| The old joke goes something like this: | | | | status, or fame or building a career. Treatment is |
| "I keep hitting myself on the head with a hammer | | | | about getting an ugly monkey off your back. |
| because it feels so good when I stop." | | | | The general perception of treatment centers is they |
| It's a playground joke, but there is humor in it and | | | | are places where people go to "dry out" or "get |
| there is humor in it because it contains an element of | | | | clean." They go in, stay a while; then they come |
| truth. I inflict damage to myself, trying to experience | | | | back out healthy. They get their hair done, so they |
| a moment of pleasure. Addiction is like hitting yourself | | | | can look good when they go home. People, in |
| in the head with a hammer. | | | | general, do not understand that addicts work hard in |
| American culture does not take drug addiction | | | | treatment. The interdisciplinary team at the |
| treatment all that seriously. Hollywood stars abuse | | | | treatment center is highly trained and expert in |
| drugs, behave badly, and then they get massive | | | | assisting people through the process. It's not just a |
| amounts of press because they go into treatment. All | | | | time to "dry out" or "get clean," but a time for |
| the grocery store tabloid rags have cover stories | | | | self-evaluation and discovery, to give addicts |
| about somebody's trip to rehab. The cover photo | | | | renewed strength and tools to manage their |
| shows a drawn out, makeup-less, star going into the | | | | addiction. It's serious business, and people who are |
| treatment center. The cover story photo coming out | | | | willing to allow the process to move forward, who do |
| is one of a radiant and vibrant celebrity. They hit | | | | not hold back, who embrace the treatment program |
| themselves in the head with the hammer. Their | | | | and make it their own, are worthy of |
| lifestyles become something young people aspire to. | | | | encouragement and praise. |
| "I hope I look THAT good when I come out of | | | | Addiction is about the human condition. It's about |
| rehab." | | | | dealing with ourselves. There is a Steve Goodman |
| Addiction treatment isn't that pretty. It's not a means | | | | song that talks about how easy it is to deal with |
| to an end for fame-seeking celebrities. Some of the | | | | somebody else's troubles, so people who have not |
| "beautiful people" go in and out, without any | | | | experienced addiction, or been a part of an addicted |
| significant lifestyle change. Even treatment centers | | | | person's life, can not possibly understand how difficult |
| themselves get labeled, because they carry a famous | | | | it is to go through treatment and successfully |
| name. The Betty Ford Clinic comes to mind. It's an | | | | manage things coming out. Treatment centers offer |
| excellent center, helping thousands of people. They | | | | a variety of programs, each tailor-made to meet the |
| are doing good work and are not asking for | | | | needs of the individual. Treatment is not to be taken |
| "designer" status, but people think it is status to go | | | | lightly, or glorified to make going into treatment |
| to Betty Ford. People miss the point. It's not about | | | | something to be envied. It's not about celebrity. |