The key is getting them safely through withdrawals which is easier to do than with an alcoholic. The Detox takes three to 5 days to get them safely off the drug and that’s where many (forced treatments) stop. Their success rate is very low with many going back out on the street. A 30 to 90 day recovery program is needed after that to help them live a life without drugs or alcohol. I counsel Vets and LEO only and with a 5 day detox and 30 to 90 day rehab my success rate is over 65%. Many of my guys have went on to help others. I’m an old school 12 stepper who had his own battle with alcohol addiction, I’m also ex law enforcement and a Veteran of the late 60’s early 70’s. During my time in Vietnam I saw many of our soldier either drinking heavily or doing heroin and most brought it home with them. The only treatment for them at the time was the VA and it was barbaric compare to today’s standards. Basically lock them up for a week, many of the alcoholics died during the treatment due to seizures. While we’ve come a long way in the way we treat addicts there will never be 100% recovery. You can not help somebody who doesn’t want to stop only those who do. This is the reason so many recovery programs have such low numbers, most of those going into recovery are being forced into it rather than volunteer. I deal only with those that come to me and ask for help, I even have a few that have come to me with recommendations from the local VA. I’ve been doing this for 2 years now and have worked with 46 men.
Yes.
I can easily believe a success rate of 65% in heroin addicts who want to stop.
My "all-in" success rate of 15%-20% with suboxone includes all comers, most of whom, as I'm sure you know, have no desire to stop.
My criticism of our politicians is based on their lies to the public that "treatment" is able to make this slow-motion disaster stop, when that is almost surely false.
Congratulations on your work.
Went to school with Dr. Mash - at a reunion, she told me about her work with IBOGAINE.