Along the same lines as Alexander’s statement that “people need to belong”, Maté says addicts can only heal in an enriched environment, with food, housing, love and support so that the circuitry can develop. This process takes much longer than the three to six week provincially funded recovery programs currently available. In long-term residential treatment, Stage 1 usually involves a 90-day program with no outside work or study. Stage 2 provides housing for graduates of the residential program while they reintegrate into the community.

Sarah’s response: Another Perspective
I listened with interest to a piece about Dr. Jean-Charles Crombez that aired on CBC Radio's Ideas a few years ago^{Footnote 4}. Although his point of reference is mostly about death and dying, I found his comments very pertinent to people who are addicted to illicit narcotics. Drawing on Crombez’ ideas, it is possible to argue that many traditional addictions treatment programs take the approach of attempting to "cure" an addicted individual of their addiction. This tack focuses solely on the "problem" of addiction, and ignores all the other traits, dreams, fears that make up each human being, addict or not. Further, by proposing that adherence to a particular program of care, these programs indicate that the powers of healing are outside the individual, thus further disempowering individuals who are likely already suffering from social dislocation and disassociation from self.

On the other hand, some recovery programs break this mold. As far as I can see, such programs are successful so precisely because they do not propose to be a cure for addiction; in fact, they do not focus on addiction to any particular extent. Instead, they focus on the participants — individually, in their families, and collectively — and they seek to assist addicted people to heal as humans, not as addicts. In this sense, addicts are reminded that they are on the same journey towards self-understanding and greater wisdom as any of us. In my opinion, recovery programs should not exist to detox drug addicts, but to nurture human beings.

The difference between “curing” and “healing” reminds me of the difference in literacy between “teaching” and “learning.” It goes back to ideas of agency and about what kind of knowledge (and whose knowledge) matters.