People generally wish for the same reality, a happy one. One where they love more than hate, and feel good more often than bad. The substance abuser has lost his way. his internal compass is temporarily off balance, his sense of reality distorted. From a distorted perspective of himself and the world he lives in, he takes self destructive action, perpetuating a cycle of deterioration and loss. When an individual's pain is greater than HIS sense of hope, HE turnS to an absolute solution. Drugs and Alcohol are among the many solutions people turn to to cope with pain. The truth is, they work well in the short term and contribute nothing in the way of a lasting solution. In most cases, the use of a mind altering substance as a primary means of coping leads to more chaos and pain. A "bottom" can be percieved at any point and is highly subjective. When the individual reaches a point of desperation and relative clarity, they may be ready for some type of intervention: rehab, out-patient, sober living, therapy, etc. The initial goal is for the individual to stay clean. The next step is to help the individual to begin to see themselves as they are, which is painful. Given the individual's pattern of dealing with pain, alternative coping strategies must be developed in order to tolerate self exploration and sobriety.