Meditation and Intoxicants: Reflections

Today we begin a new series of articles on meditation and intoxicants. These texts were written in the context of my new book on “de-addiction,” which will appear shortly. They will not appear in the book itself, but only on this website! Enjoy the reading, and I look forward to your reactions.

Concerning substance users

I now have in mind a model of assistance that goes back to my involvement during the AIDS era of the 1980s, when the disease was still taboo and, above all, deadly. At that time I helped to create the buddy system for AIDS patients as the founding chairman of the association that dealt with it. It was a very inspiring period, I must say.

With regard to the reception of substance users, which now concerns us, I had in mind an approach in the form of a buddy or coaching function. The person seeking help goes through an intake process that requires two conversations, with at least two of us, namely those two who are available most quickly. Those two report back to the group and the user is either accepted or not accepted into the program.

From that moment on, one of us will act as coach, assisted by a co-coach who operates in the background. The intention is that the buddies or coaches receive a bit of training in the subject matter and learn, above all, what they should not do: preach and attempt to convert. It will begin with a great deal of listening, and not with telling people how things should be done.

The raw material of what we offer is meditation and encounter. The person seeking help receives sympathetic conversations, emotional support, and practical assistance, for example in finding housing or in making use of available support services. We will always encourage users to make as much use as possible of the care and assistance that already exist.

Often they fall outside these systems, probably largely for the same reasons that many drug users fall outside all provisions and end up in isolation, which in turn sustains the substance use. The intention is to lift them out of that vicious circle, but of course a great deal must also come from them, in terms of effort and choices.

Trying to bring these people to meditation is in itself a challenge. For years I have been caring for many users who have passed through my life, and I think precisely this population is open to, and in need of, a spiritual approach to the problems of life, which are always present. Usually nothing will change by miracle; on the contrary, it will require laborious work and patience to reach the point where that person regains a grip on his life.

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