In the meeting, Craig could tell Iris was 'using' again and tells her that if she is, she'll have to leave. She then gets up and walks out. That was kind of sudden. I keep thinking she should've at least been given a chance to explain herself and if she truly does want to get help for her addiction.
The more I study it, the greater the puzzle becomes.
The Golden Voyage of Sinbad
I just saw this today, and was also surprised by this scene in an otherwise excellent movie. It felt a bit cruel and unnecessary to be called out in front of the entire group like that, almost as if she broke the rules to some kind of weird game, and now she has to leave.
shareRehab isn't a weird game. The point is to take responsibility for yourself. If he let her slide, should he let off the hook again? She never admitted using again. Perhaps if she had, he might have given her another chance. You gotta be honest; one of the first lessons addicts need to learn.
shareCraig is the sort of person who can tell when a person is lying or not if they have been using. He has seen many of the addicts come and go and knows that if you aren't serious, you are going to get screwed up again. I think Iris didn't like the fact that Craig saw thru her and didn't want to hang around being embarrassed by having slipped. It is similar to when Daryl earlier just storms out in a rage.
shareI am under the impression that an addict can go to AA or NA, before they quit.
That will not get them kicked out. Am I wrong?
Iris wasn't kicked out of an AA or NA meeting, she was kicked out of a private recovery program. Any time she wants, she can look up meetings in her area and attend them.
shareEver go to a party and you're the only sober / clean person? It's pretty easy to spot after a while. Same principal for Iris, she was clearly (at least to Craig) on something. He felt its was damaging for her to be there when others were trying to work on themselves. It did seem a little harsh to toss her out, but she may have been on a warning system and that was the last straw.
shareA couple of things. "Punishing" addicts for using doesn't work, at least not directly (eventually consequences may catch up and cause an addict to seek help).
Addicts have to practice rigorous honesty with themselves and others. They have to stop the delusion that they can "handle" their drug of choice, that they are not addicts, and that their lives are manageable.
So, Craig wasn't trying to punish or humiliate her. He gave her the opportunity to "come clean" and admit her usage. She refused to do so. Therefore, she has no place among people trying to recover. It wasn't the fact that she used, that's what addicts do. It was the fact that she refused to admit it.
As noted, no one will kick you out of an AA or NA meeting for being intoxicated. All that is required is a desire to stop. At some point, however, if someone continues to show up inebriated, they may be asked to leave, because their desire to quit is questionable.
But, Craig's meeting was not an AA or NA meeting.
I thought it was a great and powerful moment in the film. Addicts need to learn responsibility.
share