We're not competing for the Recovery Olympics here, guys.
Contrary to popular belief:
•The 12 Steps are not the only way to get clean and sober from an addiction and Narcotics Anonymous is not the only recovery path.
•You do not inherently need a higher power or belief in God to get clean.
•Methadone and Suboxone are not “substitutes,” and you can absolutely call yourself clean while on these medications. In fact, Dr. Bob and Bill W supported Methadone and even asked the doctor who pioneered Methadone to “create a Methadone for alcoholics” after appointing him to one of only 12 spots on the board of AA.
•It is not inherently impossible for a recovering drug addict to drink alcohol or smoke weed recreationally, since these thing affect different receptors and, in some people, don’t raise dopamine levels high enough to trigger cravings for the DOC. It’s not super common, but it can happen.
•Dependence is not the same as addiction. Addiction implies abuse and the inability to stop despite major negative consequences. Physical dependence simply means you’ll get some form of withdrawal when you stop taking it (for example, caffeine headaches), and in the context of maintenance medication, it’s usually treating the addiction and benefitting your life, not ruining it.
•Tough love is not always the best option, and depending on the person and situation it may only make the addiction worse.
•Properly taking your legitimately needed narcotic medications as prescribed by your doctor does not inherently mean you’re still in active addiction.
•Addiction is not a choice, it is a chronic disease, and if you say otherwise you may as well be saying you’re smarter than every doctor be scientist on the planet.
Recovery is not a one-size-fits-all approach. If something isn’t working, change it. Tweak your program so it works for you. Don’t let someone else tell you you’re not clean just because they didn’t recover the same way you did. Be honest with yourself, stay receptive to new ideas, and keep working towards your goals, and everything will work itself out.
