AHS Views

Amy Winehouse is apparently going back into rehab. She was admitted to a facility in January where she stayed for only two weeks, and she now admits that she may need more help. She’s right - and this move was predictable. The number of people who could be helped with a drug or alcohol problem in two weeks could probably be counted on one hand - especially in the kind of severe situation Amy was in. It’s simply not enough time to get the drug addiction help you need. Staying off drugs for two weeks may help the person dry out, but the chances of them staying that way are virtually nil.

When a person stops drinking or taking drugs for a couple of weeks it’s a big change for them, they might feel invincible or like that’s all they need. But that’s not the case. They’re going to leave the facility and go right back into the problems that caused their alcohol or drug abuse in the first place.

With everything that’s known about drug rehab and what it really takes to get addiction help these days, it surprises me that anyone - doctor, rehab counselor, or drug addict - could possibly think two weeks is going to be enough.

If you know someone with an alcohol or drug addiction problem, do them, and yourself, a favor: don’t even bother with short-term rehab like that. Get them the alcohol or addiction help services they really need in the first place.