For me, defining Recovery as a process to be controlled by the individual, but then imposing a whole set of values and outcomes upon what "characterises" that recovery is to miss the point. You have to let me judge what my Recovery is. It is not up to you to normalise me. These are my choices, my hopes and my decisions. You make them yours, then you do exactly what those early mental health activists feared. You create "a cosmetic initiative that maintains the dependence of individuals on the system".

Tags: Drug Treatment, recovery

I've just taken part in the Drugscope and Conference Consortium Great Debate looking at the issues around the resurgence of the abstinence vs maintenance arguments.
You can download Mike Ashton's article, 'The new abstentionists', here.

A number of people have asked for a copy of my speech, so I’m blogging it for them and anyone else who's interested.

Comments below or email me using the "get in touch link" on the main page.

Tags: Drug Treatment