Precovery

Bill White introduces a new concept, precovery:

Precovery involves several simultaneous processes:  physical depletion of the drug’s once esteemed value, cognitive disillusionment with the using lifestyle (a “crystallization of discontent” resulting from a pro/con analysis of “the life”), growing emotional distress and self-repugnance, spiritual hunger for greater meaning and purpose in life, breakthroughs in perception of self and world, and (perhaps most catalytic in terms of reaching the recovery initiation tipping point) exposure to recovery carriers–people who offer living proof of the potential for a meaningful life in long-term recovery.  These precovery processes reflect a combustive collision between pain and hope.

Unfortunately, it can often take decades for these processes to unfold naturally.  If there is a conceptual breakthrough of note in addictions field in recent years, it is that such processes can be strategically stimulated and accelerated.  Today, enormous efforts are being expended to accelerate precovery processes for cancer, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, and other chronic disorders.  We as a culture are not waiting for people to seek help at the latest stages of these disorders at a time their painful and potentially fatal consequences can no longer be ignored.  We are identifying these disorders early, engaging those with these disorders in assertive treatment and sustained recovery monitoring and support processes.  Isn’t it time we did the same for addiction?

This made me think of Debra Jay and her efforts to continue refining, improving and expanding the role of family interventions.