Peggy Orenstein’s cover article “Staying Clean” drew praise from rehab providers and former users confirming that, as reported, there is no quick fix in treating addiction and no guaranteed cure. Below is the response by Dr. Peter Provet, among the many written by treatment experts.
Orenstein is right in asserting that research on treatment efficacy is far from definitive. Addiction is, after all, driven by a complex set of biological, emotional, social and genetic factors. Because of this complexity, many with addictions may enter treatment two or three times before they succeed in getting clean. Repeating treatment does not mean the person or treatment failed.
Peter Provet
President, Odyssey House
New York