Harm Reduction

In some forms of substance abuse treatment or self-help groups, there is an opinion that people usually hit “rock bottom” before they are able to benefit from treatment or make changes in their lives.  Inner Substance® is based on the idea that people can decide to change at any point, and it is not necessary to hit a low point.  The concept of harm reduction means that a treatment meets a person where they are at, and helps them to reduce the harm in their lives caused by substances.  Some people choose to become abstinent from drugs and alcohol, but others do not.  Regardless of a person’s choices about use, Inner Substance® may be helpful.  It is about providing the tools for change that a person can choose to use or not.

Transformative Phases of Change

Inner Substance® follows a sequence of stages of conscious development in the direction of transformative change.   There are four spiraling phases of the process of change—each stage builds on and incorporates the earlier stages.  Like the four seasons, we experience the four phases continually, but each time we deepen in our understanding as we practice the tools of spirituality.

The four phases of change are:

• Realize the truth of where you are.  This is the moment of realizing your desire for change.  Substances can cloud your judgment and confuse you about the kind of person you are and what you want from life.  Inner Substance® provides self-assessment tools to help you figure out where you are now.

• Acknowledge these truths. After realizing the truth of where you are, you become open to change.  This stage is about taking action—changing your patterns or deciding to continue to do harm to yourself.  Taking action by changing harmful patterns is empowering.    At this time, taking action leads to inner peace.   Awareness of the person you have become on drugs, and recognizing the role that drugs and alcohol may have played in your life is a first step to making real change.  We believe that you do not have to come to this point because of hopelessness and despair, but from a genuine desire to change.

• Gain insight and understanding.  Reducing the harm caused by drugs and alcohol requires that you think about the reasons that you use—this will help you find the relapse risk triggers and identify coping methods to avoid temptation.  Using the tools of Inner Substance®, such as council, assessing the four rivers of intelligence, and other practices, you will begin to recognize what has heart and meaning for you and gain greater access to your own inner knowing.  Using the four universal principles of communication and the eight pathways of reducing harm are important practices to gain insight and understanding.

• Reclaim your true self.  In this phase, you will be able to replace your use of outer substances with your own inner substance, your own authenticity—that strength within yourself that brings peace and harmony to life.

The Heart of Inner Substance®

Now that you know a little bit about the background, theory, and key concepts of Inner Substance®, we will get into more detail about how it works.  The format of Inner Substance® is council.  Council is an ancient method of healing and group decision making.  The tools or practices of Inner Substance® are the work of the intervention.  We will start with the tools.

The Tools/Practices of Inner Substance®

The real work of Inner Substance® is using the practices or tools on a consistent basis.   Engaging in the practices are methods of accessing and deepening one’s spirituality.  We will describe several different tools that you will be asked to practice on a regular basis.