[philetus]

It takes a long time for hardcore drug addicts to get off of drugs.

No, it doesn't.
All it takes is a conscience decission to NOT use.

I went through many drug and alcohol programs, over many years, for many reaons, but not because I wanted to stop using.
ANY addict can quit, any time he/she wants.
After all, when they have a drink or drug in front of them, don't they make a conscience decission to pick it up?
Or do you believe that the drug twists their arms?

[TKDietz]

"All it takes is a conscience decission to NOT use."

I agree with that. But I also believe that hardcore addiction compromises people's ability to make good decisions. Addictions to drug like meth rewire people's brains. A lot of these guys can't seem to think straight. They constantly lie to themselves and others. They constantly rationalize. In most cases all of their friends do drugs and in many cases it's not just their friends but it is also people in their families so it is very hard for them to distance themselves from the drugs. All of them can quit, it's just an uphill series of battles for most of them and the fact is that most don't succeed on their first try. That's just the way it is.