Although addictions professionals agree that group therapy works best when participants share a common history and background, it can be difficult to find drug treatment where you need it, when you need it, and that you can afford...that also perfectly reflects your needs. Any immediate treatment is far preferable than waiting for elusive perfection, and since all people struggling with abuse and dependency share if nothing else a history of addiction and drug seeking behaviors, our similarities may be greater than they might at first glance appear.

People tend to benefit most from peer group therapies when involved with a group of people with whom they identify and sympathize; thus the closer in age, sexual orientation, gender and experience, the better. Peer support and peer cognitive learning groups are a hallmark of drug treatment, and thus it makes some sense to search out treatment groups displaying as similar a cross section of members as is possible. Ultimately though, although we may differ in many ways, all of us entering into drug treatment share at least one major thing in common.

In some situations shared and common experiences are of utmost importance, and an adolescent user is unlikely to benefit much from a group of older and experienced people, with very distinct issues and with a very different set of experiences and world views. Likewise, very elderly seniors often feel more comfortable within a group of like peers; and some gays, lesbians and bisexuals do not feel comfortable discussing their sexuality and how it factors into substance abuse in a heterogeneous group. But for most people, the realities of available drug treatment facilities mean that the likelihood of encountering a group of people sharing greatly similar life experiences is slim.

Thankfully, although we may differ greatly in our upbringings, our socio economic status' and our sexual orientations, we all share something far greater than these, and that is our shared history of addiction and substance abuse; and that I think makes us all far more similar than we might otherwise appear. Additionally, while some people may greatly prefer a group of more similar people to share testimonies and support, the efficacy of the therapy as offered may not vary much, and preferences may have more to do with a comfort level at entry. While clinical studies show that the elderly benefit about equally from age specific therapy or general adult treatment, they prefer greatly to recover with a group of like peers.

I went through two rehabs, and very surprisingly to me, I identified and bonded most closely to one person in each group with whom I shared almost nothing superficially in common, and with whom I would have been very unlikely to ever meet within my social circle. What we shared in our addictive histories proved to be far greater than how our lives had superficially differed up to that point, and these two remain friends and confidants of mine to this day.

So when choosing a rehab facility or drug treatment support group, try to find the one that seems to offer as close a group of peers as you can find; but if all you have access to is a completely disparate and very different group of addicts in recovery…give it a try, and you might find that what you share is greater than what seemingly separates.

Don’t choose a facility because its patients look, act and think like you do…choose

one that fits your needs, and that offers quality and comprehensive care.

You too may find a retired bayou shrimper and a lesbian lawyer (my two now great rehab born friendships) of your own, that give you support and inspiration, and help you stay sober day by day.

Ultimately, although we all search for perfect drug treatment, perfection can be hard to find; and any drug treatment is better than no drug treatment.