The Dregs – NO ONE GIVES A S*** by Rich Jones

ZERO Evidence

✌️✌️✌️This is by no means a “FAVOR Greenville“ post or opinion. Not even a FAVOR Greenville issue.

It’s 100% my opinion.

FAVOR Greenville and Rich Jones are 2 separate things. Furthermore, FAVOR Greenville does not provide therapy.

There are addiction “therapists” who spend time stringing together 12-step slogans, telling parents they are “enablers”, telling parents they are “loving their kid to death” etc…

They call addicts “liars and manipulators” etc.. and of course some are.

Some people who become addicted are world class sociopathic ass-clowns who should be handled in very “special ways” (use your imagination).

But the vast majority are not, and it is nearly beyond comprehension that licensed providers get away with that.

Lazy & Misinformed

They are lazy and misinformed at best. Complicit in an abusive and malpractice laden system at worst.

To be clear. There is ZERO evidence for that type of approach.

It is not even a counseling approach. You can’t even begin to place it in a category of psychotherapy.

There is this thing called “12-Step facilitation” but it is a manualized treatment that can only be delivered in an outpatient clinic AND it certainly does not call for abusing the patient and ridiculing the parents. That is a fact.

So Many People In Need

If you spend your time reciting slogans and recycling self-help knowledge you are not actually doing therapy.

Even if you throw in an occasional “trauma informed” training for the team or maybe a psychological assessment at times.

I have come to understand that the sad, sad truth is there are no other options for so many people in need.

And if you say: ‘just send them to recovery groups”…you are totally missing my point. This is not a “recovery” versus treatment post.

Millions & Millions

There are millions and millions of people who need something that does not even exist and as long as we keep shoving them back through the meat grinder and telling them “you didn’t want it” we are just perpetuating the problem.

I am not ready to discuss the “recovery group” realty. It’s not the point of this post.

But there is a horribly disturbing side of that as well.

And for the record. When I say “recovery group” problems. I don’t mean any particular recovery group. I mean the group idea in general. Including FAVOR groups.

The Group Idea

It’s only appropriate for a small fraction and it only works for any even smaller fraction.

I hope you can see that I am speaking my heart. I am saying: FAVOR groups are also only a small fraction.

FAVOR groups are not the answer. They are just another option. And that is good.

I know the world is focused on other more obvious and pressing social justice issues.

I know that that COVID-19 occupies most people’s thoughts-where health conditions are concerned.

The Dregs

“Drug addicts” and “alcoholics” have always been the dregs of society and therefore no one gives a shit on how they are treated.

No one cares if they are mishandled. No one cares if the “services” work.

They are drug addict junkies…

They are lucky they have a place to go.

And once again, there are plenty of sociopathic addicts who probably earned that reputation. But the vast majority did not and there is a great variety among the population of those with a substance use disorTer.

Tragic & Silent Abuse

There is a tragic and silent abuse going on in other aspects of our society.

Beyond the police.

Beyond the criminal justice “lock them up” movement.

A cancer that is endemic and follows closely upon the horrors of those networks.

A cancer maintained by the same attitude: It’s just “the way it’s always been”.

Can’t See The Cancer

You can’t see this cancer. You can’t point to anyone person or program.

There are no incidents to rally the country.

But it is there!

And just like every other systemic issue communities of color, women, minorities etc… are disproportionately impacted.

This is not a recovery movement issue.

This is a social issue that goes way beyond “recovery movements”.

As a matter of fact recovery organizations have to be careful. We tend to feed into the monster.

Something Else Is Coming

FAVOR Greenville does not have an answer for this.

I have personally seen this up close.

I have seen how the “cure” has been the undoing…. when a professional tells you that you are a piece of shit (in so many words) that leaves a mark.

There is another movement that will go way beyond the work of the recovery movement.

Something else is coming.

You hear about the need for “systemic dismantling” of the way our society handles other issues.

Regardless of your opinion…. did you ever think you would see “defund the police” become a call to action?

NOTE: I do NOT like that idea–I’m just trying to make a point.

Everything

Everything is on the table for re-evaluation.

Maybe it’s time to call bullshit on the entire model. Don’t throw anything out because you need these providers in the short term.

However, let’s figure out something else.

I have come to realize the serious limitations of what FAVOR can get done.

We will stay in our lane and do what we do. We will do it really well.

Last Question:

How do professionals get away with openly mocking and ridiculing patients that have a “brain disease”?…. (by the way its extremely common.)

It’s almost too common to even call out anyone person… It’s the thing you do.

You call parents “enablers” who are gonna “kill their kid”… you call addicts “junkies and liars” etc….

I can answer that …. NO ONE GIVES A SHIT about people who misuse drugs…

NO one cares if the parents are crushed by the therapeutic tone. And no amount of “recovery messaging” will change that.

Let’s create something else.