EP 2:37 The Myth of Abstinence with Dr. Adi Jaffe

The AfterMeth: Gay Men Recovering from Crystal Methamphetamine Addiction

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Supplimental Study Guide: https://www.drdallasbragg.com/newsletters/blog/posts/abstinence

In this powerful episode, host Dr. Dallas Bragg sits down with addiction expert Dr. Adi Jaffe, bestselling author of "The Abstinence Myth" and "Unhooked," to challenge conventional recovery approaches. Dr. Jaffe argues that the traditional recovery system is fundamentally broken, pointing out that fewer than 10% of people struggling with addiction access help, and 90% of those who enter 12-step programs leave within a year. The conversation explores alternative metrics for measuring recovery success beyond consecutive days of sobriety, including percentage of days abstinent, quality of life improvements, and overall well-being. Dr. Jaffe shares his perspective that substances are merely endpoints—tools we use to cope with underlying pain, shame, and unexamined beliefs—rather than the root problem itself.

The episode dives deep into the importance of reframing relapse as a learning opportunity rather than catastrophic failure, emphasizing that recovery is about gradual progress and reducing harm, not achieving instant perfection. Dr. Jaffe introduces his SPARROW model and EAT cycle (Explore, Accept, Transform) as frameworks for understanding triggers and processing difficult emotions and past behaviors, particularly the shame many gay men carry around hypersexual or taboo experiences during chemsex. Both speakers emphasize that true recovery involves confronting our deepest darkness with compassion, challenging the beliefs we've internalized about ourselves, and recognizing that we're all working with "delusions"—the question is whether we choose beliefs that serve our healing or keep us trapped in shame. The overarching message: recovery is a journey home to self, and it's worth the hard work to discover the life waiting on the other side.

You can reach Dr. Adi Jaffe here:

Instagram: dradijaffe, His book “Unhooked”

https://www.adijaffe.com/unhooked, website:

https://www.adijaffe.com/, ?Adi’s Recovery Program:

https://www.igntd.com/

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