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Originally Posted by groverat  I know there's currently another thread on drugs for withdrawal, but I need to know specifically about Methadone. I have a very close friend who is in the program. We both have have been clean about one year, and we both share the same sponsor. This person confided to me last week that they have been on Methadone for several months, prescribed by the psychiatrist they're going to for withdrawal, primarily from hydrocodone. The reason they told me about it was that their one-year birthday is this month and they wanted to know if I thought they should pick up a medallion at our group's birthday meeting next Saturday.
Well, my first reaction was total shock because honestly I don't feel that they have been clean at all. I told them, because I knew how fragile they are, that of course they should pick up a chip since this was prescribed by a doctor. Of course I was totally lying because I don't consider them as being clean at all.
To further complicate the matter is the fact that we both have the same sponsor and they asked me to promise that I won't tell the sponsor, which I realize means that they know they are just deluding their self.
My questions are:
1. Does anyone agree with me that this is not being "clean"
2. Is it wrong that I lied to them?
3. How do I handle not telling my sponsor - who I've of course always been
nothing but honest with?
I would sure appreciate any input because this is eating my lunch. |
To begin with I have no experience with methadone or withdrawal from opiates. But I do have experience with lying.
Answer to question number one: Yes I agree that using methadone to avoid withdrawal is not what I would consider being clean.
I am an alcoholic. In order to get well I first had to be sick I had to go through the misery of withdrawal. I used to avoid that by drinking more booze or getting loaded on sedatives or wired on speed. As long as I was not willing to just go through the withdrawal symptoms, I could not begin to recover. I work at a treatment center and they send several of their residential clients to the methadone clinic every morning. I do not agree with this approach and am tempted to tell the director what I just told you. Why keep someone sick and delude them that they are getting well?
Question number two: You should not have lied to them. If I were you and I really considered this person my friend, I would flat-out call them on it, even it means the risk of losing their friendship. Friendship based in dishonesty are pretty shallow anyways.
Question number three: IMO it is not your job to tell your sponsor or anyone else. At least not right now. Have you written inventory (Fourth Step) about your dishonest friend and your relationship with him? If not, I suggest you do and then bring it to your sponsor. That way you will not be going to him in a spirit of gossip.
Jim