Socializing with those that use?

[gizzy32]

Through the years of trying to overcome my addiction(s), I was so stubborn, thinking I was strong and could quit when I wanted, but was not willing to make sacrafices or changes for my recovery and kept relapsing over and over. One of my biggest mistakes (besides switching addictions, uggg)  was thinking I could socialize with those that used drugs and I read about it on  posts here too. For me, it was not and is not possible to stay clean being around those that use. A few times I was able to say no and be strong even though i wasn't pressured to use, but just seeing someone high and drugs around sends me into a different state of mind. There are some here that say they can be around drugs and not use, but I don't understand how? I just wanted to know hear your opinion about this. How is it possible to stay clean around those that are using? To me, it's not, but that is only me. People, places, things.

[GoingToMakeIt]

Hey there Gizzy. Good poll. You are always so good with your thoughtful ponderings. lol
Glad to see you are still fighting the good battle.

[Walker315]

It's kink of interesting how this whole addiction thing seems to work.  If I think I can be around negative people and not be effected by them why would I want to be around them?  The disease tells me that they're still fun to be around which leads me to believe what they're doing is fun.  I like fun...  You get the idea.

There is the possibility that they won't effect you but again why be around them?  I haven't watched school kids play marbles since fourth grade and I don't talk to the guy at the marina since I sold my boat.  Move on, deal with the lonliness that comes with early recovery and find people who are interested and involved in the things you want to be involved in now.  Staying with the same people holds you back this is likely one of the differances between abstinence and recovery.

[Ella789]

  Not possible to hang around users and not eventualy use !!!!    I can say this because I went to visit my dear Mom, who lives three hours away,   she has her bottle of Lortabs just sitting out on the counter.  Man!  I was just so tired from my trip down to her house and then see those pills sitting there!!  I wanted one soooooooo bad !!!  I didn't take one, but oh my gosh,  the horrid thought of taking one of my Mom's ( who is very fraile and in alot of  bad pain ) ......... it made me feel like **** for even thinking of maybe "shorting" her on her meds, even ONE pill !!!!  I don't like living in pain, but to do that to my Mom just made me realize that the pain in my body is not near as bad as the guilt I would have had to live with!  
Just being honest....

E

[NautyOne]

Woe, I am a little surprised at the poll.  I think I just learned sumptin.....I don't have any problem being around people who use anything.  I am pretty fortunate.  I don't feel pressure, nor does anyone I know pressure me or would they even offer to me.  Sheesh I remember a friend of mine, who was a heroin addict, way back in 79-80 and I really didnt' know much about it, other than I would sit in my lounge chair eating macaroni and cheese while they all "SHARED THE SAME NEEDLE"  nobody ever tried to offer me drugs that I can EVER remember??.......Oh, wait......In my twenties & thirties I did have an issue with alcohol, and I do remember not being able to say NO to it, and had some pretty bad "next days"  I have not abused alcohol in so many years that I almost forgot.

So, I guess I do understand where you are coming from Gizzalo, that was the "old me" and thank God the old me is gone, or I'd surely be dead.........

I think what you just posted Gizz is pointing toward the Idea of AA/NA.  You need to be able to function in the real world, face people who use at some point....or become a monk?....lol.  good question........hmmmm

Nauty is pondering?????

[mtgoat911]

i can be around people socially drinking at resturaunt, but i do not hang around with people who use drugs
i have one friend who smokes pot, well 2, but i never hang around them when they are smoking
once you have been clean for a few years and get to a point where using is not so glamorous, something happens and its no big deal to run into who are high
because you know where you are at in life
in na they tell us to change people, places and things that we accociated with using
there is more aobut this topic in the book
i even had to stop talking to my parents for a while, they do not use but they were a big trigger early on
i got to the point where i did not have fun with people using, we had little in common and it sure was not fun being sober and watching people get wasted

next time you are thinking about hanging out with people using, ask yourself what you are getting out of it?

as far as family, addiction is a family disease so it makes sense that it spans thoughout generations, the good news is that as adults we can make choiced for our own recovery and not worry about what other peopel are taking, i have several family members who are addicted through pain management clinics, i stayed away from them for 3 years, now their addiction has no affect on me what so ever

[allaboutmary]

This is such a difficult problem, because it seems that 90% of the population has pain meds in their cabinets.  I have a few friends that I know are prescribed them. They aren't addicts like me. They take them once in a blue moon. I know because I constantly ask them and warn them about addiction. I tell them how awful it is to be an addict and how it can sneak up on you. I also have my 82 year old mother in the house that goes to pain management to get pills every month.(the mother thing could be solved with a lock box, but I'm not sure she could remember a combination or find a key lol) This is another reason I'm terrified of coming off the Suboxone........I'm surrounded.  I so hate being an addict........if I could just turn back the clock. Grrrrrrrrrrrr

[gizzy32]

Cassie, please don't think it's ok to switch addictions. You have taken E lately? Ya know, at your age I truly believe it's harder to stay clean, I remember and it's trigger after trigger. Send me a pm if ya want, this worries me:( Congrats on staying off the OC, but damn girl, your an addict, all drugs are bad Hugs, and a boot in the ***:)

[Cassie415]

I am the same way as you, whenever i see someone using any form of drug it instantly makes me want to go do use drugs. Being at school these last few days ive completely been self destructing. like i have stayed away from oc but ive tken extacy, lines of valium and xanax in day, drinking at night, like I haven't used oc but i have this overwhelming desire to be on something at all times. I dunno wats going on.

[corey411]

Hey Gizzy, Good post. I voted that it was not possible to stay clean and be around those that use but actually, I didn't know others who used. Just being around any pain meds is not possible for me. For those who are attempting to quit with a standing script at the pharmacy or who still have a bottle of pills in their medicine cabinet, I feel they are setting themselves up for relapse. I don't think that a person with a true full blown addiction can sit in the house with a bottle of pills and be OK....maybe it is a dependency but not what I have.  I have read some posts over the years where members feel that they are proving that they are stronger than the pills by being able to keep them around...bad idea in my book. I would be in relapse land again. I think most here would agree....get rid of the dope.