AM I REALLY CLEAN???

[SANDIANZ]

I've been posting alot but don't know if I am considered clean if I am taking sub???  I am off a nasty oxy habit 7 days today but took sub  3 days before so really 10 of oxys,  and took 4mg yesterday and 2 this moring. sub not oxys.  OMG!!!!  Can someone answer me about this.  I am confused.  I feel clean and hope it all counts,

[addictedme]

NA principles dont change from group to group but members are free to make thier own decisions and have their own opinions. I doubt if a members negative opinion  about sub is based on jealousy but on the principle of being abstinant from all drugs. Others go by the section in the basic text that says meds are ok if taken as prescribed by a dr and discontinued as soon as its no longer needed. Personnally it would be between me and my sponser.

[LB5060]

You are clean! Dedicate yourself to whatever program you are working and pat yourself on the back for having taken the steps to get the help....whether it be a pill you take or whatever, as long as you aren't swallowing harmful pills, lying, leading a dangerous lifestyle due to the drugs, etc. then you are clean!  If you join a group that does not support your sobriety with Suboxone then quickly leave that group and find a new one! Many NA groups are fine with it and some aren't. Maybe those that aren't are just jealous that Suboxone wasn't available to them when they needed it and they had to go through a miserable process to get them to where they are now. We have all probably experienced some form of withdrawl during our addictions and we know how bad it can be and how, for some of us, we could never be clean when faced with going cold turkey. Congratulations!

[LB5060]

I am also on Suboxone and it has totally saved my life. I am so glad I finally took that step and asked for help. My doctor told me that some people may have to take Suboxone the rest of their lives and I am fine with that. Of course I am hoping with some therapy and stuff that I can get off of it one day but right now I just look at it like any other long term treatment such as taking medicine for high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. My doctor also told me that some people are able cut back to two to three pills each week for their maintenance. However long it is, I am going to remain committed to this program. I feel like I have just been handed a huge second chance at life. I can't fix all the money I have spent on pills but I can always remember how disgusted I was at myself for doing that and it will help me in the future. Hello FREEDOM!!!!

[addictedme]

Celebrating clean time in na has little to do with that persons succes or worth. Clean time is celebrated to show the newcomer that it can be done. Most of my friends are na members and I rarely know how much clean time a person has unless I attend their celebration. As far as sub its like any medication,,if your taking as directed,not abusing and as a few have said,"are not practcing addictive behavior" then your clean.

[broknbck]

well if something were to happen and you could not get the sub, you would more than likely be in a mess, right? so you are not in the clear yet. or should we say free from drugs. But you do have things under control now and that is terrrific! what a blessing huh?

so do not worry about what to call it, you are definately in a different place than before and this is something to be admired. follow thru with the sub so that you can have the freedom of nothing having a hold on you anymore.

heres to your new freedom!!

[cgmomma]

Yes, you are clean!!!:)  You are only taking the sub (used to help get OFF narcs) as needed.  NO MORE OXY'S and that is GREAT!  I am so proud of you.  Much love..

Britt

[worried878]

I do not get that technical...in my opinion/if it were me/i would start my clean time when i quit my DOC...u r using the sub as a tool just like many use xanax and stuff...to help u thru....now if u abused the sub and it became ur DOC, i guess u would not be clean anymore...so congrats on ur clean time

[SANDIANZ]

thankx so much for the hope.  i amy taking small bits inly in the am down to 2mg only 2mg left.  so that wilk be that.  

kuv and hugs
sandy

[mr.lucky66]

That's the problem with this type of NA thinking. It seems like your worth or success is dependent of your clean time. It really doesn't matter how long. What matters is you finish detox and stop the sub as soon as you can. all the best

[liscamdave]

Well, that is a question that I used to have trouble with. I used to think people taking sub were just trading addictions. But you are not. While you do still take what has opiates in it. You are not abusing it. You are not out spending however much to get "high" now. You are not waking up and taking pills just to function, totally dependent on something no bigger then a dime. WHile you are still taking a pill, the desire and reasons are not the same. Your outlook is not that of an addict anymore, just chasing that you. Its getting clean. And if this keeps you from doing it, then so be it. However, I don't believe it is meant to stay on for long periods of time.

Good luck. Hope this helped a little.

[lisa650]

Hi there and congrats on being clean.  This is a touchy subject at NA because  some old timers feel a drug is a drug, but i'v been on sub since sept 07 and i am clean.  I will be collecting my 1yr chip when that day comes.My sponsor who has been clean over 20 yrs has no problem with me taking the sub.  I am functioning, i look at it as if i had a life threatening disease i would need meds, well i do and this is it. However i will not stay on this forever. This is the longest i'be been clean, and i love life right now.  I feel so blessed and thankful.

[10356]

I look at it like this.. You are clean of your Doc you are not high you are not in drug seeking mode you are not making decisions high nor driving nor wasting your liver.. You are clean :))) lesa