volunteer, community and health activities and groups are very popular avenues for further growth and healing.

The message here is not that making friends while in recovery is a bad idea. The best word of advice is to take things slow and proceed with caution. In such a delicate time in life, the only people who should be around are the ones who want the best and can offer healthy support.

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For over ten years, A Center For Addiction Recovery has offered a wide array of comprehensive treatment programs and services to those in need. Offering a unique blend of traditional and holistic methods, we provide our patients with the opportunity to develop life-management skills, relapse prevention techniques, and a better understanding of drug abuse and its harmful effects. Our treatment programs at A Center For Addiction Recovery are based on several components that are essential for every successful recovery:

Center for Addiction Recovery “ Addiction Treatment Center: 1-800-570-4562

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MARK KILLAR

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