I have a question for ya.

[Maybe I can]

I have a question for ya, everyone. I have looked up addict in 20-30 dictionaries and it say .......an addict is someone who's addicted to something (basicaly).
There are many people at na who have been drug free for many years but they still refer to themselves as addicts. My question is .....why?
There not addicted to anything anymore, why stay hung up on something for years and years ?? Why not enjoy our live as former addicts. This lable seems unnesesary. .............. Joe

[Peter]

I can only speak for myself MIC.

The reason why I still refer to myself as an addict is because my addiction is "progressive."

What that means is that even after nearly nine years clean I will still pick up a drug and my life will again be as "unmanagable" as the day I stopped using.

I still have little control over the effects of the drug in my body.

I may have found power and reason to choose everyday to not use drugs but the outcome will always be the same for me once I make the wrong decision.

Saying "I am an addict" serves to constantly remind me that I can never ever safely use drugs again.

It reminds me of the ever present danger of "transferral"..... dropping one addiction and picking up another.

Saying "I am addict" simple works to help me stay clean.

[Five]

I think most people use it in the sense that it is has been, and always will be, quite a major part of ones life.

I have learn to accept that somethign is "wrong with me" when it comes to substances.

But thats all. I have had a problem in the past, and i will (if I pick up) have one in the future.

[2stop]

I found for ME.........labeling myself an addict, when I was not using or acting like an 'addict' only hindered me in embracing the sober/recovered lifestyle.......yep the DRUGS affect over MY body...I can not control that.

BUT I CAN control MY choices in acting/reacting/treating it..........therefore to refer and label myself an addict was not helpful at all...if it ya helps ya......go for it..
JUst as I also believe addiction IS a disease.I know that many diseases ARE curable.......even when cancer is eliminated you would wacth your diet, lifestyle more because of what you went through.you would have an awareness. I wouldn't go through the rest of my life saying.I am a cancer victim! I would say I am a cancer SURVIVOR....I believe I am an addiction SURVIVOR...I am NOT it's victim anymore...........I am still aware of what to expect if I use again.but I am soooo much more than an "addict".....I don't know I just embrace believing in the sunnier side of doubt.
just my experience though.I say if it helps you.......do it!!!

[Blake]

THe reason I refer to myself as an addict is b/c I have the disease of addiction which is incurable, progressive and fatal, it can be arrested at some point and recovery is possible. It can be arrested but never cured. I refer to mysaelf as an addict to remind me of that, if I for get that and start thinking I'm cured and "normal" I may start to do things normal people do. I may think it would be okay to have a beer or two at a crawfish boil, I may think it is okay to do a line or two at a concert with other "normal" friends, I may then convince myself it's okay to do oxy's or heroin every once and a while since I know some (not many) "normal" people that can do it and never suffer any consequences.......then I end up strung out and wanting to kill myself.....it may not happen exactly like that, but from my track reccord it'd be pretty damn close. It is very dangerous for me to start thinking, "I'm not an addict", but that's me and that's my experience.

Also, just b/c someone doesn't do drugs, doesn't mean they aren't acting out on their addiction in other ways, drugs are just a symptom of an underlying disease....there are many many other symptoms an addict can get strung out on.

[golf99]

Main Entry: ad·dict
Pronunciation: &-'dikt
Function: transitive verb
Etymology: Latin addictus, past participle of addicere to favor, from ad- + dicere to say -- more at DICTION
1 : to devote or surrender (oneself) to something habitually or obsessively

Lets breakdown 'devote' & 'surrender'.


Main Entry: de·vote
Pronunciation: di-'vOt, dE-
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): de·vot·ed; de·vot·ing
Etymology: Latin devotus, past participle of devovEre, from de- + vovEre to vow
1 : to commit by a solemn act


Main Entry: 1sur·ren·der
Pronunciation: s&-'ren-d&r
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): -dered; sur·ren·der·ing /-d(&-)ri[ng]/
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French surrendre, from sur- + rendre to give back, yield -- more at RENDER
transitive senses
1 a : to yield to the power, control, or possession of another upon compulsion or demand

Speaking in the 'here and now' I guess you can say you are not an addict.

[Time4Change]

Originally Posted by Blake

THe reason I refer to myself as an addict is b/c I have the disease of addiction which is incurable, progressive and fatal, it can be arrested at some point and recovery is possible. It can be arrested but never cured. I refer to mysaelf as an addict to remind me of that, if I for get that and start thinking I'm cured and "normal" I may start to do things normal people do.

Also, just b/c someone doesn't do drugs, doesn't mean they aren't acting out on their addiction in other ways, drugs are just a symptom of an underlying disease....there are many many other symptoms an addict can get strung out on.

I very much agree with Blake, Peter and Five. I have the disease of addiction. I am an addict, and just as others have mentioned above, I cannot become complacent about it. Being addicted to opiates is only a part of my addiction. I can act out on addiction in many, many ways, i.e. McDonald's fruit and walnut salads (driving miles out of my way to get one), trail-mix (eating so many nuts that I get sick ... then doing it again and again and again), locating and burning NA speaker CDs (seriously, to the point of neglecting my job and other responsibilities), I'm even addicted to my secretary position at my Saturday NA meeting, where I will spend hours obsessing over making sure things are perfect. That's the disease of "addiction". My normie friends and family aren't like that. They laugh at me sometimes because they don't understand (and I don't blame them ... I can seem pretty strange sometimes) But thanks to nightly NA meetings and my sponsor, working the steps, and the kind members here at SR, I'm learning more and more about recovery and it helps me understand that I'm not really weird, I'm suffering from a disease from which there is no known cure. However, I am actively working on my recovery, which is possible, and I've never been happier. I'm finally learning to like me and understand me, and why I do the things I do sometimes. Believe me, that's a huge thing!

I sometimes hear others refer to themselves in the rooms of NA as "a grateful recovering addict". I like that, too. It gives me hope and inspiration.

Great post, Maybe I can! Thanks for letting me share.

My name is Kelly and I'm an addict.

[2stop]

It''s a lot about perception IMO.

I am an addiction SURVIVOR......I do NOT label myself an addict anymore than I walk around saying I am a migraine......or I am the flu. Or I am a cold sore or I am cancer........I just find it awesome that many diseases ARE curable.........curable does not imply you forget what you went through....or ignore any of it....it's about where you put your focus..........as a man thinketh, so shall he be! I have found that very true........

I do not grow complacent just because I focus on what is right.....it helps me continue a sober and sane life when I grow.........if I do not grow...I die. Being wary every day and living sobriety from a fear based angle hinders me.....I found peace in the brighter side of doubt and I intend to continue onward doing just that. Not ignoring or growing lax...growing stronger by the day.....something I never thought I could ever do.....live sober.and sane......it's a beautiful thing any way you accomplish it.........

We all have our experiences and terms we use....just thankful we are all here, alive and sharing our ES & H!!
That is what really counts in the end actually...IMO....that we are DOING something....

IF IT WORKS........WORK IT!!!!

[Maybe I can]

I have to admit .I have been off benzos for about two months and the withdraw was hellish to say the least......and also the codeine addiction wasn't that fun, but if I had something calming I would take it. Even if it had the potenial to kill me. I even abuse anti phsycotics...they make me sleepy. I would even do street drugs if no one found out. ( I'm no stanger to street drugs). I guess I better be on gaurd, big time.

Thanks for your input.

[2stop]

Of course we have to be on guard! Especially in the beginning....as I correct my stinkin thinkin though.....you can stay more focused on your goals, your family....career....etc......

You cannot just stop a drug and believe you are sober! IMO addiction is a cancer of the thought processes, the mind...and add the physiological aspect of dependence and all the side effects, both emotional, and physiological.it's a mine field at first.....no doubt........it gets easier though to focus on your life as you retrain your mind and your body heals from the misuse of the drugs...just my ES&H...............good luck to you "maybeIcan"




I used to abuse anti psychotics too.anything with the label May cause drowsiness..........or do not drive.I was taking it! It "had to be good" with those labels...........I well remember those days........two years of sanity thru sobriety and actively working on recovery..........life is good now.not perfect..crazy as he$$ around me alot! But getting better on the inside!