LadyBug66

I'm in Las Vegas for the week. Seems like everyone is drinking. Had a dinner I had to go to last night and a couple of people were being "funny" and trying to get me to drink "Just a sip" and bringing up old times of when I use to drink with them. It's funny how sure of my sobriety I am and then I found myself thinking about drinking again. Someone in our group got drunk and lost his ID . I think that is going to be hard flying home for him and it reminded me of times I got drunk and thought I lost my work credit card. (I did this a lot) or flew home completely hung over and miserable thinking of the embarrassing and dangerous stuff I did.
Thanks SR for being here for me. I feel better after typing this.

wildflower70

Hang in there Ladybug, and good job at staying sober in a very difficult situation. I am always prepared to walk away from ANYTHING that jeopardizes my sobriety. And, I mean anything!!!!!

dwtbd

You can be sure of your ability to remain abstinent and have thoughts about drinking.

Having those thoughts aren't really a problem, nor is it in our ability to control thinking to the point of eliminating have them.

Acting on those thoughts is the danger , not danger as much as the cause.

You're in Vegas and your AV is acting up , not comfortable perhaps, but in the grand scheme not a 'biggie' , yeah?

Don't believe Its lie that just because Its acting up , you have to too , you got this

aasharon90

You have a large community of sober folks
right here in SR supporting you and keeping
you company while on your trip.

Walk away is a good suggestion as Wildflower
shared in keeping your sobriety top priority
and there will be no regrets, shame or guilt
to worry about when you return home.

Stay safe, strong, and most of all sober.

JeffreyAK

I go to Vegas regularly for business, and I don't find it triggering at all, in fact it's always a good reminder to me of the dark side of drinking. Just walking around, anywhere but especially the strip, is enough to remind me of all the behaviors and the negative consequences. A huge fraction of the population, not just the tourists, seems perma-pickled, and even the local shop keepers often have that pickled look and shaky hands. You see them being wheeled around in the airport too, too drunk or physically affected to walk. If there's one central place that puts all the harm alcohol delivers on display, it's Las Vegas.

CAPTAINZING2000

I recall going to Vegas when I was drinking and always complaining about a cocktail waitress being around the last 4 or 5 times I’ve been there, they were everywhere.

It’s nice to be able to go to places like Vegas, concerts, sporting events etc. and not be bothered by it today.

Cosima11

I lived in Vegas for almost a year. It's true I'd say the majority of people who live there either have a problem to some degree or are in recovery. But it's so completely normalized there... there are bars in the gyms, coke is about as common as being offered tea. A most obvious display yes but also ironically no "better" place to be in denial.

I haven't been back but I'm traveling with some friends from there later this year and will probably stay with them for a night or two so we can all fly together. I used to think it would be physically impossible to stay sober in Vegas, I now know it has nothing to do with your location, your environment, what other people have to say about your sobriety.. Good job ladybug on coming here and keeping things in perspective.

Helianthus

These things are sent to test us and remind us why we got sober in the first place. You sailed through with flying colors

SoberCAH

LadyBug-

I don't know how long you have been alcohol-free, but I would respectfully advise against going to bars with people who are trying to get you to relapse.

I didn't go to bars for quite a few years after I got sober.

I would also be careful being "sure of [your] sobriety".

I have been sober a good while now, but I remain sure that I am still an alcoholic.

Glad you didn't drink and these are simply suggestions on my part, but, when it comes to our sobriety, we can't be too careful.

I've never been to Las Vegas - either sober or drunk (thank God, because I would probably have a recurring reminder of that trip in the form of an STD) - but my wife and I will probably get there one day, which would be fine by me.

5329guy

Thanks for sharing Ladybug! As someone who was born and raised in Las Vegas (and who's lived here all of my life apart from college/post-grad), I would just say two things: 1) for those saying that most all Las Vegans have some level of substance abuse/alcohol addiction, that is just absurd. That really just highlights how most tourists (just about all of the ones I've met at least, and I've met a lot over the decades) and folks who's only lived here a short time (I've met a lot of those too) really only see the Vegas that is portrayed in movies like "The Hangover", "Leaving Las Vegas", and the like. That's like saying that one knows the city (and people as a whole) of San Francisco based on who one might see at Pier 39/Fisherman's Wharf. Ok, so not the perfect analogy but you get the point. Anyway, my point being that MOST people in the great city you're currently in are truly regular folks like the millions you'd find in any other city in the US. It's generally just the tourists (and myself ) who walk around with a "pickled look" and "shaky hands".
2) Know that there are TONS of fun non-alcohol related things to do in Vegas and the surrounding area (let me know if you want suggestions). There are also a TON of meetings, churches, etc. that, being Las Vegas, are largely accessible, you guessed it, 24/7 (if you're into that sort of thing). I recall reading a statistic lately that Vegas actually has more places of worship per capita than most US cities (and I'm pretty sure they didn't include Elvis-themed and otherwise cheesy wedding chapels in arriving at that figure ) Point is, don't let the "dark side" of Las Vegas (if you wanna call it that) lead you astray or create any sort of doubt that you're absolutely doing the right thing by avoiding what you may see your friends doing. You and you alone know what works and what doesn't work for you. Sounds like you've got a very good head on your shoulders, so rant over! Have fun (but not "that" kind of fun)!!

Zebra1275

The beauty of this website is that you can log on anytime from anywhere. Excuse yourself when the drinking starts in your group and go back to your hotel room and log on to SR.

Cosima11

I should clarify when I said "the majority" I meant literally over half, and maybe not by much.. that's my honest guess on that number but of course I could be wrong. Vegas is a very transient city, of course those who were born and raised there have a different perspective. I was also including habitual binge drinking whether the person is totally functional or not as "a problem" but understand that's sort of a grey area.

It's also an assumption that any girl who lives in Vegas gets involved in the "seedy side" of the city when this is definitely not always the case. I worked in a very normal setting and mingled mostly with upper-middle class people. But that made the excessive partying (and excessive amounts of coke in particular) all the more noticeable. Anyway just my experience but sorry to bring this thread off track.

LadyBug66

I am back at my room reading all your replies and know that they are so true and it's just what I needed to hear! Thanks!

Stronger2017

DontRemember

plenty of people don't drink in Vegas..just seems like it around the strip/casino areas... this guy made a song about it.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_IyVtgNRs4

check out the Valley of fire if you have time. Plenty of cool stuff to do that has zero to do with drinking or gambling.

August252015

Very glad you checked back Ladybug.

And I think we all know at heart that what other people do and how many do or don't drink in Vegas (or anywhere else) doesn't matter .... for us.

Keep going & have a good trip home knowing you stayed sober.

LadyBug66

Been back a few days from Vegas. Almost got my desk uncovered and all e-mails answered and returned phone calls. This was my 3rd non drinking trip to Vegas. It still has its triggers but it was so much easier this last time. My husband still drinks daily and when I got home he asked me if I drank in Vegas. I thought it was a funny question but I answered no. He then stated that he hasn't drank in 2 weeks. That was so strange because there were beer mugs in the dishwasher and I found a bottle of whiskey hidden away in the cupboard that is half empty. I've never said anything to him about his drinking and have even bought him beer when doing the grocery shopping so I'm not sure what the lying and sneaking is about. There were so many children in LasVegas. Why in the world would someone take a child there? I could tell there were some type of children's competitions going on and it just blows my mind on why something to do with children is being held in Las Vegas. There were Sex Trafficking posters everywhere so it much be an issue there and people are taking their kids there.

Winslow

Please enough with the Vegas bashing.we have the same problems here that other major cities have...you just don't hear about it as much and no not over half of the people living here have addiction issues and if they do it's on them not Las Vegas.sorry but im proud to be a native Nevadan

Winslow

I reread my post and didnt like how rude i sounded and im sorry for that.i just dont like people who judge this city by the strip and wanted to say excellent job on staying sober on your trip here.staying sober is hard for me when travelling anywhere so i can imagine being in casinos and around so many others drinking to be even more challenging but you got through!

LadyBug66

You are so right! If someone was bashing my home town I would be on the defense too! I am so sorry. That was so wrong of me. I have only stayed on the strip because that is where the conventions, meetings and dinners are. I need to see more of Nevada and I would probably have a much better time. Someone recommend a place to see but it seemed to have a lot of hiking to do. I'm not much of a hiker. Do you have any suggestions are things for me to do or see next time I go? I've only seen the Strip and Freemont Street. I don't gamble and don't drink or smoke. I do like seeing the shows but that has been about the extent of my enjoyment there.