complete abstinence from all substances?

Betty - posted on 11/11/2012

i think if weed is keeping you clean from hard drugs then thats great but you know u can loose your kids for that too

Sarah - posted on 03/20/2011

I think it all depends on whether or not you have a dual addiction, meaning both drugs and alcohol.
I personally can go out a drink no problem, mind you i don't get drunk because I have major control issues since quitting hard drugs myself 4 1/2 years ago. And I still smoke the occasional (like once in a blue moon) joint. But I never did do the 12 steps or rehab or anything like that. But I did go see a drug and alcohol counselor for 2 years.

Sarah - posted on 03/20/2011

I think it all depends on whether or not you have a dual addiction, meaning both drugs and alcohol.
I personally can go out a drink no problem, mind you i don't get drunk because I have major control issues since quitting hard drugs myself 4 1/2 years ago. And I still smoke the occasional (like once in a blue moon) joint. But I never did do the 12 steps or rehab or anything like that. But I did go see a drug and alcohol counselor for 2 years.

Carrie - posted on 12/17/2010

I am so proud of all of you! I have 19 months clean on Christmas day and though I do not drink at all for personal reasons I have on occasion smoked some weed now and again, usually just to celebrate certain things. My husband and I fell that any one persons recovery is their own and can not be done by any other. So if you feel good about your recovery then don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Nikki - posted on 08/14/2009

If it was me it would only be a matter of time until it got real unmanageable, but to each his own just glad you are doing better!

Keely - posted on 07/19/2009

In my opinion weed isn't a drug it's an herb. It's less addicting then a cigarette. I smoke pot from time to time. I also drink from time to time. To me there's nothing wrong with that. It's not something I need. It's not something I do every day or even every week. Being as I'm pregnant it's been about nine months since I've done either. But I will probably smoke again one day and I will probably drink again one day. I don't let it run my life. I've been clean for almost 23 months! Congrats on your recovery program!

Melody - posted on 07/18/2009

thank you ladies for all the feedback, i suppose we are all on our separate paths with the same destination in mind... good luck....

Melissa - posted on 06/30/2009

I have been clean for almost a year from everything. i tried for many years to put this time together. i lost my kids, was in and out of jail, homeless, the whole thing. i tried many times replacing one drug with another or a drink and even though i wasnt a alcoholic or i wasnt doing my drug of choice it eventually lead me back to my drug of choice. it never happened right away but it always did and i know many others who experienced the same thing. if you engage in any kind of substance or drink you are not clean. if you have kids your not really being there for them emotionally and if you think its not affecting them you are so wrong. "normal" people do not need a drink or a substance to live. if you quit the hard drugs then you can quit the easy ones. do it for yourself and do it for your kids otherwise your not really in recovery. your still an active drug addict.

Tania - posted on 06/17/2009

I have only been clean for 34 days.. and this is only an opinion.. but i know that for me marijuana maintenance isnt an option.. To me a drug is a drug.. whether it is marijuana or heroin, both of which i used... they are all altering your behavior and to me thats not recovery... I think that you must know in the back of your mind that its not really the right thing to do or you wouldnt be asking right?? I hope i dont offend anyone.. thats just my opinion.. i definitely dont judge anyones decisions, i just know that for me i have to abstain from Everything!!!.. even alcohol.

Jennifer - posted on 06/08/2009

Thank you! You made me feel alot better. I have allowed myself to take an occasional pain killer this week. I really don't have a choice at this point. The pain is unbelievable! I did cover myself from my own mind when I first brought the prescription home, though. I gave them to my husband immediately and had him lock them in his safe. He gives them to me as I ask for them, but that way I do not have control of the bottle and I will not put myself in the position to be tempted my them. I am not anywhere near close enough in my recovery process to be trusted with a whole bottle yet! And you are right, I am very lucky that they even allow me to take anything in the faculty that I checked myself into. Thank you for your support.

Eugenia - posted on 06/04/2009

I think that you shouldn't feel guilty at all! The doctors know about your addiction and insist for you to take the medication... and on top of that your counselor and the facility say it is ok... They are all professionals! Trust them and get relief for your pain... just don't let the addict come out of you, and you start abusing anything on the down low... Consider it a privilige that you are allowed to take the medication and be thankful... If you feel like you are having thoughts of being sneaky... tell someone, and someone that you know is going to help you and not feed your bad thoughts! I wish you the best and i really hope you feel better soon!!

Jennifer - posted on 06/04/2009

And I think you have all reason to be proud. I had a bad accident 11 days ago and have been in and out of doctors offices for the last week and a half and guess what they did??? They put me on hydrocodone...one of the things that put me in rehab to begin with! My counselor and the treatment faculty both say that it is okay that I take it now because I am being monitored? Who knows? I fell off of my horse due to a defective saddle and herniated 2 more discs in my back (that makes 9 now) and have a fractured pelvis. Now I am on bedrest for the next 10 days and then on a walker for 6 to 12 weeks after. I dealt with the pain of this for the first 10 days with only methadone, but the doctors wanted me to "stop being hard-headed" and get some relief. Now for some reason I am feeling guilty. What do you think???

Eugenia - posted on 06/01/2009

I have been clean for two years, also addicted to hard drugs, also got my two young children back, graduated court and outpatient and graduated school. The other night i went out with my sister-n-law and some friends and got drunk... I know what treatment sais... and what the meetings say... I don't consider that a relapse. 1. Im not an alchoholic, 2. I did not "crave" anything else, 3. i did not do anything else, 4. Did not drink and drive, 5. don't plan on doing it again anytime soon... I felt normal, and i do not regret it or feel guilty.

I can't talk on the weed situation that you have going on, cuz i don't do that, but like Jennifer Henley said in her post, i think we are doing a good job, I know i have accomplished a whole lot in two years... and i am extremely proud of myself!

Jennifer - posted on 05/30/2009

I have only been clean for 34 days now, but I couldn't go the complete abstinence way. If you did that, and you are only smoking marijuana occasionally...then good for you! I had to check into a methadone rehab to get myslef straightened out. I have a bad back and cancer and my doctors had me medically addicted to pain killers. I could not do it no matter how many times I tried. The pain was too bad and the withdrawals were terrible. Whether it is considered cheating in some peoples eyes...I still think that you have done a good job kicking the hard drugs, getting your children back, and getting your life back on track. Good for you!