Alcoholic and Addicts New In Recovery: The Challenge With Rules

Alcoholics and addicts new in recovery are a notoriously undisciplined bunch. They have difficulty accepting rules enforced on them by others and are quick to buck any type of external authority. It would seem that this can be for many a manifestation of their addictive disease, and once through with alcohol detoxification or drug withdrawal, they must begin to accept rules that have been set down by others.

Sometimes these rules are those set forth by drug rehabilitation centers. Others must face up to rules designed and implemented by the courts or the probation officer. On occasion, the family attempts to exert increasing control on the alcoholic/addict by creating specified instructions for acceptable behavior.

Regardless of where the rules come from, newly recovering alcoholics and addicts have a difficult time adhering or complying. Part of the disease of alcoholism and addiction is an unnerving and continuous self-absorption. It is, by its very nature, a disease that insists that the sufferer (the alcoholic/addict) attend only to their needs. This should be obvious--we're talking about people whose primary drive is to get and stay drunk or high, regardless of the consequences.

True recovery begins when sober alcoholics recognize this tendency to put themselves first and to put themselves above whatever laws that should direct their behavior. These misdirected souls need to accept direction. As recovery continues, they may begin to internalize a sense of immediate right and wrong, but until that time, others have to set down the rules, to lay down the law. And all should expect the alcoholic/addict to try and find their way around these very same rules.