Dallas Bragg argues addiction treatment should use a many-door model focused on incremental improvement, not all-or-nothing abstinence. Small wins like reducing use days or attending support groups matter more than demanding lifelong sobriety from day one. Programs that shame people for not committing immediately are failing the person, not the other way around.
The one door model asks, are you clean or are you dirty? I do not even use that word, as you know, because you are never dirty, whether you're using or whether you're not. The many door model, many doors model, asks a better question here. Are you moving toward the best and highest version of yourself? Are you improving at least 1% every day? And if you are listening to this and you are still using, here's what I want you to take from this. You do not have to be ready for everything to be ready for something. The evidence says that that something counts. Fewer days, safer settings, a support group you actually attend, an honest conversation with a counselor, with a sponsor, with a coach, with a therapist, a doctor who will work with you. where you actually are instead of a book telling you where you should be. If a program shamed you out the door because you could not promise forever on day one, that was the doorway failing, not you. It's not you.
