After going through a substance abuse treatment program for alcohol or drug abuse, the people you surround yourself with and circumstances you put yourself in can affect how well you break free from addiction and maintain sobriety after rehab. Unlike cultural groups based on a shared ethnicity or geographical origin, drug culture and recovery culture are part of both the society you live in and your individual choices regarding friends and social groups. Understanding the differences between drug culture and recovery culture helps you purposefully live a lifestyle that improves your chances of long-term success.
What Is Drug Culture?
Drug culture involves all the societal aspects surrounding alcohol and drug use. In the United States, drinking alcoholic beverages is ubiquitous, so advertising and entertainment often feature alcohol use as part of social interaction. Prescription drugs are often seen in ads, and recreational drug use is often featured in songs, movies and television programs as part of modern culture. One result of this constant bombardment from media is that Americans are more likely to try drugs than people from any other country, according to the World Health Organization.
Some subcultures also promote the use of drugs as an integral part of their particular scene, and different subcultures may focus on particular categories, such as hallucinogens, methamphetamines or cannabis. Different drug scenes might have specific rituals or social status indicators that people within the group use. Some may eschew specific drugs over others, such as groups that only use prescription drugs because they consider those safer than other types or people who use psychedelic drugs for spiritual enlightenment.
One common point in most drug cultures is that members of the group teach others how to recognize and achieve a high while also imparting tips on how to acquire drugs, prevent overdoses and avoid law enforcement. This advice may be inaccurate or incomplete, but the idea of being part of an in-group of active drug users in a culture that showcases the exciting side of risky behavior offers appeal to many people. In many cases, drug culture also offers young people a feeling of belonging that might be harder to find in mainstream society.
What Is Recovery Culture?
Recovery culture develops when individuals who are recovering from drug abuse or addiction and people who want to help improve the public discourse around substance use work together to form a culture that promotes healthy alternatives to drugs and alcohol. Peer groups dedicated to recovery, such as post-rehab support groups and 12-step addiction meeting groups, let you surround yourself with like-minded people who understand the struggles involved with fighting addiction.
Recovery culture focuses not only on escaping addiction but on improving oneself and becoming healthier overall. Part of moving from drug culture to recovery culture involves replacing old behaviors and methods of socialization with new actions and activities that are healthier.
Recognizing the Differences Between Drug Culture and a Culture of Recovery
The biggest difference between drug culture and recovery culture is in the focus of the people around you. In a drug culture, people are focused on getting access to alcohol or illicit drugs, while in recovery culture, people are focused on staying healthy and sober. Drug and recovery cultures may each have their own shared language quirks and social patterns. Young adults who are immersed in drug culture may develop new slang and communication styles to indicate they are part of the in-group of drug users. Some things that might be noticeably different in drug culture and recovery culture include:
Language and Communication Styles
The language of drug culture is typically self-derogatory and negative, while recovery culture promotes positive language and uplifting oneself and others.
Attitudes Toward Social Norms
People involved in drug culture often flout social norms and talk frequently about how to evade law enforcement or get away with drug use. Recovery culture encourages accountability and helps members avoid risky behaviors.
Focal Points of Relationships
Relationships in drug culture tend to focus on shared experiences related to the use of alcohol or illegal drugs. Conversations between friends revolve around drug use. In recovery culture, friendships are multidimensional and conversations involve healthier topics.
Attitudes Toward Work or School
In a drug culture, the focus is typically on finding ways to avoid getting in trouble for drug use at work or school. Friends in this culture might recommend quitting work or school, or they may recommend taking specific jobs that reduce the risk of discovery or jobs involved in the drug trade. Recovery culture focuses on eschewing drugs, alcohol and other things that impact school and work performance and encourages making friends at work or school who can support your success.
Choosing Recovery Culture to Maintain Sobriety
Actively choosing to participate in recovery culture can help you resist temptation and reduce the risk of relapses. Because recovery culture is a reaction to drug culture and only exists because there are people who have previously experienced addiction and substance abuse issues, part of entering recovery culture involves recognizing and breaking away from drug culture.
Entering a substance abuse treatment program is a first step to getting involved in recovery culture. Counseling can help you recognize why you might have been attracted to drug culture and can highlight any emotional or social needs that were being met by substance use.
Shifting from drug culture to recovery culture often involves finding alternative activities to replace those commonly used during drug or alcohol use. This might include participating in new hobbies, volunteering or engaging in social activities not centered around drugs and alcohol. It may also include more subtle things, such as getting rid of cannabis-themed clothing and decor. Throwing away a T-shirt featuring an image of a marijuana leaf or a poster depicting bottles of wine can help shift your cultural thinking.
Another way to change your culture from a drug and alcohol focus to one of recovery is to reframe the cultural elements you associated with alcohol and drug use. This might mean listening to music that you associate with drug-fueled raves or at-home drinking in a different context, such as a sober party with friends who don’t drink or use drugs or time spent playing with your pets.
Make a Choice to Engage in Recovery Culture
When you’re ready to break free of alcohol or drug addiction, New Day Recovery can help. Give us a call at 330-953-3300 today to learn more about how to enter a substance abuse treatment program in Ohio and move away from drug culture into a healthier, sober lifestyle.