Retretten – Practicing Recovery

This is a book about hope. Everyone knows someone with a drug problem, but few of us really understand how it feels to be in that situation. Retretten does what deep down we all know we ought to do; we do something to answer the drug user's needs, on his own terms. We greet her with respect, we never give up, and we welcome him again. We’re still there when she wavers and we’re still there when he falls.

Retretten workers have their own hard-earned drug experiences. We've been there too. We have the practical and the professional expertise that are so crucial in promoting genuine feelings of empathy. As the IRIS research institute has documented, this is precisely why Retretten works so well.


Retretten needs commitment and supporters, so we can do our job and help more people. This book presents our understanding of substance abuse and the way we treat it. We talk about what we do and how we help addicted people who are struggling to cope with their day-to-day lives. Our leading researchers share their knowledge. And of course, the substance abusers themselves tell their stories – from where they’ve been to where they are today. Retretten’s motto is: "It's not about quitting drugs, it’s about getting the opportunity to escape."