Sarah's Status

To be released Monday! Not cured, not fully de-toxxed, just improved. Sarah and her counselor are considering a sober living program that includes off campus, shared-apartment with women in a similar situation to hers. Her program would be full-time for about 2 weeks followed by options not yet fully developed.

From previous experience I believe Sarah has some clear-headed choices and one non-starter.

1. Continue some form of structured living arrangement with an element of expected daily meetings and healthy activities, perhaps a job. Risky due to familiar people, places, triggers, and an incomplete commitment to stay clean.

2. Living on her own. She prefers Indianapolis. More risky than # 1 for the same reasons plus almost a complete lack of structured support. As parents we'd rate this an unacceptable risk but we're only the parents and she's > 18.

3. Living at home. Not an option. Foreclosing that option is the result of a painful realization borne out in the archives of this blog.

4. Long term program. Parents rate this as the best option! Some barriers exist, none the least of which is Sarah's willing surrender, commitment, and acceptance. Other barriers include choosing a well-matched program to Sarah's needs when almost no scientific information, standards for reporting outcomes, or other studies are available to competently guide choices. Word of mouth, self-advertising, and discussion with recovery representatives do not provide a sufficient plaform for comparison.

We'll see. Thanks.