Published with permission from David H. Kerr I have learned much from people who have asked for my help with their addiction. Decades ago we were working against a commonly held belief, “once an addict, always an addict.” Beginning my work with addicted Parolee’s in the mid-60’s and founding Integrity House in October 1968, I have met and known over 10,000 people with extensive addiction problems and often, concurrent criminal problems. Yet, I have never ceased to be amazed at their abilities, especially in offering help to themselves and to others. At the same time it became clear to me that they had to learn via experience how to take their own advice. The gravity of addiction becomes a deeply ingrained lifestyle that often appears to be immune to traditional counseling models. What’s more, only those suffering can lead themselves to recovery. They don’t need sermons and they don’t need “counseling.”...
