Cooperation of associations and experts proved to be a good recipe for success in the treatment of substance abuse. As an association, we have good experience in this area, as demonstrated by our hosting ‘2. Croatian Congress on addictions’ ‘and’ ’13. International Alpe Adria Danube adictologic conference ” held on April 18 to 20, organized by the Croatian Society for alcoholism, , CMA (Croatian Medical Association), Government Office for Combating Drugs Abuse. More domestic and foreign experts talked and discussed the topic of substitution therapy, its use and abuse, and Željka Jakopčević from Stijena also spoked on this subject. She stressed the importance of recovery as open possibility to be offered to people with addictive behavior. And it’s not an idea that absolutely excludes the use of substitution therapy, but puts it in the context of phase in recovery process. The problem occurs if we accept this phase as a chronic condition with no hope of change, and it is this hope that initiates full recovery.
Although the forementioned events in Šibenik again proved that in the medical profession there are opposing views on the issue of the role, benefits, hazards and risks of using substitution therapy, we are optimistic to say that there are a number of relevant experts that keep an option of full recovery opened. We believe that such events are a great opportunity to promote recovery as a very realistic option, on the basis of tangible evidence.