What we might consider Trading so we can Continue Using

Raymond Carver, author, poet and alcoholic, concluded the poem "Luck" with the lines: "years later, I still wanted to trade friends, lovers, starry skies for a house where no one was home, no one coming back and all I could drink."

Prior to entering into alcohol rehab or drug rehab, alcoholics and addicts are gripped by a disease that, in nearly all cases, will rob the sufferer of all they hold dear. Those active in their addiction will indeed trade nearly everything in order to be able to maintain their use, in order to stay high. Addicts and alcoholics are able to ignore the financial hardship, the pain to their friends and families, even their physical deterioration as long as doing so allows them to continue to drink and drug. The trade off never seems quite balanced, never quite fair.

Entering into recovery begins with detoxification from substances. Once the physical body is clean and clear of unnatural toxins, the mind can also begin to clear. Real rehabilitation means taking into account what the alcoholic/addict has been willing to give up in order to maintain the addictive lifestyle. With sober eyes, the alcoholic/addict can take realistic stock of what they've been willing to trade. Examination of what's been lost can be a real motivator towards change.

. . and years later, with continued recovery, sober alcoholic/addicts can begin to trade up . . .towards fulfilling and meaningful lives.