I Could Never Put Myself First

“I put my sobriety first, and everything else falls into place for me…”

As a person emerges from addiction into sobriety, they very often must build an entirely new life for themselves. Their old life was focused on getting the drugs they needed, morning and night, no matter what other part of life had to be neglected to make that happen.

But as the fog and their thinking clears early in the Narconon drug rehab program, they can finally foresee a new, a better life ahead. That’s when each person needs new life skills so they have the tools to shape that new life.

The Narconon program responds by giving each person the time and support to study those tools. For what may be the first time, each person studies subjects like values, integrity, smart decisions and how to resolve upsets and problems in life.

And they don’t just study these subjects. Every day, they are required to apply their lessons to their new lives. Narconon staff are there to guide each person so they get as much out of each lesson as possible.

At the end of this life skills training, each individual works with a Narconon staff member to prepare a plan to implement once they get home. Will they go back to school? Find a job? Do they need a new place to live? Are there relationships that need to be repaired? Are there old friends who no longer have a place in their lives? These guidelines are worked out in detail to make re-entry to their post-rehab lives as seamless as possible.

Time after time, this approach to recovery has proven to work. Each newly-sober person now has the tools to create a successful life they enjoy. When they enjoy their family, their friends, their work and involvement in church or hobbies, there’s no place in their lives for drugs or alcohol. These graduates now have the answers to enjoying life and don’t need those crutches or escapes any more.

Jordan, a graduate of Narconon Arrowhead, explained just how learning these life skills helped her find her place in the world after she got home.

“Before Narconon, I never gave myself any time to focus and put myself first. This is the first time in my life that I can now do that. I know that I never have to be alone. I put my sobriety first, and everything else falls into place for me. I am patient and my life goals are all coming together one day at a time. I have new-found friendships from work and church and more love in my heart than ever before. I have learned a lot about myself and the things I love to do, and I have the motivation to keep going when things get hard.”

—Jordan, Narconon Arrowhead Graduate