No. Adults always have a choice and so do people living with the disease of addiction.
People are usually a mix of being internally and externally motivated. This means that they want to get clean for themselves and also have people or organizations compelling them to stop using.
People who are internally motivated may have “hit rock bottom” or are “sick and tired of being sick and tired.” Some people want peace. Some people want to be better partners, parents and members of the community. Other people have jobs that they love and their addiction gets in the way. There are endless ways people can feel internal motivation. The outlook for recovery is best when a person has life goals, meaningful connections with others and reasons to live sober.
When people are externally motivated they may have legal, CPS, family, employment, Department of Social Services assistance or some other outside influence requiring them to stop their use. The person is faced with the dilemma of accepting the negative consequences of continued use or changing. People don’t want to let go of their substance of choice which has been their main comfort, coping mechanism or source of enjoyment. When people are externally motivated some choose to “just do their time” or find ways to still use. Some people start out on their path to recovery not wanting to stop and through continued exposure to treatment and medications build end up wanting to stop for themselves. This is when people say: “Something is just different this time, it feels different.”
Warren and Washington County treatment court is designed for people with legal troubles to choose treatment instead of jail or prison. It is more therapeutic, collaborative and personal.