As I reflect on the magic that happens at North Wales Recovery Communities (NWRC), I remember two particularly pertinent quotes.
‘Addiction and recovery are more than something that happens inside someone. Each involves deep human needs in interaction with a social environment. For addicts, addiction meets a multiplicity of needs and the culture of addiction provides a valued cocoon where these needs can be, and historically have been, met. No treatment can be successful if it doesn’t offer a pathway to meet those same needs and provide an alternative social world that has perceived value and meaning.’ William L White
The above quote is taken from the Prologue of William White’s book Pathways from the Culture of Addiction to the Culture of Recovery: A Travel Guide for Addiction Professionals, in which he frames addiction and recovery as cultures. He views the culture of recovery as a loosely organised confederation of ‘social networks that nurture and support recovery addicts.’
Most of our treatment system has not provided the pathway and ‘alternative social world that has perceived value and meaning’ described in the quote above. As a result, the majority of people relapse after leaving treatment. It is why the expression ‘the revolving door of treatment’ has evolved.
On the other hand, NWRC has done exactly what Bill White says needs to be done to help people recover from addiction. And they have done that on considerably less money than is given out to mainstream treatment services in the UK. Bill Stauffer’s words in his blog post Expanding the Culture of Recovery, in which he makes reference to William White’s ideas, are particularly relevant to what is happening at NWRC.
‘We know from an examination of our history that people typically recover in the context of community. It flourishes in environments where individuals feel a sense of belonging and purpose. In spaces of mattering. Places where people can share their gifts of recovery, what they have learned through transformation and earned wisdom about life, relationships, and personal growth, which can be shared with the wider community. The modelling of “shedding skins” to shed old patterns and embrace new ways of being.’