Comments about ‘Utah lacking Oxford House program for recovery’

Yesterday's story on addiction covered how relapse is part of the process. Yet, this Oxford House will kick out those who relapse. Thus, they are kicking out addicts for going through the process. Then they brag about how 80% of their grads stay clean. Well, yeah, when you throw out those who relapse I would think that the grads would have a high number for sobriety.
Imagine if hospitals would kick out patients for relapsing? Not a good thing and neither are the overhyped Oxford Houses.

I obviously am biased because I was one of founders of the first Oxford House in 1975 but I try to be honest. The comment yesterday by "Anonymous LCSW" rightfully questions statistics. Sometimes they can be very misleading. In this case, however, the 80% figure is measured by counting all who move into an Oxford House. Once established each Oxford House is democratically self-run and self-supported. The peer group must expel the relaper or everyone living in the house would soon be drinking alcohol or using drugs. The tough love approach of zero tolerance works and if the relapser gets clean and sober he or she can reapply for admission to the Oxford House. Because it takes time for most alcoholics and/or drug addicts to become comfortable enough in sobriety to avoid relapse, Oxford Houses can provide the necessary time and opportunity to do so because the recovering individuals equally share household expenses and use a disciplined, democratic system of self-run operation. Zero tolerance among the group is the only way to gain the time needed for each individual to achieve sobriety comfortable enough to avoid relapse.

See 'Alcoholism Drug Abuse Weekly' for December 8, 2008, for a review "Sober home deaths in New York spur call for regulation." "Two deaths last month in a Hempstead, New York 'sober home' - and the arrest of the home's supervisor for allegedly putting one body in a truck and burning it - have put increased pressure the the state's Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services to review whether and how to regulate sober homes in the state." According to the article, unlike treatment facilities, sober homes are not regualted (i.e. 37 men living in a unit designed for 10)and landlord- tennent issues are not resolved in a manner equitable to the tennent.

80% or 1% it doesn't matter to me.I'm living in an oxford house now and it's working.My life's getting better little by little.Thanks to this program,as far as getting kicked out if I relapse,I might as well go check myself into county jail for a place to stay until I get it.Because that's where I'll wind up if I'm not dead.