Addiction Treatment: 8 Excuses People Make To Avoid It
Making excuses in order to get out of something we don’t want to do is an everyday occurrence. There is an excuse for just about anything. If you don’t want to go to the gym, or go out on a date with someone, the list of reasons to justify not committing can be a mile long. This is particularly true for addicts who need to go to an addiction treatment program.
Addiction treatment facilities have heard every excuse in the book. Treatment facilities like Finish Line Recovery have the answers and can see through the excuses and find solutions to the problems. Here are some of the most common excuses made when it comes to trying to get out of going into a addiction treatment program, and the solutions.
1. “I will lose my job if I go into treatment!”
Solution: FMLA, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, prevents this very thing from happening. This law states that an employer cannot fire someone if they are seeking treatment to recover from a serious illness, and addiction is considered a disease. So, anyone who goes into treatment for their drug and alcohol use is protected by the law. Also, if you are being honest with yourself, chances are if you continue drinking and drugging, you are putting yourself in danger of losing your employment anyway, right? The staff at Finish Line Recovery also have a lot of experience assisting their clients fill out the paperwork and giving them peace of mind.
2. “How will I be able to pay my bills/support my family if I go to treatment?”
Solution: While this doesn’t apply in every state, there is something called Paid Family and Medical Leave, or PFML. This is also known as “paid sick leave” or “earned sick leave.” This law often works alongside FMLA, and provides a certain number of weeks per year, usually between 6 and 12, in which clients in an addiction treatment program will still be paid either in full or a portion of their regular paycheck.
3. “My girlfriend/boyfriend/spouse will leave me if I go to treatment!”
Solution: First, if you are afraid that your partner will leave you because you are taking steps to save your own life, then this person is probably not the best fit for you in the first place. Secondly, often with couples when one person is struggling with addiction there tends to be an issue with codependency, which is also something that is addressed in addiction treatment. Some signs of codependency include putting your spouse’s needs and happiness before yours, making excuses for your partner’s addiction, and even contributing to it by providing the money for drugs and alcohol to make sure they don’t experience withdrawal symptoms.
While these feelings of fear of losing a loved one are valid, the truth is that not going to addiction treatment due to these fears and staying steeped in the addiction will eventually, if it hasn’t already, erode the relationship and it will end. Either that, or the addiction could possibly end up taking your life. So, it’s probably a better idea to go to treatment to save yourself and your loved one.
4. “I can’t afford treatment!”
Solution: Sure, paying for a 30-day treatment program can seem overwhelming to say the least. But nowadays most addiction programs accept insurance, which lessens the cost considerably. For those facilities that don’t accept insurance, often they will offer some sort of payment plan or financing option. There are even some places that have scholarships for those who qualify that covers a large chunk of the payment. Finish Line Recovery goes the extra mile to work with the client to find a suitable solution in order to get them the help that they need.
If neither of these options is feasible, there are ways to get addiction treatment on either a sliding scale, or through state funded programs. One very valuable resource for funding options is on the SAMHSA website, which details how to receive grants for addiction treatment.
5. “If I go to treatment then my family will know I’m an addict, and I can’t let that happen.”
Solution: Breaking the news to family members and loved ones that you have an addition can be scary. So scary, in fact, that it may discourage you from wanting to take steps to get help.
A few things to keep in mind here. One, even if your family doesn’t know the situation now, at some point they absolutely will. Isn’t it a better idea to face the problem head on and be honest rather than having them find out about your addiction at your funeral? (Which is the worst-case scenario, but frankly, could happen.) Two, in most cases families want what is best for each other. And getting help is exactly that.
6. “I don’t have any way of getting to the treatment facility.”
Solution: Not having an independent means of transportation can certainly make for a good excuse. However, many rehabs now offer some form of transportation to their facility with a sober companion. This ensures that the client arrives safely, and puts their family members at ease knowing they are in good hands.
7. “Even if I do go to treatment, I don’t have anywhere to live after I get out.”
Solution: Sober living, or transitional housing, has grown exponentially in the last several years. These are safe and substance-free homes with two full time managers and additional support staff on site. They usually aim to provide structure for those who are new to recovery. Finish Line Recovery offers a beautiful sober living option that is connected to an IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program). Not only do clients live in a luxury living space, but they also receive the much-needed accountability and regimented schedule that is so crucial in the early stages of sobriety.
8. “I don’t need to go to treatment—I’m not an addict! I can stop using whenever I want!”
Solution: This is probably the biggest excuse of them all. But the fact is, in almost all cases, if someone must defend their drinking or drug use, they are probably an addict or abusing the substance to a point of concern. Addiction is a progressive disease that, if not treated, can be fatal. Finding the right treatment facility that understands addiction can save your life.
Finish Line Recovery knows that not addressing the problem can potentially result in losing everything. They have a caring and effective addiction treatment program that offers a variety of holistic options, and work to not only treat the individual’s mind, but also balance their bodies. They have a chef who creates healthy and delicious meals throughout the week. They also work to make every client feel right at home by providing an array of comforts and amenities.