Here is an overview of some of the beliefs that I have sorted out in my first 7 years of recovery from addiction and alcoholism:

1) Addiction is complicated. It is a complete mess, and turns your life into a complete mess.  We don’t become addicted overnight.  Addiction is complicated.  Therefore, recovery is necessarily complicated as well.

2) You need a replacement strategy. I was passionate about using drugs and alcohol, so I need to find passion in my life in recovery to replace that with.  Anything less will cause me to relapse.  Why be bored with life, when you could potentially return to the ups and downs of active addiction?  We need to find passion in recovery.

3) Those who find long term success in recovery actively create a new life for themselves.  This is more than just working steps and abstaining from chemicals and growing spiritually.  It is purposeful living with growth and momentum.

4) The treatment industry is broken, and needs something to supercharge it.  Everything we know about treating addiction is wrong.  There is nothing wrong with the 12 step model, but the way we implement it is clearly failing for the vast majority.  Young people in particular need something new and fresh in recovery.  We can do better.

Just my 2 cents of course.  Anyone have any thoughts on these ideas?  Let us know in the comments!