Here's my take on rehab from my experience:  My first try at rehab was a joke..because I was a joke and made the whole thing a joke.  The counselors there tried hard with me but I wasn't receptive and didn't want to hear anything about being powerless over anything.  I was a real "piece-of-work".  They kicked me out and I was glad to go...and quickly started drinking 3 times more than I did before rehab.  It was a living hell.  Six months later I was begging to get back into a hospital.  28 days.  My second rehab was totally different because I was different, with a different attitude.  I got desperate.  My second rehab gave me the basics I needed and helped me get started.  The day I was released, I went to an A.A. meeting.  That was the beginning.  Rehab was a good experience for me on the 2nd attempt.  Mike D.

My experience with Rehab's is extensive, from both ends of the spectrum.  I submit that a rehab is only as good as the person is willing and ready.  If they aren't, then what rehab they went to, what treatment modality was presented is irrelevant.  It's not whether the rehab worked for them or not.  It's more a matter of how desperate the alcoholic or addict was to bring about change into their lives.

For most I say that going to rehab for the first time is a part of the "getting ready" process.  It provides a certain amount of education about what someone is up against and what solutions are available that could be useful if used on a daily basis as a part of ongoing treatment once discharged from the rehab.  I also believe that it gives the alcoholic or addict the opportunity to be outside the circle of environmental and relational elements that are prone to work against their recovery efforts early on.  Most importantly, this time slot, provides the alcoholic or addict the opportunity to change their mind about why they are there.  It may start out as a issue related to the courts, homelessness, health, family or job, but many discover in this increment of time, that they not only need the help that is available, but that they want it.  They get excited about it, enthusiastic about the adventure and journey they are undertaking.  Then they are there for the right reason.  

On a personal note; I think most 12 Step based rehabs tend to dilute the 12 step message of recovery and sit the stage for client recidivism.  They promote the philosophy of "don't drink and go to meetings", or "meeting makers make it" and for a real alcoholic or addict, doing this does not treat the disease of alcoholism or addiction.  Instead it results in the person's internal condition becoming so unbearable that they end up drinking in a short period of time to get relief from their internal whirlwind and turmoil created by the absence of alcohol or drugs as a means by which they cope with life conditions.  It is a multi billion dollar a year industry, and 60% or more of its consumer base is repeat customers.  Why?  Because if even 70% of those who went to rehab, got rehab'd the industry would lose literally billions of dollars.  Rehab treatments cost any where from 20,000.00 to 45,000.00 dollars (28 day stays) and yet at the end of the day, a client is patted on the ass, told to go to AA... which only cost one dollar a day, if they so choose to make that contribution to the group they attend.  Insurance providers will not fund a alcohol or drug rehab stay on its own merits, because the recidivism is so high for this population of people (rehabers).  Now to get adequate coverage from insurance providers the client is required to have what is referred to a dual diagnosis, in short a mental health deficiency as well as the disease of alcoholism or addiction.  Any idea how many of us are erroneously diagnosed as depressed and/or bi-polar disordered in order to gain that funding from the insurance industry?  The belief is that someone with acute mental health related issues is inclined to have a higher success rate, then a alcoholic or addict without who is in rehab.  Many insurance providers notify the rehab of it's intent to end its funding within 2 weeks, if not enough information is available supporting a dual diagnosis.  Of course, we look and sometimes even act out in ways that would suggest there might be a mental health issue.  Most of us are not in rehab treatment because we partied to much for a year or two.  We burned ourselves to the ground mentally and emotionally over a period of years, most for double digits with alcohol and drugs.  Given the proper treatment, sustaining it over a substantial period of time upon leaving rehab, the seeming mental health issues will work themselves out, true mental disorders don't work themselves out.  

So, all said, rehab has its place and it meets a need, but joining AA, working the 12 steps, with a sponsor, and fellowshipping with others who are trying to do the same thing, (stay sober and clean while recovering from the hideous dis-ease brought about by alcoholism and addiction) over a substantial period of time is where the meat of recovery stands.  It also cost a whole lot less, and we already know... "I Suck Mentally" (I.S.M) due to our atrocious consumption of alcohol and/or drugs, thus we in AA are able to be treated for AlcoholISM... not simply alcohol overindulgence.

That's my two cents worth...

John

Get you a box of 'The Shack' books Pinky ... who knows, it may save a life (and soul) ... My sponsor and I have given a bunch of them away! (you just never know the impact it may have!!!)

My brother threw me into a rehab...A good one. Hazeldon. I was fricken lost and he told me he couldn't take watching me die. I detoxed for five days and began getting into the daily routine on day six. My councelor handed out books to the eight of us....There were forty in total. We broke into groups. Most of them got books about how not to relapse...And different alcohol related books. She handed me one book....The Big Book and told me....This is your recovery plan. I tore into it. I guess it was my flimsy reed.

All I did was attend our group sessions and study the book. Even days we were allowed to leave to go to a nearby gym and pool....I stayed in and read the book. I could see what it was...And what I had to do. I had a lady patient there invite me to go to a 6:00 am meeting on my 11th day there....I knew I was in the right place...I saw it working in person.....Proof in the pudding.

So I continued to go with her every morning for six more days...Continued to study the book and I talked to AA speakers that came in after they spoke...And picked their brains on what I needed to do to get a sponsor.....I was clueless. They gave me some good advice and I took it. I left on the 18th day of a 28 day stay.....And my councelor wasn't happy....She said I'd never make it. I went home at 1:00...Was at a 5:30 meeting and continued the next day with three meetings a day. I heard a guy talking about the steps on my 3rd day out....And I liked it. I walked up to him after the meeting and asked him if he'd take me through the steps...I told him I was done with steps 1-3 and I was ready to start writing inventory. He took me to breakfast and told me his story....And that put me at ease....I didn't even eat. He then told me to go home...Say the prayer in the book on my knees and to start writing and to call him everyday and read pages 86 - 88 everyday....So I did. I was working my ninth step when I got my 90 day chip and living in steps 10-12. I'd been reading 10 and 11 everyday.

They invited me back for a six month reunion at the rehab. I got an E mail so I attended. Out of 40 of us...There were four of us there. I'm hoping more than that made it...I don't know....Tell you the truth I don't see very many make it in AA. Why did I make it so far?.....I guess I gave myself completely to this simple program....I don't think there is any other way to do it. So PC....You may not have rehab experience...My councelor that gave me the book...Didn't have AA experience...Her husband was a recovered alcoholic. But you have AA experience....You can always share that with them. I've gone back to see her on my first and second year anniversaries...And I plan on going to see her in July for my third....I'll always be grateful to her.

   The most helpful thing for me was having a safe environment where drugs and alcohol were not being used so that I could get my legs back under me.  I only stayed 21 days but I have been sober ever since.

I went to rehab a long long time ago and the exercise we did that touched me the most was a guided meditation where we imagined ourselves traveling back in time watching our lives pass before us in reverse. Traveling back all the way to seeing ourselves as a tiny perfect new baby with all the hopes, dreams and potential in the world. We were asked to have a conversation with our baby-self in our minds and share with him what we had learned. It may sound silly but it was very moving and there was not a dry eye in the room when the meditation was finished. In fact I still feel very emotional thinking about it now. I started out perfect, innocent and good, completely untouched by the pain, sadness and harshness of the world. I wasn't born bad. This was a profound realization for me. Sometimes we've thought of ourselves as bad for so long that we forget that we weren't always that way. I'll never forget the experience of that meditation as long as I live.