Posted on 01/12/2004 4:29:11 AM PST by tornado100
The only way addicts get and stay clean is when they are subject to random pee tests and the threat of incarceration.
That's what "hitting bottom" means.
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I know they had search warrents for four doctor offices, but I thought they only use two of the warrents, but then again I think the two other doctors share offices with the other two. Because these two doctors were dealing with two different ailments, it is not even clear whether doctor shopping laws applies.
Nossir. Hitting bottom can mean any number of things, and it varies from person to person.
I know plenty of addicts who went to prison and/or jail and emerged to use within hours of their release. I know many addicts who used the day before a piss test. None of these things are guarenteed 'bottoms'.
I myself never really hit a bottom. I hit a wall. I lost a marriage and got arrested for serious drug crimes. Did either stop me? No, it was when I got sick of using that I stopped.
It is only through G-d, Narcotics Anonymous, and my Sponsor that I have begun my recovery from drugs. One year clean and counting! :o)
Prison and pee tests do not guarentee anything except prison and pee tests.
The threat of certain consequences is what forces them to get with the program.
I'm worried about Limbaugh.
.....and God bless ya for it, bud.
It's a proven way. Not the only way, but the most reliable. G-d bless Bill W. !!!!
The threat of certain consequences is what forces them to get with the program.
I'm tellin' ya, this is not necessarily true. In fact, addicts are stubborn and self-centered people, so I'd say this is true < 50% of the time. Probably much less than 50%, actually.
What forces most people to get with the program is not THREATS, but a geniune desire to leave the lifestyle.
In fact, if a person comes to the rooms of NA because a judge ordered it or because they are under threats of some nature, I can usually and accurately predict they won't make it.
I am too. Big time. Rush came out of treatment sounding like a recovering addict. Lately, however, he has been sounding like an addict on the road to relapse. I hope he's going to a meeting a day, and I hope he's working the steps. He really needs to concentrate on step one: Surrender. I sense he is still thinking he can control his disease. He can't. He's got a big ego and he's got to lose that -- with respect to his addiction -- if he's gonna make it.
There is a special place in hell for those who make fun of recovering addicts.
In fact, last night: Someone was going to jail. He/she had the option of either partying one last time -- getting vodka and orange juice and some cocaine -- or, coming to an NA meeting. He/she made the choice to come to an NA meeting.
That person will make it.
There is no more threat to this person. He/she will go to jail no matter what. But he/she chose recovery anyways.
(I use the generic "he/she" for further anonymity -- because anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to put principles before personalities.)
Just before you posted, I was thinking the same thing. He is losing his sense of powerlessness, and finding his rage at the "outside" forces that tripped him up to be more important. This doesn't bode well for him. I wish him well, but he indeed sounds like someone who now thinks he has it under enough control to use again. But everyone is different, I don't want to predict failure, just am sad that there seems to be a path to it that he's ready to walk.
Actually, it has to do with values. You can take President Bush as a prime example. He had a problem with drinking and his wife laid down the law; it was either her or booze. He valued his family life more than he valued drinking, so he chose the former.
Funny how the language alone can reveal the way one is drfiting from the path. I have an employee who is a recovering alcoholic. He had some jail time because he couldn't stay out of a car, so I am familiar with what you are describing.
I also recognize the changes in Rush's language that cause a scare that he may be relapsing. One thing we hate to hear is when he starts talking like he was just an unfortunate victim....to have been caught or the victim of an unjustified witch hunt.
I want to hear him say how he set himself up for the fall and not blame others.
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