AngryDan
02-05-2009, 10:40 AM
http://gmy.news.yahoo.com/v/11875631
I came across this today, scanning through news videos on my morning cyber-surf.
I was pretty interested, until I got about halfway through...thats when my ire level went up.
I've sent this link to some of my network, who are dealing with similar feelings and situations in our area.
Basically, is my thinking wrong (and that of some folks in my network)
Is it wrong to make money off of NA?
This video tells the story of a girl..ok...then it goes on to state the name of a recovery business that charges $1200 per day for a minimum stay of 45 days....hey, no problem...if someone wants to/can afford/needs their problem child to disappear...more power to them.
Then, WHAM, an NA basic text is shown , along with some other NA literature.
These are my questions:
What do you think, someone who knows nothing of NA, would think seeing this...I get the feeling they(or a parent) would think "Wow, that NA program costs $1200/day??!!"
Does it piss you off that a program developed by addicts, for addicts...especially the first few addicts that had the courage to start this whole wonderful program off...a god given program..is now being sold? That people are making a profit off of it?
Is it right, for addicts who are in recovery, to start a "recovery business" and profit off of their addiction and use the NA program as part of their sales pitch? (May not be the case in this video, but is the case in our area)
Myself, and some other folks in my network and area, get really sickened by what we see happening with NA. Some of us went to facilities first, some just walked in off the street...but we have one thing in common...we are getting really sickened by the sight of all the money, property and prestige being made off the NA program.
We are getting sickened by world either condoning examples like this or turning a blind eye towards it(once again, for making money property or prestige)
I, and some other folks, just feel its wrong. Just as using the excuse "well, Im an addict" to condone poor behavior, etc....we feel it's wrong to use "well, Im an addict" to start a "recovery business", wrap it around the steps and make money off it.
Some here may feel "well, no big deal" but, in our area, we have addicts doing this. Halfway houses, "programs", they have started after some clean time, for the soul purpose of turning a buck...they have surveillance in our meetings to monitor the behavior of their patients(addicts) they make meeting attendance manditory...they use meetings in their advertisements as part of their recovery services offered...they attend local government drug task force and rehabilitation seminars/meetings and offer NA services, etc..etc..
Where is the line drawn??
For a long time, I just concerned myself with MY recovery..and turned a blind eye towards it....then, it started affecting our area..literally. These businesses have addicts in our service structure, activities, meetings. They know how to ride the thin line between NA and outside enterprises, but have slowly, meticulasly and insidiously inserted themselves into the NA program.
This may sound, apoctolyptic, crazy, paranoid, whatever you want to call it....but some of us see a day when NA is no longer free.
I dont know if y'alls areas suffer from this...but ours does. If you were here for awhile, had some time, youd see it too I think (as long as you werent employed by one of these businesses)
Seeing this video, on a national level just prompted this writing for some reason. Im not the best writer, most elloquint or greatest at expressing thoughts...but here it is.
ANy thoughts?
I came across this today, scanning through news videos on my morning cyber-surf.
I was pretty interested, until I got about halfway through...thats when my ire level went up.
I've sent this link to some of my network, who are dealing with similar feelings and situations in our area.
Basically, is my thinking wrong (and that of some folks in my network)
Is it wrong to make money off of NA?
This video tells the story of a girl..ok...then it goes on to state the name of a recovery business that charges $1200 per day for a minimum stay of 45 days....hey, no problem...if someone wants to/can afford/needs their problem child to disappear...more power to them.
Then, WHAM, an NA basic text is shown , along with some other NA literature.
These are my questions:
What do you think, someone who knows nothing of NA, would think seeing this...I get the feeling they(or a parent) would think "Wow, that NA program costs $1200/day??!!"
Does it piss you off that a program developed by addicts, for addicts...especially the first few addicts that had the courage to start this whole wonderful program off...a god given program..is now being sold? That people are making a profit off of it?
Is it right, for addicts who are in recovery, to start a "recovery business" and profit off of their addiction and use the NA program as part of their sales pitch? (May not be the case in this video, but is the case in our area)
Myself, and some other folks in my network and area, get really sickened by what we see happening with NA. Some of us went to facilities first, some just walked in off the street...but we have one thing in common...we are getting really sickened by the sight of all the money, property and prestige being made off the NA program.
We are getting sickened by world either condoning examples like this or turning a blind eye towards it(once again, for making money property or prestige)
I, and some other folks, just feel its wrong. Just as using the excuse "well, Im an addict" to condone poor behavior, etc....we feel it's wrong to use "well, Im an addict" to start a "recovery business", wrap it around the steps and make money off it.
Some here may feel "well, no big deal" but, in our area, we have addicts doing this. Halfway houses, "programs", they have started after some clean time, for the soul purpose of turning a buck...they have surveillance in our meetings to monitor the behavior of their patients(addicts) they make meeting attendance manditory...they use meetings in their advertisements as part of their recovery services offered...they attend local government drug task force and rehabilitation seminars/meetings and offer NA services, etc..etc..
Where is the line drawn??
For a long time, I just concerned myself with MY recovery..and turned a blind eye towards it....then, it started affecting our area..literally. These businesses have addicts in our service structure, activities, meetings. They know how to ride the thin line between NA and outside enterprises, but have slowly, meticulasly and insidiously inserted themselves into the NA program.
This may sound, apoctolyptic, crazy, paranoid, whatever you want to call it....but some of us see a day when NA is no longer free.
I dont know if y'alls areas suffer from this...but ours does. If you were here for awhile, had some time, youd see it too I think (as long as you werent employed by one of these businesses)
Seeing this video, on a national level just prompted this writing for some reason. Im not the best writer, most elloquint or greatest at expressing thoughts...but here it is.
ANy thoughts?