I've been going through a lot of hard times lately like gettingevicted and having to give custody of my two beautiful daughters to my mom... Now she won't let me see or talk to them until I make some drastic changes in my life.... She wants me to go to an inpatient treatment facility but she says that she will settle for me going to NA.... the thing is that I do not believe that I have a drug problem...I mean yes I did do drugs in the past but I am clean now.... my mom says that it's only because I don't have the money to do them and whatever made me want to do them in the past hasn't been resovled. I told her that if I was such an addict that I wouldn't need money to get my fix.... I go to therapy twice a week and I think that's good. My sister believe that I should go to meetings just so I can get my kids back. I feel that if I do then I would be lying to myself and all the people at the meetings and I don't believe that's right. I really want to get my babies back but I don't want to be false and lie because that's not what God wants. I really need some outside advice because my friends that I've told are saying that my mom is just trying to control my life again. Please help me make the right decision. Thank you.
Hello and welcome to the board. Only you can answer the "Am I an Addict" question. But I can say that the addict is usually the last one to know (figure it out). You haven't given us much information about how long (honestly) you've been clean and sober, what were you using, how often, what happened when you were using (any arrests,DUIs, kids neglected, bills not getting paid, losing jobs, not keeping a car legally on the road w/ license and insurance...) any other criminal activity, associating with the wrong kind of people (that you wouldn't want around kids). What does your therapist say about attending meetings or going to treatment? sorry I had to ask the hard questions.
Hey BPuglio! welcome to the site. as Dean stated only you can answer "who's an addict..you didnt leave a lot of info so hard to suggest anything.I do know that Narcotics Anonymous is also about learning to "live" without using by practising spiritual principles and doing some work(12/12 steps/traditions) I have been clean 25 years in december 2009 this year comin up but came back to program close to couple years ago to really "work" the recovery program and learn a new way to live..being in recovery and working a program and being abstinent from drugs are situations that are light years apart..Only you can "make the decision" but from my viewpoint it certaintly wouldnt hurt to attend at least 1 meeting...Take a look inside yourself,be real honest and see where you end up.keep comin back here also share what you can and see how it goes. Identify with the disease of addiction and dont compare to others, that will also help you do some searching..I wish you peace mikef
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
I have been completely clean and sober for 6 months. I use to smoke marijuana and occasionally do a few lines of coke. I would smoke marijuana 2 or 3 times a month and coke about once every two months... when I did the drugs it was only when my mom or sister had my kids for the whole night. I've never had any trouble paying my bills or keeping jobs because of drugs. The eviction was because one of the dentists where I worked went to open his own practice and I was one of the last one's hired so I was one of the first let go. And finding a job in my field right now is hard.
Hi-you mentioned being sober-any chance alcohol has a role here? How did you lose custody of your children? One of the aspects of having alcohol/drug-related problems is the "unmanagability" that permeates our lives.
If there is a choice, go to a few OPEN meetings, which anyone may attend. CLOSED meetings, in NA and AA both, are for addicts/alcoholics only. So "open" meetings would be appropriate for you. It's OK to say you're just checking it out. Couldn't hurt...especially if you have a desire to stay clean and sober over the long haul.
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From dying and surviving to living and thriving. LeeU
HEY BPuglio thanks for fillin in the blanks a little bit...i also believe should at least give program a shot cany hurt may help..let us know how its going thanks...mikef peace
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
