[nandm]

You will find a variety of opinions anywhere you pose this question.

I have been sober 7 years next month through the program of AA. In that time I have had people tell me that if I was taking any mind altering medication that I was not sober. I have also had people say that AA is about alcohol and therefore if one is taking medications even if there are abusing them it doesn't affect their alcohol sobriety date.

I finally researched on my own just what the Big Book does and does not say about medications.

Below are the areas that reference drugs (page number followed by sentance number)
7:1

Next day found me drinking both gin and sedative.

22:2-5

As matters grow worse, he begins to use a combination of highpowered sedative and liquor to quiet his nerves so he can go to work. Then comes the day when he simply cannot make it and gets drunk all over again. Perhaps he goes to a doctor who gives him morphine or some sedative with which to taper off. Then he begins to appear at hospitals and sanitariums.

133:11-16

But this does not mean that we disregard human health measures. God has abundantly supplied this world with fine doctors, psyhcologists, and practitioners of various kinds. Do not hesitate to take your health problems to such persons. MOst of them give freely of themselves, that their fellows may enjoy sound MINDS and bodies. Try to remember that though God has wrought miracles amond us, we should never belittle a good doctor or psychiatrist. Their services are often indispensable in treating a newcomer and following his case afterward.

Doctor Bob used sedatives, this is described in "The Doctor's Nightmare" story in the back of the Big Book.

Although I can not recall the page number and sentance number right now, I do know the BB talks about seeking outside help when needed. When I find that passage again I will post it here for your reference.

Ultimately, what I learned from the BB is that taking medications prescribed by a doctor to treat an illness is not against anything in the BB that I can find.

My experience has been:
* The Steps are great tools that do lead to a spiritual experience and help resolve the alcohol problem.
* The Steps when applied to most any problem faced in life help.
* There are things that the Steps and the program do not solve.
* My PTSD, chronic anxiety, and chemical depression are all examples of things that the program does not solve nor was it intended to solve.
* To treat those medical conditions I need medical help which for me includes not only medications and yes, one of those is Klonopin for the anxiety, but also psychological counseling to help me to deal with the underlying issues creating the PTSD and anxiety problem.
* Some forms of depression need to be treated chemically. Situational depression can be relieved by working the Steps, in fact they are a great tool for relieving that type of depression. But a depression with a chemical component needs chemical intervention to relieve it.
* I have watched someone who was told that they should stop taking their mental health meds and just work the program better wind up in a mental ward. She still has not gotten back to the person she was prior to stopping the medications. She was someone who worked the program in all aspects of her life but unfortunatly allowed herself to believe someone else's opinion. That opinion nearly killed her.
* I have taken morphine, oxycontin, Klonopin, and oxycodone in sobriety. All are addictive "mind altering" medications that were prescribed for medical conditions. I took the medications as prescribed and quit them with no problem. I do still take oxycodone as needed for my back pain but a 30 day supply usually lasts me 3 months as I only take it when I am unable to resolve it any other way. My Klonopin I am also as careful with. I only take it when I have to. I still consider myself sober.
* I have learned that the medications I take are between me, my doctor, and my Higher Power. What others think is irrellevant to me.


Many people do go through a period of increased depression and anxiety when they stop alcohol. There are many doctors who believe that providing a medication to help prevent a person from experiencing that is beneficial to them as they then can concentrate on learning the tools that they need to stay sober. Personally I agree with this.