Betrayal of Drug Rehab Centers

Betrayal of Drug Rehab Centers

Four years ago, it was when Joe took those three puffs of crack cocaine at his girlfriend’s party with some buddies of his. There was lots of beer, loud music and many were dancing, and everyone seemed to be having a good time. Then around 1 am, Joe felt some urge, a strange desire he had not felt before. He found himself suddenly talking to Steve and asking for more crack. Steve suggested he buy a rock or two. So Joe did, and by five in the morning, Joe was on his 4th rock.

It took Joe 3 days to recover from that party. Then on the fourth day at work, that same urge surfaced, he said. It was like a burning desire, an unwavering thought that could not be switch off. On his way home from work, he stopped at Steve’s and picked up some more crack. Needless to say, within the first year, Joe lost his girlfriend, was kicked out of his apartment and fired from his job. Joe was now dealing crack to supply his addiction. All too familiar, but this is not Joe’s story. His story began when he decided to put his life back on track.

After three years of drug addiction and losing everything he cared about, Joe was ready to change and climb out of his hell hole. Joe decided to talk to someone at the local community health care center. Joe said they could not help him unless he had a valid Provincial health card. Well, Joe lost it a long time ago. But the lady there helped him fill in the forms to receive it, but Joe had no home address and had to have it delivered to his sisters, who was somewhat reluctant, after what he had done to her car.

Three weeks later, he gets his card and goes back to the local health clinic. They punch his card, for their paycheck, and send him to a clinical doctor. The doctor tells Joe his poor health condition requires that he go to a drug rehab center. That was pretty obvious to Joe, but he was determined to get his life back. The next day he arrives at the drug rehab center and shows the doctors papers, and the counsellor there punches his health card for her paycheck and tells Joe to fill out the 6-page form. Then tells him they’re full and they’ll call him if a spot opens up.

Joe, still determined to get out of his addiction, sees another government-funded drug rehab center, fills out a 5-page form and is told the same thing. The doctor on watch at this clinic prescribes him some medication to curb his cravings. Joe is now fighting not to use crack and taking pills supposed to help, which give him a sluggish feeling. Joe tells the doctor of his side effects, and the doctor says he needs to go to drug detox. That goes on for over 3 months, and then one day, Joe gets news that a spot opened in a drug rehab center so, Joe rushes over there, thinking that he can finally get this handled. He enters the program, and they give him a daily dose of medications and meets an addictions counsellor for 45-60 minutes each week for the next three weeks and told his rehab treatment is done and must make room for another person.

Joe cannot believe that this is what is offered as drug addiction help in our society. To this day, Joe is still searching for a way to adequately overcome his addiction without more drugs and medication to compensate.