By: Jamelia Hand MHS CADC CODP I
A Patient’s Story: The Road to Recovery Looks Different for Everyone
Maria had tried everything. Over the years, she walked in and out of 12-step meetings, attended intensive outpatient programs, saw multiple therapists, and even attempted to quit cold turkey. Each time she hoped this would be the moment her life changed.
But every time, something brought her back to heroin. The withdrawals were unbearable. The emotional pain of past trauma felt like too much to carry sober. And the stigma she faced every time she relapsed made her feel like a failure.
When she entered treatment this time, she made a different choice. A doctor recommended Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) using buprenorphine to help control her cravings. She paired it with weekly therapy and peer support.
And for the first time in her life, it worked.
But instead of celebrating her progress, some people in the recovery community dismissed her.
“You’re not really sober if you’re on MAT.”
“Aren’t you just trading one drug for another?”
“MAT is just a crutch, you need to find real recovery.”
Does this sound familiar???
Maria knew her truth: she was alive, working, reconnecting with her family, and finally free from the cycle of active addiction.
But why did some people insist that how she got there mattered more than the fact that she got there at all?
Why Do We Care HOW Someone Gets or Stays Sober?
Most of us in the treatment and recovery field agree that there should be as many pathways to recovery as there are people seeking it. Addiction is a complex, chronic disease, not a one-size-fits-all problem.
And yet, there is still division about what counts as “real” recovery. Why?
The Debate Over Recovery Pathways
• Self-Help vs. SMART Recovery – Some people thrive in the spiritual structure of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA), while others prefer the self-empowerment and science-based approach of SMART Recovery. Are both valid?
• Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) vs. Cold Turkey – MAT is one of the most evidence-based treatments for opioid use disorder, yet abstinence-only models still dominate the conversation. Should people be denied a lifesaving option just because it doesn’t fit a traditional model of recovery?
• Academically Trained Clinicians vs. Life-Trained Clinicians – Should treatment be led by licensed professionals with clinical training? Or should the voices of people who have lived through addiction and recovery carry equal weight? Why not both?
The reality is recovery is personal, and it does not have to look the same for everyone.
MAT: Busting the Myths That Fuel Stigma
I had the opportunity to discuss Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) with Dwight Hurst on The Broken Brain podcast, where we tackled some of the most persistent myths about MAT:
1. “You’re Not Clean If You’re on MAT”
The idea that sobriety only counts if you’re completely drug-free is outdated. MAT allows people to stabilize their lives, focus on healing, and reduce their risk of relapse. Recovery is about regaining control, not about conforming to outdated definitions.
2. “Aren’t You Just Trading One Drug for Another?”
MAT medications like buprenorphine (Suboxone), methadone, and naltrexone are scientifically proven to reduce cravings, prevent overdose, and improve treatment retention. These are medications, not drugs of abuse. Comparing MAT to active addiction is like saying a person taking insulin for diabetes is “trading one drug for another.”
3. “MAT Is Just a Crutch”
If a crutch keeps someone from falling, what’s wrong with that? People use medication for chronic conditions all the time why is addiction treated differently? MAT lowers overdose risk, helps people return to work and family life, and gives them a fighting chance. That’s not a crutch. That’s a second chance.
The Bigger Picture: Breaking the Stigma Around Recovery
The truth is, stigma kills.
Every time we tell someone that MAT isn’t “real” recovery, we push them away from a treatment option that could save their life. Every time we shame someone for not choosing the “right” recovery path, we make it harder for them to stay on it.
Recovery should be about support, not division.
Instead of asking, “Is this the right way to recover?” we should be asking, “Is this working for you?” Because at the end of the day, the only bad recovery pathway is the one that leads back to addiction.
How Vantage Clinical Consulting Helps Organizations Support ALL Recovery Pathways
At Vantage Clinical Consulting, we believe in equipping organizations with the knowledge, tools, and strategies needed to support every recovery journey.
Here’s how we help:
1. Training & Education for Providers
• Breaking Stigma in Treatment: Helping clinicians understand how to support harm reduction, abstinence-based, and medication-assisted recovery without bias.
• MAT & Harm Reduction Training: Educating providers on evidence-based treatment and how to integrate MAT into traditional treatment models.
2. Building Inclusive Recovery Programs
• Developing MAT-Friendly Treatment Centers: Assisting organizations in creating MAT-friendly policies, ensuring that patients receive the care they need, without judgment.
• Creating Peer Recovery Support Programs: Connecting life-trained recovery coaches with academically trained clinicians to provide well-rounded support.
3. Supporting Recovery-Friendly Workplaces
• Educating Employers on Substance Use Disorders: Helping businesses create workplace policies that support employees in recovery.
• Developing Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs): Providing employees with access to multiple pathways of recovery, reducing relapse rates, and improving workplace retention.
4. Advocacy & Policy Reform
• Collaborating with policymakers to push for recovery-friendly laws and improve access to care for all pathways.
• Partnering with public health organizations to expand harm reduction initiatives and MAT access.
Recovery Should Be Measured by Success, Not by the Method
We need to change the conversation.
Instead of debating which recovery method is best, we need to focus on what works for each individual. Whether it’s MAT, therapy, harm reduction, self-help, or total abstinence, every path that leads to healing should be celebrated, not questioned.
If your organization is ready to embrace all recovery pathways, reduce stigma, and improve treatment outcomes, let’s work together.
Contact Vantage Clinical Consulting today to bring comprehensive recovery solutions to your organization.
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