Mandated
Mandate -n. - an
official order or commission to do something
It is a reality that in substance
use treatment programs, quite often many program participants are mandated or
otherwise coerced, forced, or ordered to attend. For some, even if they are not
legally mandated, it may feel the same way if a family member or employer is
stipulating or demanding a substance use program be completed. This group
exercise is specifically for people in this situation*
*If
you are participating in this exercise and you are not mandated or otherwise
forced into treatment, you can still benefit by trying to think about how you
can increase your motivation to succeed in the program through this discussion.
For example, if you are in the program on your own volition, think about how
you are in a sense “mandating” yourself to complete the program
Some
Paths…
When
someone is mandated into a treatment program, there are a number of ways to try
and handle the situation. Consider a few:
Biding
Time (aka “On Standby”) – The person who chooses this path is cooperating with the
program for now with the eventual goal of going back using once the mandate is
over.
- For
example: “I’ll abstain from substances while I am on probation, but the
minute probation is over I am going to enjoy getting high again”
Partially
Progressing – The
person who chooses this path follows the program to some degree but not all the
way. This person may choose to hide some of the things that the authorities may
not like
- For example: “I am going to avoid using substances that can show up in my urine while I am being tested but when the opportunity is there between tests, I’ll sneak a little drug or drink here and there”
Catch
Me if You Can - The
person who chooses this path is making a full investment into the game of
trying to keep getting high but not getting caught. The focus is on beating the
system
- For
example: “Probation starts next week so I got my stuff to flush out my
system for urine tests, I got some of my sober friend’s urine just in case I
need to sneak that in and I got some fake weed which I don’t think they are
testing for”
Calmly
Cooperate (aka If you can’t beat ‘em, join em) – The person who chooses
this path recognizes there is no use trying to fight the system when
mandated. This person is choosing to give in and instead do their best to make
the most out of the program even if they are mandated
- For
example: “I am not sure whether or not I really need this, but while I am here,
I might as try to learn something and see if it helps”
Self-Motivated
(aka I don’t mind the mandate) – The person who is in this situation may be
mandated but on an equal or even stronger level there is a personal desire to
change. This person plans to do their best even when the mandate ends because
on some level, they know they need it
- For example: “There is a chance my court case is going to get dropped but even if it does, I am going to stay and complete this program because I need this for myself
REVIEW:
Think to yourself, which of the above honestly describes your situation?
Discuss what you are willing to share about on this topic.
If you have another
answer not listed, what is it?
Go with the flow
DISCUSS - How does it feel to be mandated, forced or otherwise directed to
complete a program? Be honest with how you think and feel about the situation.
(If you are not mandated, how do you think it would feel if you were?)
Three
Ways to Make the Best of Any Situation
1.
Accept –
Recognizing that “It is what it is”
can save a lot of wasted time and energy
trying to fight against reality
2. Learn – You don’t have to like something to learn from it.
2. Learn – You don’t have to like something to learn from it.
See what you can get from this
situation
regardless of whether or not you agree with it.
There is something to
be learned
from every situation in life
3. Flex and Flow – You can swim against the current in life
3. Flex and Flow – You can swim against the current in life
but that can be very tiring. Sometimes it
is better
to surrender and see where the
proverbial river takes you.
In this
case, even if you are mandated,
why not go with it and
see what happens rather
than fight it?
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