Abstract
This paper reflects on the narratives of "recovery" from drug addiction by the staff and residents
of DARC (Drug Addiction Rehabilitation Center). The focus of our paper is DARC's slogan, "Just for
Today."
Our data is based on fieldwork conducted in X/Y DARC. While X DARC, located in a
metropolitan area was founded many years ago, Y DARC, also located in a metropolitan area, was
founded in recent years, and the fieldwork here began in April 2011.
The results of our analysis show that the slogan "Just for Today" represents an important concept
of time in the narratives of "recovery" from drug addiction. Briefly, our study has clarified the following
three points: (1) Living by the "Just For Today" maxim reduces anxiety about the "future" or the "past,"
and leads to a "present" that helps quit drugs; (2) The "Just For Today" maxim restores the flow of time
by putting the "present" in context• namely that the "future" flows from the "present," and the "present"
becomes the "past" ; (3) The slogan "Just For Today" has the potential to inspire similar narratives of
"recovery" in institutions other than DARC.
Finally, this paper discusses the implications of our study.
