Harm Reduction?

If society's dependency on fossil fuels (gasoline, diesel, propane, etc.) could be classified as an addiction... Would buying a hybrid car be considered harm reduction? Then push that further, would buying an electric car be considered sobriety? Or is that trading your addiction? Do we need to go all the way to a bicycle or hoofin' it to be considered sobriety?

WHAT DO YOU THINK??

I had this thought during a business meeting I was in. The analogy generator part of my brain (Google says that's the gyrus) kicks into overdrive sometimes, it's how I understand things. And, I figure Jesus liked analogies, so it must not be a bad thing. But, the lived experience I personally have with SUD harm reduction is that it's a slippery slope that led me back to full-blown substance use again, rather than a healthy alternative to self-destructive behaviours. With that, I pose a question to you, the reader...

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Is harm reduction a viable option for a life of wellness/recovery? In theory (on paper), it seems to be a decent way to wean yourself off a substance or at least cause less damage to ourselves while in the contemplation stage. But for me, and the alcohol/pill cocktails I used to rely on so much..(for self-medicating my depression, anxiety, and SUD.) it never worked that way... and I tried... hard... a few times... to just (get my shit together and drink less.) ...didn't work. At all. I'd get a week, maybe two, and then I'd be right back to the same ole drinking habit I started the wean on and typically pushed it further than I had before. The direction it was getting pushed had death at the finish line.

"There are always multiple paths to the same end, and the same starting point can be a path to many different ends" —Adam Grant 

So, all I'm here to do today is to challenge you to adjust your paradigm, just for a moment, especially if you're contemplating harm reduction or a life of abstinent recovery. (or one of the other many pathways) I can tell you that I personally have spoken to far more people with a similar experience with harm reduction as a pathway. And that's the beauty of multiple pathways... There are SO many to choose from. It's just like a mental health med., or finding the right therapist for you. It can take trying a few things to find what works for you. Insert patience and grace here. ↓

Some people use Dharma, Wellbriety, the 12-Steps, or something holistic/natural. Don't give up, though. The opposite of addiction isn't sobriety, it's connection. And most of these pathways include that in one way or another. It's so much more important than you think.

If you want to continue the conversation, drop me a line here → mitchell@217recovery.com and as always, I'll see you next time...