Clean & Sober

[Mastermind]

Love you

Evidently.......Love is a hurtin thang.

 

[Bmezz88]

I honestly believe I have spiritual principles. I never looked into what dry drunk meant because I was okay with me. I quit when I got tired of looking at a drunk in the mirror. It's about the man in the mirror

"To thine own self be true" Amen

 

[Duce]

Worked in a Methadone clinic in 1976. That was an eye opener and enough for me.

 

[skidooguy]

That's pretty great if you to share all that @nickw. My father drank a lot but never drank when my older brother was growing up so I know how it is. Nobody could even make him entertain the thought of putting the bottle down so I just grew to deal with it. Then one day he just quit drinking completely for no apparent reason other than he simply said I just don't want to drink anymore. And never drank again until he passed.

 

[skidooguy]

It takes a real strong person to share that with us and I respect you all for doing so. As far as AA and what not it starts and ends with yourself truly wanting to change and being dedicated to it. AA and similar groups are tools and support to help you out along the way.

 

[p61 western]

I can only speak for myself, but I wanted to quit long before I actually did. I woke up one day looked in the mirror and said that's it I'm done. It has been five years now and I feel great. I have never been to a AA meeting so I really don't know much about it. I have no desire or want to go back to the way I was though.

 

[jake wells]

the only drug i use is nicotine and im addicted to sweet tea.

 

[Mastermind]

the only drug i use is nicotine and im addicted to sweet tea.

I'm pretty addicted to caffeine....

 

[stihl_head1982]

Worked in a Methadone clinic in 1976. That was an eye opener and enough for me.

After working with addicts for over 30 years my perspective is Methadone is not the solution. Too many addicts simply stay addicted, and they overdose using a combination of illegal drugs while on Methadone. I've seen so many it really saddens me to no end.

 

[Mastermind]

After working with addicts for over 30 years my perspective is Methadone is not the solution. Too many addicts simply stay addicted, and they overdose using a combination of illegal drugs while on Methadone. I've seen so many it really saddens me to no end.

Drug replacement therapy of any kind is complete horseshit. Complete and total abstinence is the only thing that works.

 

[stihl_head1982]

Drug replacement therapy of any kind is complete horse-hockey. Complete and total abstinence is the only thing that works.

Agreed. Unfortunately the government issues this synthetic heroin as a solution --as in many things they issue --it is a not a solution.
The addicts I know have simply become addicted to the clinic's offer and stay that way until they decide to go back to the street.

 

[Mastermind]

Sadly, in the meetings they celebrate clean time even if the addict is on methadone. Then they become eligible for a service position.....

It's all downhill for the fellowship then.

 

[Duce]

I'm pretty addicted to caffeine....

Having been a working Pharmacist for over 38 years and worked in a pharmacy or hospital setting for 43 years I can only comment on what I have seen. Many addicts, been in court, had DEA and state inspector visits, doctor and police involvement. Caught nurses, prison guard, attorneys wife and individuals calling in bad prescriptions, doctor shooting up in parking lot, pharmacists and techs stealing drugs. This problem has many sides, drugs (legal and illegal), law enforcement, government, medical providers and individuals. Methadone, Antabuse, Nalaxone, Suboxone, etc. does nothing unless the individual wants to change their life.

All I can say to those that have become clean and sober is: CONGRATULATIONS and continue the fight.

 

[redoakneck]

Sadly, in the meetings they celebrate clean time even if the addict is on methadone. Then they become eligible for a service position.....

It's all downhill for the fellowship then.

The opiod situation is out of control.

Too much tolerance. An opioid addict over doses, gets narcan, and can legally walk away with no punishment.

EMT workers deal with this on a regular basis, with frequent repeat offenders.

Jails are full, "treatment" centers are overwhelmed, so the addict goes back home.

Drunk driving is treated much more severely, I don't understand why the overdosed individual isn't prosecuted???

 

[exSW]

The opiod situation is out of control.

Too much tolerance. An opioid addict over doses, gets narcan, and can legally walk away with no punishment.

EMT workers deal with this on a regular basis, with frequent repeat offenders.

And comes to *b-wording because they "ruined" his high.

 

[Mastermind]

The opiod situation is out of control.

Too much tolerance. An opioid addict over doses, gets narcan, and can legally walk away with no punishment.

EMT workers deal with this on a regular basis, with frequent repeat offenders.

Jails are full, "treatment" centers are overwhelmed, so the addict goes back home.

Drunk driving is treated much more severely, I don't understand why the overdosed individual isn't prosecuted???

I blame doctors......and pain clinics.

 

[USMC615]

Last gal I had a serious relationship with for about 3/4 years, ended a couple of years ago, has been on Methadone for many years. Her ex-husband is an orthopedic surgeon, lived the fat, high life in Fort Lauderdale. He would write her opioid scripts at will on a daily basis, and she got hooked big time. She moved here, we met through a mutual friend, and things took off. I knew from the get-go about the Methadone, she told me immediately, had no idea she was a fifth to two fifths a day Frangellico (liqueur) drinker. Of course it didn't take long to figure that out. Then came the list of daily taken prescription pills...Xanax, Percocet, Darvocet, Tramadol, etc, etc, etc...the list just kept growing...and she'd doctor shop to no end btwn Warner Robins and Macon, Ga. When she discovered Ritalin and Adderall to add to the daily regimen...was my que to get my chit and GTF gone!! She lived in a daily trance and stuper, if she wasn't literally passed out. Took a 28 foot U-Haul loaded from the front to the back, slam from the floor to the absolute ceiling to get 99% of my chit off her property (we decided her 3-story house was a better fit for her and my things when we lived together...I have a one-story ranch style home).

Best decision I ever made was to get gone!! She had an at the time 14 yr old little snot-nosed punk ass boy, and boy did that little whining ass turd call the shots with her. And she would do nothing to discipline hiss lazy little ass. Needless to say, you can just imagine the conflicts and fights my Jarhead ass had with her over that little SOB. And he ain't changed a lick today, still a sorry, excuse ridden turd. But she allows him to be that way. Actually heard a little while ago, he got a girl knocked up...all I can tell his young ass now is 'welcome to the jungle.' The gal has sinced shacked up an unemployed, schizophrenic, POS, junkie, crackhead addict at her house. He's been arrested four times already for shoplifting, taken to Fla to stand trial for a bench warrant there (larceny, felony shoplifting), is my understanding has stolen everything possession-wise of any value from her property, to smoke up...and she still shacks this POS up. Ambulance has been to her property twice already for two of his overdoses (sister is a Deputy Sheriff here in this county, obviously she hears/see's it all). Ahhh...the cost of love!! Lmao. They're just two junkies and addicts...they'll both end up 6 feet under soon enough!!

Anyhoo...just thought I'd share an absolute train wreck of a relationship that I was involved in, with a full blown addict on several fronts. I will never make the same mistake again. And I will drink a cold beer (and I'll be the first to admit, at times, 24 ain't enough) and I smoke, but that's the extent of my doings. I've never cared for drugs, pills, etc...so at least I'm lucky from that respect...especially at 49 now, being the youngest of eleven children...I witnessed some crazy chit with my older brothers/sisters and addictions throughout the late 60's, 70's and up. I'm just thankful I had some sorta sense to stay away from the hard *s-word.

 

[Mastermind]

Last gal I had a serious relationship with for about 3/4 years, ended a couple of years ago, has been on Methadone for many years. Her ex-husband is an orthopedic surgeon, lived the fat, high life in Fort Lauderdale. She moved here, we met through a mutual friend, and things took off. I knew from the get-go about the Methadone, she told me immediately, had no idea she was a fifth to two fifths a day Frangellico (liqueur) drinker. Of course it didn't take long to figure that out. Then came the list of daily taken prescription pills...Xanax, Percocet, Darvocet, Tramadol, etc, etc, etc...the list just kept growing...and she'd doctor shop to no end btwn Warner Robins and Macon, Ga. When she discovered Ritalin and Adderall to add to the daily regimen...was my que to get my chit and GTF gone!! She lived in a daily trance and stuper, if she wasn't literally passed out. Took a 28 foot U-Haul loaded from the front to the back, slam from the floor to the absolute ceiling to get 99% of my chit off her property (we decided her 3-story house was a better fit for her and my things when we lived together...I have a one-story ranch style home).

Best decision I ever made was to get gone!! She had an at the time 14 yr old little snot-nosed punk ass boy, and boy did that little whining ass turd call the shots with her. And she would do nothing to discipline hiss lazy little ass. Needless to say, you can just imagine the conflicts and fights my Jarhead ass had with her over that little SOB. And he ain't changed a lick today, still a sorry, excuse ridden turd. But she allows him to be that way. Actually heard a little while ago, he got a girl knocked up...all I can tell his young ass now is 'welcome to the jungle.' The gal has sinced shacked up an unemployed, schizophrenic, POS, junkie, crackhead addict at her house. He's been arrested four times already for shoplifting, taken to Fla to stand trial for a bench warrant there (larceny, felony shoplifting), is my understanding has stolen everything possession-wise of any value from her property, to smoke up...and she still shacks this POS up. Ambulance has been to her property twice already for two of his overdoses (sister is a Deputy Sheriff here in this county, obviously she hears/see's it all). Ahhh...the cost of love!! Lmao. They're just two junkies and addicts...they'll both end up 6 feet under soon enough!!

Anyhoo...just thought I'd share an absolute train wreck of a relationship that I was involved in, with a full blown addict on several fronts. I will never make the same mistake again. And I will drink a cold beer (and I'll be the first to admit, at times, 24 ain't enough) and I smoke, but that's the extent of my doings. I've never cared for drugs, pills, etc...so at least I'm lucky from that respect...especially at 49 now, being the youngest of eleven children...I witnessed some crazy chit with my older brothers/sisters and addictions throughout the late 60's, 70's and up. I'm just thankful I had some sorta sense to stay away from the hard *s-word.

I'm glad you made it out of that mess Jason. Thanks for putting it out there.

 

[USMC615]

I'm glad you made it out of that mess Jason. Thanks for putting it out there.

I tried my best to help her, even took time off from work on several occasions in my very demanding/high pressure flightline, military aircraft maintenance job...nothing on her end ever said any inkling of wanting to change. We had some great times, but we had a heap more train wreck times, and it all centered around her vices. At that time, she had 15 rental homes...that fell way by the wayside. Now only has eight I believe. I became the maintenance man for a couple of years having to deal with the homes btwn two counties, after I spent 9-10 hrs on the flightline everyday, starting at 0500/0600. Talk about a pure burnout!! My understanding she now sells the houses for nothing to fuel the cravings is what I'm being told. And paying to shack up that POS she's now got.

I actually saw her not long ago in town...she had no idea I was there, nor did I speak to her. It's amazing how a once model, college educated, damn attractive woman could get where she has gotten to. She looked like ten hells warmed over. Hate it for her!!

 

[redoakneck]

I blame doctors......and pain clinics.

How do you fix this problem???