nolonger

Just saw this article today about incredibly expensive 'sobriety chaperones' - where very wealthy people pay to have someone stay with them all day and make sure they don't drink/use. Good grief!

In some ways, I guess it's no different than other forms of support in early sobriety, but it does seem slightly bizarre to me, and you have to wonder about whether it's another form of crutch, another way of not facing up to their condition...

http://news.independent.co.uk/health/article3110405.ece

skunkape

It reminds me of the paid bodyguard solution mentioned in the Big Book. It's ridiculous. A day will come when they will want to use again and the "sober buddy" gets fired. You can't throw money at this particular problem and make it go away.

Tazman53

I am a firm beleiver in doing what ever it takes, if one has the money to do this, well why not? Heck I wonder where I would apply for a job paying $750 a day!!!! Especially if the only requirement is to help some one stay sober, heck I do that for free every day anyhow!!! LOL

parentrecovers

you get free coffee, taz...

tanyapmc

Sign me up!!! I will hang out with you for $500 a day. what can I say? I'm cheap.

miss communicat

me, too! me, too!

md20

Lol, well sounds good but im with buddy. I think if they're in A.A and doing everything suggest (BY A.A) and this is just a plus then fair do's. However if this is all they're doing - having someone stop them drinking etc, i dont think it will be a pleasant sobriety - as i've learnt not drinking doesn't instantly stop all my probs. There's the spiritual malady - being sick spiritually etc. A bodygaurd can't really do much about things like that- but going to A.A and doing the program has been proved to do so. But each to their own, or as they say in A.A "Live and let Live"...

nolonger

You bet. And i hope they would just only get fired - can you imagine the resentments and anger that a white-knuckler would build up towards that person? The buddy would be lucky to get out without a hatchet in his head...;o)

Steve58

I can see it working for some people, but as most already know, we're going to get that drink if we want it bad enough, same as we will get sober, if and when we want that bad enough.

Susan "A real woman could stop you from drinking" Arthur "She'd have to be a real big woman"

S

barb dwyer

Pick MEEEE coach!!!

barb dwyer

I mean ... do we get the whole g-note? or do we have to split it?

leeside

Well at least they aren't drinking (as someone else said) and since they have a lot of money invested in "not drinking" that is more reason to stop. Until they can stop on their own, the investment gets greater and greater giving them even more reason to stop. It may all just depend on your mindset!

Addendum: For some of them $1000/day may not be nearly enough to hang out with them.

barb dwyer

lee -

you oughta see some I've been hanging out with for free ...LOL

Tazman53

I did a little reading on this and the clients are encouraged to work a 12 step program so it does not sound like simply a watch dog type job.

I still have not found out where to apply yet though! LOL

barb dwyer

c'mon Taz ... I'm half packed!

Signal30

Just think, out of every dollar out of those $1000.00 a day that someone would pay would go into a basket of an AA group that is barley getting by.

I can say this. AA DOES NOT, apply when it comes to the saying, "You get what you pay for."


Tom

Tazman53

Signal AA is the part of the American Express commercial that is Priceless!!!!!