Can you still have a sponsor even if you still take pain meds at controlled level?

[tinkerbell83]

I am in a predicament.I am currently on probation and myself and my probation officer wants me to get a sponsor. I have some serious health problems and got addicted to my pain medication. I  use to to take 10-12 norcos a day got in trouble for accomodating more, etc. I am now on a different pain medication and I have been only taking 2 a day. I do not have health insurance so I cannot get the surgery I need to get. My doctor has been monitoring me and I have not felt any urge to take any more than I need to. Until I find a job with insurance that will allow me to get the surgery I need, I am taking medication for the severe pain I am in. I want to get a sponsor that will encourage me to not abuse my medication and help me get through once I have surgery and want to stop taking medication completely. I feel awkward asking for sponsor when I still take medication. I feel like they may not want to sponsor me until I am officially clean, but my probation officer says I should get one now, even though I still take pain medication. Can someone please help me?

[Addict63]

I hope it's because YOU want a sponsor, not because of a law enforcement stipulation.

Being a member of both AA and NA and drawing upon my experiences:
Sure you can have a sponsor or a temporary sponsor if you can find one. Just ask someone, or stand up during announcements and ask for a temporary sponsor. Just do it!!

I completely understand your concerns about being judged because you're on meds. Judgmental people are everywhere, even in 12-step programs.  I understand you "feel" like nobody will sponsor you, but I know I would for one. I'll work with anyone who asks me for help. If you go to those meetings, show you have the willingness to change, you'll get a sponsor - if you really want one. THEN, first thing, mention what your doing with the meds.

When I blew out my back and got a script for VicodinES my AA sponsor of many years was the person I called as soon as I got home from the doctor. I got his blessing to fill the script with his suggestion "use as prescribed". AAs' not one of those religious type organizations that outlaw doctors and what they prescribe. Big Book talks about doctors on page 133.

Question to you: how would you feel giving your prescription to that sponsor or someone else, who's one hell of a responsible person, to deal out your meds to you "as prescribed"?    

As for NA... For what it's worth, I'm pasting in some excerpts from the NA statement "What is the NA program":

"We are recovering  addicts who meet regularly to help each other stay clean. This is a program of complete abstinence from all drugs. There is only one requirement for membership, the desire to stop using."

There are no strings attached to NA. We are not affiliated with any other organizations. We have no initiation fees or dues, no pledges to sign, no promises to make to anyone.
We are not connected with any political, religious, or law enforcement groups, and are under no surveillance at any time. Anyone may join us regardless of age, race, sexual
identity, creed, religion, or lack of religion".

Yet, at my NA home group we have 2 folks who are on pain management because they need to be. One person uses a walker. They talk about their sponsors. So they have them.  So... go figure!

Take what you want from my efforts here, and leave the rest.
  

[dominosarah]

All you can do is talk to someone and tell them exactly what is going on.  Honesty is the best policy here.  Hopefully you can get that surgery scheduled soon.        sara

[CATUF]

I suggest AA. It's what I go to exclusively.  I did have some trouble with alcohol years ago, but my real-deal (the one that almost took me out) is that I'm a drug addict.

Accountability is very important for addicts and alcoholics, and you get that with a good sponsor.  I personally don't see how I could use just a little of anything . . . I seem to have two, and only two, settings: 1) completely stopped and 2) full speed, no holds barred, pedal to the metal, all the way, MORE, etc.

In any event, having a sponsor and going to meetings will be good for you (it would be good for anyone) and your PO says you have to.  So just do it.

CATUF
1776

[DeeJaye45]

You do not say whether the pain med is a narcotic or not. There are non narcotic pain meds out there that can be taken under a Drs supervision. My sponsor has encouraged me to take all my meds as prescribed (none pain meds at this time) she knows I am facing more back surgery & will have to take narcotics for a time. We have discussed this. Someone else will hold on to them  & give them to me as prescribed. And they will be time limited, not ongoing. I would not most likely sponsor someone "controlling" their amount of a narcotic for a nonspecified period of time. for an addict there is no such thing as controlling their use.

[worried878]

I doubt u will find a sponsor who believes in "controlling" what you take and helping u with that goal..u may tho...we r all different...very doubtful
There is no such thing really....someone who is an addict using on a smaller scale,,Perhaps there is but I would not sponsor someone who is not willing to stop totally...but I have never been a sponsor either
As a rule..and only a rule...drug addiction is all or none at the end....totally quit or continue to play the narctic game...u may have a way out that includes continuing to use...But ur clean time will suffer,,,,
if nuttin changes then nuttin changes