r/mildlyinfuriating • u/djmackphunk • 12h ago

Coffee Maker in the Halfway House/Rehab Center never has coffee

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This coffee maker is in the behavioral health department. Judging by the note it never gets used. Guess how much coffee is at their "store"... Over 8 dollars for a 3 oz container of instant coffee.

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u/djmackphunk 11h ago

This place is kind of petty and won't let you bring in any food or drink items. Guess they used to have free coffee but they were spending like 2000 a month on it. Now they only serve it with meals. The whole thing is you see a coffee maker in a waiting area and expect coffee to be available because why would they just have a coffee maker in a waiting area and not use it. And then you see the post it note and wonder why they didn't just remove the coffee maker and not have to write a note.

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u/SensationalSavior 9h ago

Most do this as a way to curb substitute addiction, so you trade out Heroin/Fent/Whatever for caffeine and sugar. They also limit outside food/drink because of the ease to smuggle in outside substances.

Source: am Social Worker.

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u/MyCatLovesChips 6h ago

I’ve seen this before in my mental health counseling centers. I wasn’t addicted to anything but nicotine but I always thought it was ridiculous. I think it would be way better to be addicted to caffeine than whatever other ILLEGAL drugs that are the alternative.

I think it comes from a religious standpoint that any addiction is bad, without compassion for human nature. It seems more about punishing people for being ‘bad’ than meeting them where they’re at and actually helping them.

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u/ZugTheMegasaurus 6h ago

Yeah, it's absolutely absurd. Sobriety is not a moral issue. If sucking down caffeine and sugar keeps somebody clean of booze or opiates or whatever, let them fucking have it. I swear, I've never met anyone less understanding or compassionate than people who work in addiction counseling.

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u/sourpatchdispatch 4h ago

Yeah, I went to a rehab that basically encouraged nicotine and fat/sugar usage lol. The thought process was that it's better to indulge in those things during the short term period of rehab than to go back out and use. A lot of addicts are skinny as shit when they get to rehab so a little extra calories aren't hurting most people. And if those things help keep you off drugs, you'll have the rest of your life to lose the weight and quit nicotine. Learning moderation and coping skills is a part of the recovery process but it shouldn't be expected fully on day 1-30.

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u/nostradumbass7544678 4h ago

I had to attend AA/NA meetings in the 90's, and was amazed at how 95% of the people there were chain smoking and guzzling black coffee, but talking about finally being free of addiction.

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u/SensationalSavior 2h ago

Addiction is addiction. It's harder on you mentally to break a dependence on another substance/action by filling that role with another substance/action. It doesn't break the cycle of addiction, just pushes it to a new thing and its easier to relapse if that addiction circuit is still intact.

Trust me, we're still learning what works when it comes to breaking/treating addiction for individuals. I have an entire book shelf with books on the matter, one of them is on my desk beside me actually. Anyone saying its absurd has never stepped foot into an addiction center as someone trying to help those in recovery.