Not every recovery program follows the 12 step model. To say once an addict always an addict is a horrible recovery plan as it only give the person an excuse if they relapse. AA has a success rate of about 33%. That right there should tell you something. For me. Smoking pot or having a beer is and was not my problem and it doesn't create a problem like I had when I used heroin. I was a evil person that 32 years ago. So no I am not kidding myself at all.
We in this country focus on abstinence based models and as I said they have about a 33% success rate.
When I first got into this field. I met a old gentleman while doing street outreach. He pretty much was the gatekeeper of the community I was doing outreach in. We sat many times and talked about what was going on in the community. One day we sat and he told me he used heroin for the past 34 years. He then pointed to his house that he owned and worked for all his life. In the yard were his grandchildren playing. He said he enjoyed the drug and no longer really used to get high but rather to maintain his life. I first though. I should try to get this person into treatment to make his life even better.
I brought it up to him and he gave me a go to hell look that I will alway remember. He said I should go to treatment...why? So I can meet the standards of what society puts on us? At that moment I realized not all people want or need treatment. Some can maintain their use and be very successful.
To say all programs follow the 12 step model is not true at all. More and more harm reduction recovery centers are opening up across this country. Here is one that has been and is very successful. It is a good friend of mine Pat Denning and co-founder of Harm reduction recovery Centre in Oakland.
https://www.thecabinchiangmai.com/blog/harm-reduction-and-abstinence-based-recovery-compared/
The problem with the 12 step model is they are telling people that this is the only way to recover. Follow the program! I'm all for anyone that goes into that model if it truly helps them and I know enough that have used it. I know plenty that have used the harm reduction model, 8 step model, and the many other types of recovery/therapy programs.
So I would tell you to do some research and educate yourself on this topic. To say
is just a uneducated statement.