People who have stayed clean a long time I have some questions.

[Back2Me]

First and foremost I have not caved or anything like that or am not thinking about it I just have some questions that have crossed my mind. Those that have a year or more when you claim your time lets say its 2 years, are you saying that you have not touched ANYTHING in this time? For example lets say your doc was oxy. If you quit oxy and claim 5 years are you saying that in 5 years or 2 or whatever your time is that you have not had ANY opioids in that time or just not OXY'S and just not when not prescribed. Would you count dental work with a prescription followd to the t and not abused? Would you count that? Or how about chronic back pain people.  Lets say you really abused your patch or high levels of pain killers and you had 1 year and then totally wicked out your back. If you had to see a dr and had to take pain meds for a while would you still claim your time or would you start over?
How about one slip in a few years. Would you reset it then even though it was just one slip?
Just some thinking I was doing. Like I said I didn't slip its just a curiosity on how people count their time. IMO I believe even with a script you should reset your time. But that's just me.

[Clarityrocks]

PS. I am terrified of getting hurt, having to have surgery, etc, because I don't want to be put in the position of having to take something. I know it may happen someday, but the further away the better. I don't want to wake the beast. It took so much of my life already.

[Clarityrocks]

I agree with Sarah on all counts, and others after her. As far as slipping one time, not medically related, I would definitely start again at day one. Otherwise my "clean " time wouldn't mean anything to me, because it wouldn't be true. I feel like that would be lying to myself, and that is the most damaging dishonesty for me. Good questions!
Allison

[butterbean841]

If i took even one pill i would call it a relapse and start from day 1 clean time. However, if i were in medical need with no alternative , and took at the prescribed dosage and stopped as soon as i no longer needed (note i said needed and not wanted!) them then i would still count as my clean time. For me it is more about the abuse/ dependance than the actual taking .....I would have to search my heart and conscience .... If i take when i don't need them then i've relasped. If the meds are honestly required with no alternatives left open to me then my clean time would stand.

[17mthssober275]

Clean time to me is not using at all, prescription as long as not abused and truly needed is not using. I let my doctor know of my using problem and am very cautious with prescriptions, in case he overlooks addictive prescriptions. Clean time starts over after a relapse, even 1 day using. Looking forward to my 2 year clean and sober celebration on September 22.

[hope4good]

Being clean for a matter of time means being clean from any time of drugs or alcohol.  What you call a slip I call a relapse.  Like dominosarah said if it is medically necessary than it is different.  But I have heard some people use the term medically necessary before as a excuse to use.  I think the medical part has to be monitored by your dr. extremely close.  A lot of us started out using for a medical problem and it ended up over powering us into addiction.  

[OpenMind24hours]

From an AA or NA standpoint, getting a legal script and taking as prescribed won't cause you to lose your time. take my AA sponsor of many years for example. 82 years old, he's been sober for well over 32 years. He's had open heart surgery and a Hemorrhoidectomy (which is horrendously painful) during his tenure of staying clean and sober. Should he have given up his time? Hell no! In my opinion, There would be no sense in marking and celebrating your time if that was the case. You'd be as good as your medical luck holds out. I gave up my time at 27 1/2 years because I eventually abused my pain pills. Once I gave up my time i REALLY got into my pain meds and then I drank. That disaster lasted 2 years. If 12-step members lost their time when they really need pain meds or twilight pre-op...(add long drug list here) then it wouldn't really behoove them to have key-tag ceremonies at all. S--t happens. It's a personal thing. You make the decision to give up your time. Its all in your heart and your conscience if you feel you want to make the decision to give up your time. I did because I abused my meds. But after many years clean, losing all that time can really do a number on some people. It's hard to come back and stay clean with the same amount of enthusiasm. It takes lots of work and lots of meetings. I don't really give a s--t how much time I have anymore. Just happy to be alive and well and catching Walleye out on Lake St Clair guy...