My opinion..... What's yours?

Doll · MIP Old Timer

My opinion..... What's yours?

wantneeda · MIP Old Timer

hi Doll,

ya that maintenance took me back out for another 6 months! i tried it, its not for me!

a drug is a drug is a drug is a drug

sobriety for me means abstinance from all drugs.

hugs Wendy

GammyRose · MIP Old Timer

I'm with you Doll and Wendy, I was as hooked on pot as I was on alcohol, that's a different program. I feel I'm a recovering alcohol -addict, and if I start using again, I'll be a dead woman.That's what I have seen happen to so many in the program.

(((Hugs)))

GammyRose

cooncatbob · Senior Member

I think in this respect NA has got it right "Alcohol is a drug." Most folks in AA agree that you can't be sober unless your clean. Without clarity of thought there is no recovery. When I was working Bob's program I used marijuana maintinece and one day
I got thirsty and I had no real recovery to back me up. Bob.

-- Edited by cooncatbob at 10:00, 2005-11-09

cheri · Senior Member

I'm an alcoholic who used drugs to be able to drink more, then crossed over and became an addict also. I've never gone to an NA meeting because when the compulsion to drink was removed the urge to use also left. I do sponsor addicts because I know the craving and the behaviours that go along with the drug use, but I take the steps right out of the Big Book because that is the only way I know how to do them.

This does become a loophole for some.."I never did drink so I'm not an alcoholic..." but I ask my addict sponsees to replace the word drink with the drug they were using so we can work the steps.

My opinion? Alcohol in any form (pills, smoke, powder or liquid) needs to be abstained from in order to have a spiritual awakening in a 12 step program.

Love, cheri

Cabbageheadchris · Senior Member

Hi Doll,

marijuana maintenance program??

Never heard of this, what is it?

My view on cannabis is a bit relaxed, if someone else has it, I'll smoke it. (This occurs about twice a year) I've not bought any for about 6 years. Take it or leave it, no problem, I don't find that it leads to alcohol, and it is with alcohol where my problem is. If anything, it leads to Pizza! Any other drugs, NO THANKS!

Hope everyone is well, and sober and not been smoking any 'funny cigarettes!'

bye for now.

Chris.

TipsyMcStagger · Veteran Member

For me to remain sober I have to stay so focused on why I'm in AA that I cant afford the luxury of caring about what someone else does, doesn't do or how they maintain their definition of sobriety. I've heard that some AA militants feel that being on prescribed drugs like antidepressants, Valium, mood stabilizers, etc goes against the philosophy of the program. We are all going to have our own opinions and beliefs on what it means to be committed to AA and it isn't our place to question one another. If someone wants to come to a meeting pissed drunk and stoned out of their mind they have every right to do so as long as they can shut their mouths for an hour.

"The only requirement for membership is the desire to stop drinking"

Doll · MIP Old Timer

Lighten up Duane, It was a question posted out of my curiousity. Only OPINIONS were asked for and only my opinion was given. Yes, the desire to stop drinking is the only requirement. However in my Homegroup you'll find one hell of a hard time finding a sponsor who doesn't insist on CLEAN AND SOBER.

Prescriptions from an MD for a medical condition should be a completely different issue. However there are many users who know how to get the drugs they desire from an MD. A good addict knows the right "symptoms" to get the drug of choice prescribed to them. I know this first hand, I was married to one of those.......

Bottom line, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, you can bet your ass it's probably a duck!

-- Edited by Doll at 23:23, 2005-11-09

recovering jb · Senior Member

Hey All- 2 weeks today!

As far as maintenance, experience shows it doesn't work for me-

jB

ps- nor could I imagine the people I especially admire in AA, who are devoted to service work, going to detoxes, helping out newcomers, etc, having quite the same impact or powerful message if they smoked pot "recreationally" or had a few beers now and then, even if they could-

-- Edited by recovering jb at 09:45, 2005-11-10

Hanuman · Senior Member

I've had times where I felt I was abusing caffeine. I find stimulants to have a distinctly different type of attraction for me than alcohol did. I smoked a lot of pot over the years but was never attached to it in the way I was with alcohol. However, I know some that feel they were definitely addicted to marijuana in the same way. I try to play it safe. When I travel to Cambodia I forgo the "Happy Chicken Soup" which is spiced with marijuana. I just don't want to take the chance.. knowing my own habit for excess. I think some of my early experiences with LSD and marijuana (before I got sober) were useful in that they did open my mind to new perceptions. However since I've gotten sober I've felt that, for me, abstinence from substances that I honestly felt might present a problem was best (and I needed to be rigorously honest!)

I guess I feel this is where "To thine own self be true" is particularly relevant.

TipsyMcStagger · Veteran Member

C'mon Doll, I didn't mean to sound like a judgmental asshole or that I was condemning you for asking the question...I was being sincere, I wish that I was able to take more of an interest in my fellows but at this point I can't because I'm so green and unstable. I hope that in the future I will be able to offer someone some valuable, helpful suggestions on how to maintain their sobriety and what works and what to be wary of.

I do find it interesting that the people who posted in this thread who have admitted to using a marijuana maintenance program and found that it didn't work for them are still here. They obviously realized that being totally clean was the way to achieve the level of sobriety, serenity and happiness that they wanted from the program. I guess it was just part of their journey, like the person who comes and goes numerous times before getting it. I think these people are in the right place and I would hope that they would one day come to the realization that they don't need to put a drug in their body to stop drinking or be happy...and most likely they will. If they stick around long enough.

-- Edited by TipsyMcStagger at 16:28, 2005-11-10

Hanuman · Senior Member

a doctors experience I can relate to...
In the end, I had to do the same with alcohol and all pills. I wasn't able to quit chemicals as long as they were in the house. If they were around, I always found a need for them - especially the pills. I never in my life took a tranquilizer, sedative, or pep pill because I was a pillhead. I always took it because i had the symptom that only that pill would relieve; therefore, every pill was medically indicated at the time it was taken. For me, pills don't produce the desire to swallow a pill; they produce the symptoms that require that the pill be taken for relief. As a physician and pharmacist who had grown up in a drugstore-home, I had a pill for every ill, and I was sick a lot.

From Acceptance was the Answer aka Doctor, Alcoholic, Addict

Doll · MIP Old Timer

TipsyMcStagger wrote: I wish that I was able to take more of an interest in my fellows but at this point I can't because I'm so green and unstable.

Take care of you and the rest will follow........My sponsor says green is the best color to be............

Doll

-- Edited by Doll at 07:46, 2005-11-11

FraKctured · Member

Whether you smoke it, snort it, or stick it up your a** it's still mind altering. There is no easier or softer way - sorry it's my opinion. A friend of mine told me about some european program- he's still abusing so I guess it didn't work.

I tried to get him into AA but he wouldn't budge. He told me that AA is a cult. His opinion of course, but to me his opinion is bullshit. Guess he hasn't "hit the wall" yet. I truly hope he comes to a meeting someday

In my short experience with AA I found that it's the only program that has kept me sober.

6 months coming up (God willing!)

-- Edited by FraKctured at 22:42, 2005-11-11

rosie light shines · MIP Old Timer

duane said............We are all going to have our own opinions and beliefs on what it means to be committed to AA and it isn't our place to question one another. If someone wants to come to a meeting pissed drunk and stoned out of their mind they have every right to do so as long as they can shut their mouths for an hour.

rosie..........hey duane, i am rosie, and i totally relate to what you are saying here......i am sooo busy working MY inventory, i don't hvae the ENERGY to work someone ELSES....i find when someone is *doing my inventory* they are unable to *look at themselves*. and thus they are NOT working theirs.....i cannot work on me, if i am into someone ELSES stuff!!!! ......i love this last part......you are a welcoming soul, duane, and its OK what you said about *not being able to reach out so much to others* i am only in recovery, this is my 20th month, i reach out, but not as much as i will when i am stronger within me.........thanks for your open and honest share.....rosie

Rick · MIP Old Timer

THIS IS ALL OVER THE BOARD

I SAW A MAN **TELL HE SMOKED POT AND NOT ACCEPT HIS 10 YEAR COIN AT AN ANNIVERSARY MEETING. I TOLD HIM AFTER THE MEETING I THOUGHT HE WAS STILL SOBER. THIS IS AA ISN'T IT? I DON'T SMOKE ANYMORE. I ALSO FIGURE AA IS FOR ALCOHOL**NOT ALL SUBSTANCES OR OVEREATING. A DESIRE TO STOP DRINKING. NA IS JUST THAT, MY DRUG IS AND WAS ALCOHOL. I CAN SNORT ONE LINE OR TAKE 2 HITS OFF A JOINT AND STOP. I CHOOSE NOT TO. THIS IS FOR ME ONLY**AS SAID SOME PEOPLE THINK YOU SHOULD BE CLEAN**DOCTOR OR NOT. I COULD GIVE A CRAP IF ANY OF U SMOKE POT, U HAVE TO DECIDE WHAT IT DOES TO U. DOES IT TRIGGER ALCOHOL????????? ONLY U KNOW??????????

ALSO A PERSON TOLD ME HE WOULDN'T THROW AWAY HIS SOBERITY(10 YRS) BECAUSE HE SMOKED A JOINT AND HAD A COUPLE WINE COOLERS. I DON'T AGREE!! ONE SWALLOW OF ALCOHOL ON PURPOSE AND IT'S OVER!! I SAY ON PURPOSE BECAUSE OF THE PERSON WHO PICKS UP THE WRONG GLASS OR SOMEONE ADDS SOMETHING TO HIS DRINK WHEN HE DOSEN'T KNOW IT.**HE IS ALL GENDER HERE**

-- Edited by Rick at 04:48, 2005-11-12

-- Edited by Rick at 04:53, 2005-11-12